How do I cut and finish the bottom of a home sewn half-moon sheer window curtain?

by Marg
(Ontario, Canada)

I have a half-moon window over my door - I started to make sheer curtains with help from the fabric shop - there's 7 1/2 yards of material; there's a flexible plastic rod, that fits into plastic hardware on each side at the bottom and one at the top middle.

I made the pocket across the top of the material for the rod (cut the material in half before sewing,put the material on the rod and snapped it into place. Because the finished edge was too long, I hung it first, to determine how long it should be -- the pattern showed gathering it together at the middle bottom and treading a plastic tie through --and pulling the excess material through the "hole" and folding back to form a rosetta. there is way too much material to do this -- so I just hung the curtain - but it's about 6" or so too long.

I need to know another alternative for finishing the bottom -- which hangs in an "arch" - shorter in the middle - longer at the sides. It will need to be cut and hemmed so it doesn't fray.

I was thinking of just following the curve of the arch with the scissors while it hangs, taking it down and finishing the edge (either small hem or finishing stitch, and then gathering it in the middle - but not sure what to do with the big "bunch' of gatherered material to make it looked finished, yet not so bulky - any advice -- or another way of finishing the bottom.

The arch is 33' from top to bottom, and 65" across the bottom.

Hi Marg

You have to much fabric on the rod by the sounds of it. You need just enough to give it a bit of gather and that's all.

As you have found when you try and bunch it into the middle it's too bulky. So you need to take out some fabric in the width. It will still give you a nice fan effect when finished.

I think you should have no more than 1 1/2 times the length of the rod. This should give you a good finished look and just enough to finish your Rosette.


Best regards


Lee