Curtains

[Champagne]

How easy is it to make curtains?

I have two very large windows in my bedroom and want to dress them up with floor length curtains. But as it's rented accommodation I don't want to buy brand new as they cost an arm and a leg!

Is it cheaper to make your own? And how practical is it to do so?

[booboo67]

depends how big your windows are!
you say very large so you would have to join widths of fabric to make up one curtain. also depends how good you are with a sewing machine.
it is cheaper to make your own yes, and its not that hard to do so as long as you can sew in a straight line!
why not buy cheap blinds to go on the window for privacy and then dress the window with material draped round a pole and then down the sides?
much much cheaper and more practical
good luck

[harper]

Have a look at http://www.price-drop.tv/.
There are three pairs of curtains in clearance bargains.The curtains are 90x90 and currently under �30 . It would be difficult to buy the material for that.
I have made numerous purchases from both Price drop and Bid up tv. I find the quality of goods excellent, delivery fast and customer services good.
The curtains might not be suitable, but are certainly worth a look.

[mormess]

Hello again Champagne!

Well, you sound like a practical girl who likes DIY, so I'm sure you won't find curtains hard to make. I've made plenty and you can make them as elaborate as you want. The cheapest way is to get lining fabric and just hem the top and bottom. It comes in various shades. You can add rufflette which is tape with strings that you pull to gather the curtains up, then you put hooks in and hook them to the track. You don't even have to hem the sides as the selvedges don't fray.

You can buy curtain linings in various sizes, but depending on the dimensions of your window you'll have to decide what you can get and how you want them to fit.

Also depends if you want the curtains as insulation too - linings won't keep out the cold and if you want lined curtains then it starts getting more expensive and takes longer.

I got some lovely faux suede fabric on eBay for �4 a metre, in two rolls.

I could go on for hours about curtains. Ask if you want more info!

[barb1314]

Hi again Champagne...you go girl....(God you'd think I was a total feminist here!!! I'm not I promise.)
You sound very competent...curtains will be a doddle.Good luck. I'm very lucky to have a step mum who does that for a living so have never had to tackle curtains but I've got faith in you like 'mormess' has.

[glenbarr]

Dont know where you live, but if you are anywhere near Birmingham the rag market has wonderful cheap good quality material.

[Champagne]

Thanks for the excellent tips!

Mormess, I will need two sets of 228 x 228cm curtains. I want floor length ones because the two big windows look lovely and I want to make them look dramatic and the room really inviting. I already have lovely tie-backs which are drilled into the wall, so want to be able to drape the curtains behind this. I'll also have Victorian style nets to floor length behind the curtains (it will look stunning, trust me!). So actually your idea of lining fabric may just work. But I would want the curtains to block out the sunlight. Would they do this?

I'm not a pro with my sewing machine, but I can certainly get through the basics. Plus I'm very patient, so would probably take a lot of time out to appliqu� or sequin some patterns onto the curtains to brighten them up.

[mormess]

It's sounding fab! You can get blackout lining fabric if you really want to block out the light, or thermal lining which will block out most and keep the cold out too. This is more expensive than the normal lining fabric.

Are your windows 228cm wide or is this the width you've allowed for the curtains? If you've allowed for the width of the fabric you might be able to get away with just two drops joined at the selvedges and therefore get away without extra side seams. For normal gathering you allow one and a half times with but if you want them to look really sumptuous allow double width.

Good luck and the applique sounds like a great idea. You can cut corners here too by using iron-on bonding!

[Champagne]

Wonder Web is the dog's dangly bits!!!

I'm allowing for 2 x sets of 228cm width curtains. That's 456cm curtain width for each window. That's double the window width to allow for sumptuous gathering. :o)

Thanks for the top tips, Mormess. I think I know what I'm going to do now so i'm off to price up the difference between making them and buying them. WHOOPEEEE!!