People make their own curtains for a number of different reasons. You may do it as a money-saving exercise, or because you can’t find exactly what you want in-shop or online, or maybe you just enjoy sewing. While curtain making can be a breeze for the experienced machinists amongst you, it may not be as straightforward for someone looking to make their own curtains for the very first time. There are a number of steps you can take to ensure you don’t make the sort of mistakes that can take all the fun out of curtain making. So, we thought we would offer some tips to those of you who are maybe not as experienced or who may be looking to make curtains for the first time.
Make Sure You Have All The Correct Equipment Before You Start.
Now while some of the things you need to make curtains may seem blindingly obvious such as a sewing machine, your chosen fabrics, a pattern, a measuring tape and maybe some needles and thread. Others may not be quite so apparent. For example, if you are going to use eyelet holes when hanging your curtains that will require the correct eyelet tools so you can insert them into the fabric. So, our advice is to make sure you are well prepared before you start and make sure you have everything you need before you begin. Let’s face it there is nothing more frustrating than getting halfway through something and then having to stop because you haven’t got exactly what you need.
Make Sure You Take Exact Measurements of The Windows
You must always ensure that you measure your windows carefully and ensure that all these measurements are precise. That way you can be certain that you have enough fabric to complete the job successfully. You need to measure the height between the curtain rod and the floor then add at least 30cm for the header and the hem. When it comes to the width of your curtains you need to allow at least two and a half times the width of the window space. However, our advice would be to make it three just to be on the safe side.
Wherever Possible Use Good Quality Materials.
If you can afford it, using good quality materials and fabrics could actually save you time and money in the long run. Good quality materials tend to be much easier to work with and if you are a novice you will definitely want to make things as simple as possible. For example, slippery fabric tends to be harder to sew, as it needs to be tacked by hand before you are able to machine sew it together to ensure that the seams remain straight, and the fabric doesn’t start to fray.
Think About Using Close Weave Fabric
If you use close-weave fabric for your curtains it removes the need for curtain lining. Another thing to avoid if you want to make things as easy as possible are fabrics that require the pattern to match exactly. The reason for this is that it is very difficult to get it to look right, and as such is likely to take many hours of your time to get it to look exactly as you want.
Wash the Fabrics Before Cutting it
You should always wash the fabric you buy before you start cutting it. The reason for this is that it will stabilise the curtains, meaning that you can wash the curtains after hanging them without the possibility of them shrinking. Washable fabrics will also help save you money as laundering curtains yourself is significantly cheaper than paying for dry cleaning.
Hopefully, the information contained in this brief article will help you whether you are just starting out on your curtain making journey or have done it many times before.