Wanted: Idiot guide to making curtains

cake21

Hi all, I've been a lurker on this part of the forum for a little bit and I was hoping I could tap into your expertise please.

I've been given some curtains from a fellow freecycler but I can't work out how to hang them up so I was hoping I could get some advice from you

The top of the curtains look like this. (sorry for the poor quality photo) I think I need to sew a strip of material across the top with holes in for the curtain hooks, is that right? And is that curtain tape? And is heading tape the same thing? :o

And if anyone knows where I can buy some that would be very much appreciated - I'd prefer to buy in person if possible so I can ask questions as I'm clueless!

Thank you very much for any help!

oystercatcher

Hello,

It's hard to see from the photo but I'm assuming that the photo is just showing a flat lining and not the white tape at the top of the curtains.

If it is indeed the lining then yes you need to buy some curtain tape which is the same as header tape. You can buy this in any sewing shop, department stores often have a sewing department which would probably sell some. Some markets stalls also sell material and curtain tape. The nicest effect comes from tape that is about three inches in width.

You need to buy enough to sew flat across the top of the curtains with a small 2cm turn under at each end.
Sew the tape to the curtain using a straight stitch on a sewing machine. I doubt hand sewing would be strong enough to hold heavy curtains up but if you really really can't get use of a sewing machine then you could sew it on by hand but use lots of tiny stitches so it is really strong as lined curtains are heavy. A straight line along the top of the tape and the same along the bottom of the tape.

Ideally the curtains should be one and a half to two times the width of the window.

If you look at the tape you will notice threads running through the tape , tie the ends of the thread together firmly at one side of the curtain , then from the other end carefully pull the threads together to gather the curtain until it is the required width to fit the window.

Curtain hooks will slip through the specially made holes in the tape. Wide curtain tape tends to have two or even three positions for the hooks this means you can make the curtains hang slightly higher or lower to fit the window better.

I hope this makes sense. It's actually really simple, just sewing in straight lines.

Edited to say, don't ever cut the strings when you have gathered the curtain up as you may need to 'ungather' them to wash or to fit different windows. Just knot the thread loosley and tuck up over the curtain hooks so it doesn't show.

Good luck

Oystercatcher

greenbee

Yes, you need curtain tape. You just need to sew it across the top of the curtain. You'll need to measure where to put it so that the curtain falls correctly - it should fall below the bottom of the window sill, and at the top should cover the curtain rail/pole.

Curtain tape can be bought from any department store with a haberdashery, or fabric shop. If you need to buy online, try this search: http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=curtain+tape&meta=

If the curtains don't have thermal linings (interlining... usually a layer of lining between the curtain fabric and the thin lining) then it's worth putting some in at this stage, as when you sew the header tape you can fix the lining with the same stitching!

cake21

oystercatcher wrote: »

Hello,

It's hard to see from the photo but I'm assuming that the photo is just showing a flat lining and not the white tape at the top of the curtains.

You're right, it's just a flat lining. Thank you so much for taking the time to give such detailed advice, I feel pretty confident I can do them now :T Particularly appreciate the heads-up about the 3 inch tape, I'd seen 1", 2", and 3" on sale online but I had no idea how to choose.

(I've bought a second-hand sewing machine which should be much cheaper than getting them made - I've been given six curtains, each of which are twice as wide as my windows )

schuhby

You will find all the help and advice you need for making your own soft furnishings at my.decozo.com soft furnishing and curtain makers forum - Best of all the people there are very helpful and it's all free!

Many people there to help with making curtains, roman blinds or anything to do with soft furnishings.

My.decozo.com you will need to do a google search as I can't post a link yet.

Philip

chubbychops

Don't buy material and try to make curtains to save money - it's too expensive to buy the material now! Plus all the time and effort involved.... Search round charity shops and car boot sales instead - much better. You might find some other bargains too!

mapcr77

Hi,

I just moved into my first home :j

Which means two things:
1) I'm all enthusiastic about doing it up (it is a wreck!), and
2) I'm skint!

I got some second hand really posh curtains from a charity shop in Surrey, which are stunning. They are for the dining room. I'd like to make something similar for my bedroom.

There's loads of tutorials and advice for basic type curtains, but I really want the blanket lined, heavy tapestry type of curtain. Any ideas as to where can I find instructions to do this?

I've been given a sewing machine. Never used one before, but I'm keen to give it a go, otherwise I'm really good at hand sewing and don't mind large projects.

Also, I got some tridis tape and lining tape remnants from John Lewis, which I think are long enough for a pair of curtains? (Well, can anyone advice how long they need to be? I take it it is 2.5x the length of the pole?).

Thanks a lot!!

Map

Eenymeeny

Sorry I can't help as I'm a newbie at this too, trying to pick up any tips that I can. Lots of good advice on here thanks everyone.
One thing that I remember my mother doing was unpicking the curtain tape before recycling old curtains for something else (new covers for dining chairs was a favourite!)
I remember an old Quality Street tin full of it, along with the button tin of course...
Thought that as this is MSE someone might find it a useful idea...