How to make curtains with no sewing !

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"So let me show you how to make curtains the easy way. You can sew if want, but I didn't sew a stitch when I made these. "

Getting Organized

I will show you here how to make curtains called "Wave curtains". They are called this because of the kind of heading they have. It creates a wave effect, if you look carefully at the picture below you will see the heading folds in and out. This in turn creates really neat pleats all the way down the curtains.

Things you will need before you start

Below is a list of items you will need when you learn how to make curtains . Some you can borrow or buy for not very much. Read through the guide before you start to get an idea of what and how much you need. Make a shopping list if don't already have the things you need. The amount of fabric you will need depends on your curtain size and if you have a patterned fabric. Don't worry about this lower down this is all explained. So all that's left is to say enjoy reading this how to make curtains guide, then enjoy using it to create your own "wave top" curtains.

Sharp Scissors	Steel tape measure	Long straight edge

Fusible web tape	Curtain fabric of your choice	Steam Iron

Buckram header for your curtains	Finally pin hooks to hang your curtains

You can buy all these things for very little in the Bargains Store

The only thing you will need now is a clear kitchen or dining table which ever is the bigger to work on. Right let me show you how to make curtains the easy way. Keep it simple that's the way I like it :-)

How much fabric will I need to make my curtains

The first step in how to make curtains

Before you decide how much fabric you need you need to decide what your going to hang your new curtains from. Is it going to be a rod/pole or a curtain track. If its already fitted then great you can go straight to how to make curtains. Let's assume for this example that we need to fit the curtain hardware. As a rough rule of thumb I fit the rod or track half way between the top of the window and the ceiling. If there's a lot of space over your window and think to go half way would look odd. Then fix your rod or track a good 4 inches over the window. Before you go on to learn how to make curtains please read this next section it is so important I can't stress it enough. Like the old carpenters saying "measure twice and cut once".

Now to measure the width

Once you have your curtain hardware fitted over your window, you can now take accurate measurements. The first size you need to measure is the width of your track or rod. Your curtain track or rod should be 5 to 10 inches wider than your window frame each side. The wider the window the more you go out each side. For example a window 4ft wide then 5 inches either side would be good. If your widow is 8 ft then go out 10 inches each side with your curtain hardware. The reason for the extra width is so that when you open your curtains they can pull back off the window. The meeting edges of your curtains can come a little way onto the glass area but not to much or it starts to make your room a bit to dark.

Next measure your curtain length

If measuring curtains to hang from a rod/pole then start from the bottom of the curtain rod ring. Then measure down to where you want the curtain to stop. For example a few inches past the window sill. Maybe to just reach the floor and even sometimes to drape onto the floor (non working dress curtains usually). This measurement is called the "drop"
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If measuring curtains to hang from a curtain track then start from the top edge of the track and measure down to where you want your curtains to finish.

Next cutting your fabrics then on to how to make curtains

Now you need to clear the dining room table or your curtains are going to be really big. Then work on the floor as long as its a hard surface and clean. You will only need a pencil or chalk to mark the cutting line on your fabric. Also your sharp pair of scissors for this step. We will keep to our 6 ft wide rod example for this, So we will need 3 drops of fabric at 93 inches long. If you are using plain fabric then simply cut 3 lengths at 97 inches (85 inches plus 12 inches for hem turnovers). If you are using patterned fabric then you would need 3 drop of fabric again. This time it would be cut at 97 inches long. (85 inches plus 12 inches for the pattern repeat. This could be more if the pattern repeat is more). Laying out the first piece of fabric

Cutting plain fabric:

Lay out your fabric ready to mark and cut then using your straight edge (my spirit level) mark a line across the fabric at 97 inches. Repeat this 3 times.

Then take one drop of your fabric and fold in half along the drop of the curtain. Then cut straight up the middle. This will give you the half width for each curtain.

That's it for the cutting of your plain fabric next step in how to make curtains is putting it all together.

Cutting patterned fabric

Lay out your fabric ready to mark and cut then using your straight edge (my spirit level) mark a line across the fabric at 97 inches. This fabric comes folded in half down the middle, I usually fold all my fabric this way so it fits onto the width of my table. It makes it so much easier when cutting.

The photo just above shows you the pencil line across the fabric. I used my straight edge to do this line at 97 inches from the top. You can then cut along this line which will give you your first length of fabric. Now you need to cut another 2 lengths of fabric.

Next lift up the first piece of fabric and lay out more fabric. Then bring back your first piece of cut fabric and lay on top. Now you need to match the pattern by moving the top cut piece down the fabric until the pattern on the top piece is lined up with the pattern on the bottom fabric. You will probably have a few inches of fabric more at the top. You can cut this off by following the top fabric as your guide.

Then you can cut the other end of the fabric underneath. You now have 2 drops of your curtain. Repeat the whole process again for the third drop of fabric.

In the picture above you can get the idea of how you line the large spots up on your top and bottom fabric.

