A Warm Pair of Curtains in Dear Stella Crimp Mustard

Hey everyone. Today you will learn how to sew a warm pair of curtains that softens a whole room.

Here we go.

First, let's talk about the fabric. This one is Dear Stella Crimp Mustard.

It is a quilting cotton from Dear Stella. The fiber is 100% cotton, sold by the yard.

The width of fabric is 44"/45". The collection is Crimp, and the color is Mustard.

Mustard is a warm, golden yellow. Cozy, but not bright. Cheerful, but not loud.

What makes Crimp special is the texture. It has a fine crinkle texture, so it reads as a near-solid.

The product notes call it a versatile blender. It works for backgrounds, borders, and binding.

Today, it gets a bigger job. I want that warm mustard covering a whole window.

The project: a pair of curtains

A pair of curtains is two matching panels. They hang side by side and meet in the middle.

They soften the light in a room. They also add privacy and a finished look.

Our pair finishes at about 40 inches wide by 63 inches long, per panel. That is a nice length for many standard windows.

This fabric suits curtains really well. A curtain panel is one big, flat piece. That near-solid mustard shows off beautifully.

The crinkle texture adds interest across that big surface. Up close you see texture. Across the room you see warm color.

It also hides little wrinkles. For curtains, that is a real gift.

Quilting cotton is light and easy to sew. It drapes softly, gathers nicely, and presses clean.

Fair warning, y'all. Quilting cotton lets in soft light. It is not a blackout fabric.

That soft glow is my preference for a kitchen or sewing room. For a dark bedroom, add a lining. Completely up to you.

4 yards of Dear Stella Crimp Mustard Cotton 44"/45" Fabric Per Yard — 2 yards per panel
50-weight cotton thread in a matching mustard or warm gold, for hems and casing
Size 80/12 needle for this quilting cotton
A curtain rod that fits your window, plus rings or a pocket plan
Rotary cutter, mat, long ruler, pins or clips, iron, and your sewing machine
Optional: lightweight lining fabric, cut the same size, if you want less light

First, measure your window twice. Write the numbers down. We are not reinventing the wheel here.

My panels finish 63 inches long. So I cut each panel at 70 inches long. That gives me room for the top and bottom hems.

Cut two panels, each the full width of fabric by 70 inches long. Leave the width as it comes off the bolt for now.

Press your fabric lightly. Do not press all the life out of that crinkle. A gentle press to remove fold lines is plenty.

Now hem the sides. Fold each long side under 1/2 inch twice. Press, pin, and stitch close to the inner fold.

Use a 2.5 mm stitch length. That is about 10 stitches per inch. Nice and steady does it.

Next, hem the bottom. Fold the bottom edge up 1/2 inch, then up 2 1/2 inches more. Press and stitch across.

That deep bottom hem adds a little weight. It helps the panel hang straighter. Just like that.

Now make the rod pocket at the top. Fold the top edge down 1/2 inch, then down 3 inches more.

Press that fold well. Stitch across, close to the lower fold. Leave both ends open.

Slow down at those thick folded corners. Go steady or the needle can deflect. No rushing here.

Slide the rod through the pocket. Gather the fabric evenly along the rod. Hang the second panel the same way.

Step back and check. Both panels should meet in the middle and hang even.

Make both panels at the same time. Cut both, hem both, then pocket both. Matching panels stay matching that way.

If a hem wobbles a little, do not panic. Curtains gather and fold when they hang. Small wobbles disappear in those folds.

It does not have to be perfect. You are your own worst critic, and nobody else is measuring your hems.

Take your time. It is not a race. A calm afternoon makes a pair you will enjoy for years.

If I can do this, y'all can do it. Really. Two big rectangles, straight seams, and you are done.

One last tip. Hang them, then live with them a day before any fix. Mustard looks richer at sunset.

Oh my goodness, that warm glow is really really good.

Thank y'all so much for sewing along with me today. We'll see you next time. Bye.