Any ideas for making my own curtain tiebacks?

gingin_2

I have 2 windows in my bedroom and want to create some modern tiebacks on a budget. The curtains are a brown satin. I have some downstairs which are rope style with tassels on the end and were purchased pre mse for £40 a few years ago and I still love them, I am guessing to buy the materials and do it myself would have cost less than £5 but am also happy for any different ideas.

Can anyone help please?

lil_me

My Mam usually chops them off the bottom of the curtains, depends how much is 'choppable' as to how big the tie backs are, if there is a lot she plaits them.

I use the metal ones which match the rails downstairs, but might get the wooden ones (look like a pepper pot IMO) for upstairs.

She always says to me if there isn't enough to take of to buy something a different colour entirely instad of trying to match as usually can't, thinks she has cream on her brown satin style ones, goes with the rest of the room.

I know a few who have bought nice tassel ones on eBay, have seen them advertised on Freecycle before aswell.

gingin_2

lil_me wrote:

My Mam usually chops them off the bottom of the curtains, depends how much is 'choppable' as to how big the tie backs are, if there is a lot she plaits them.

I use the metal ones which match the rails downstairs, but might get the wooden ones (look like a pepper pot IMO) for upstairs.

I like the metal ones too (like a chain ?).

I hadn't thought about chopping the bottom off the curtains, it sounds good in theory but very daunting if you have sewing skills like mine :eek:

Mics_chick

gingin wrote:

I like the metal ones too (like a chain ?)

I think she means hold-backs - they're rigid bits of metal that you just push your curtains behind.

I've seen some made on a makeover program once that used large beads - mainly clear ones or gold/silver-coloured ones (to match room) that looked very effective.

How about looking for ideas in catalogues or even visit local material/curtain shop and seeing if you can recreate in an O/S fashion...?

lil_me

Yes mine are the rigid ones but have used costume jewellery before (but beware friend copied on light coloured curtains and marked them haha serves her right for stealing my idea) I like the beads idea, might try that!

I can't sew either, Mam does mine if she has time

magnolia65

If they're brown maybe some copper or chrome wire and amber coloured beads and just the use of wire cutters and pliers. Cut 2 or 3 lengths of wire an inch short of each other, thread random beads through each piece of wire. When you have the look that you want match the ends of the wire and twist so not to loose any. Fix a simple curtain hook to the wall and bend the wire round the curtain with the smaller length of wire at the top and longer at the bottom.

Seakay

Depending on your decor, another idea is to use artificial flowers - either one attached to a rope or several with the stems twisted to form a garland.

If you like the idea of metal, how about those Christmas tree decoration "necklaces" - sort of long chains of beads. I have seen them in gold, silver and metallic blue, red or purple.

susank

Try buying a ball of wool the same or a contrast colour and plait it - need to use lots of strands though to make it thick. USe a curtain ring for each end or a ring from a key ring

Nicki

I wanted tiebacks for my bedroom, which has two windows. Looked in John Lewis and they were £40 each (only one in each packet so would have been £160 for the two windows, which seemed a lot for what they were). I spent a morning, looking round little old fashioned haberdashers stores, and found some plain white plaited ones with tassels for £2 each. White worked for my colour scheme, but they could also have been died.

If you like the style of the ones you have downstairs, you could try shopping around in some slightly cheaper shops.

inkie

What about making hold backs out of:

chunky wooden door nobs - painted or sprayed to to match either decor or curtains

or what about some thick ribbon to tie them back with - should be able to pick this up for less than a couple of quid.

petite_anglaise_2

I used some good quality cream satim ribbon on mine, the type you buy in haberdashery shops (I got mine in Boyes a discount store we have in the NE) and simply tied in loose knot with long ends to the ribbon just coming to the floor. Cost £1.25 for both windows. Didn't tie in bow as this could have been a little twee! Best friend who is a stylist came round and pinched idea for her clients who pay her a fortune to make their places look nice!