Then cut along the pencil lines. Repeating this a couple of times will give us the 3 drops of fabric we need for this example. If you look at the edge of the fabric you will see a row of letters. This usually gives you the design name.

This repeats at intervals along your fabric. The distance between the rows of lettering is the pattern repeat of your fabric. This lettering only appears on printed fabrics like in the photo.

Then take one drop of your fabric and fold in half along the drop of the curtain. Then cut straight up the middle. This will give you the half width for each curtain.

You can find some really great fabrics at really low prices to make your own curtains in the Bargains Store

Putting it all together

how to join the widths

The first step in how to make curtains putting it all together is joining the full widths of fabric to the half widths of fabric.

You will join the widths of fabric using ?wonder web? a fusible iron on tape that glues fabrics together. Lay the fabrics patterned sides facing together. Then line up the side seams so they lye together and insert a strip of wonder web between the side seams.

Then press on with a hot steam iron this will glue the fabrics together. I put my ironing board next to the table. Then lay the fabric over the table and ironing board. This join should be reasonably solid, but it will not put up with a lot of tugging. So exercise some care when making and using your new curtains. Then fold over the two side seams you have glued together. Then glue down again with another strip of wonder web to double secure the seam. You can see how simple it is to learn how to make curtains with the simple method.

Creating the side seams

The next step is to turn over the sides of your fabric First turn over one inch and press down then turn over one inch again. Then slip a strip of wonder web under the new turnover and press down again with a hot steam iron. Repeat this for the other 3 sides.

Creating the bottom hem

Creating the bottom hem is nice and easy. Fold over the fabric one inch and press down. Then turn over a further 3 inches and press down. Finally place a strip of wonder web under the top edge of the turnover and press down using a hot steam iron.

Finally the top of your curtain

You need to turn over the fabric at the top of your curtain by 2 inches and press down. Then turn over again by 5 inches and press down.

Next step is to wrap your 5 inch wide fusible buckram into the fabric. This is going to form your curtain header. The buckram tape is stiffener that will give us a good shape to the top of our curtain. It is what will make the wave effect that we want.

Then you need to press down the header with the buckram wrapped in with your steam iron. I recommend you press down both sides. Were getting close to finishing now the final step in how to make curtains is to insert a strip of your wonder web under the bottom edge of your new header. This will hold down the header where it is folded over. See the photo lower down.

The photo below is the finished curtain header ready to have the hooks put in. We need special curtain hooks for this job.

You are now finished

Well you have learned how to make curtains the easy way. That's it all made and ready to hang. These are super easy if you just take your time and follow the guide. The only thing left to do is hang them and for this you will require some pin hooks to do that job. So take a look at the next page to what they are and how to do that.

Finally fitting your pin hooks and hanging your new curtains

You will need to insert your pin hooks to the top of your curtain approx every 5 to 6 inches apart. Start with a pin hook about 2 inches in from one side and work your way across. Then finish off with the last pin hook 2 inches from the other side. Nearly forgot you need to make sure you end up with an EVEN amount of pin hooks in each curtain. This is critical to make them hang properly. You will see why when you come to hang.

how to make curtains

If you find the last couple of hooks to close or to far apart then work your way back a few pin hooks along to even up the spacing. Now to hang your new NO SEW wave curtains. You need to make sure before you hang your curtains that your decorative rod or track has an even amount of rings or hook gliders.

Next start to put your pin hooks into the rings or gliders. Making sure you have the right curtain hung on the right side. The half widths of curtain should be on the outside ends of your rod or track.

The stiff buckram header on your curtains will make hooking up your curtains a little awkward so take your time and bend it back and forth a bit.

Now you have your curtains all hooked up and hanging. The next job to do is to move the stiff header into position. To create the ?Wave? effect we want we need push and pull the header back and forth. This creates the effect we need.

Need some pin hooks then again just look in the Bargains Store

Almost forgot

After you have learned how to make curtains and hung and dressed them you will need to tie them into their pleats for a few days. This is to "train" them to hold their pleats. This is very simple as I have in the photo below use strips of polythene or anything else to hand. The fabric I used in these curtains hung very well straight away. Usually though it won't.

So you will need to tie more than one band around the bottom of your curtains. I usually tie one bottom, middle and top. Then leave for a few days. If they still don't hang as well as you would like then tie them up for a few more days. So there you have it all very simple just follow the how to make curtains guide with step by step instructions and you can't go far wrong.

Your beautiful new wave curtains I really hope you take a little time out and use this how to make curtains guide to make a new wave curtain for your own home. I have a page on my website where people who have made shades and curtains using my guides can then show then off to the world.

You can send me a digital photo and some comments on how easy or hard you found it to do. Maybe even do some tips for to help other people too follow. The great thing is your creation will have a page of it's own on the website. You can tell your family and friends how you learned how to make curtains and to go and have a look even if they live to far away to come over to your house to see it.

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