Hey everyone, today we're making a simple pair of window curtains that let a bold geometric print do all the decorating.
Here we go. Let's talk fabric first.
This is Flock Together Fractal Jewel Cotton, from In The Beginning Fabrics. The designer is Jason Yenter. It is 100% cotton, and the width of fabric is 44"/45". That's what the product listing tells us, plain and simple.
The print is abstract and geometric. The tags name pixels, shapes, and squares. The color story is multi color, and the name says jewel, so picture rich, saturated color broken into small pieces.
Picture that hanging in a window. Light comes through the cotton. The little squares light up. Just like that, the whole room feels brighter.
Why this fabric suits a pair of curtains
Curtains are big, flat panels. That makes them perfect for a geometric print like this one. The fractal pattern gets room to repeat. Nothing has to be cut up tiny. Nothing gets lost.
It suits real life, too. A busy multi color print is forgiving. A small wrinkle here. A little dust there. It all blends right in between washings.
My preference is a simple rod pocket pair. No rings. No fancy hardware. But you could use clip rings if you like that look, or make one wide panel instead of two. Completely up to you. We're not reinventing the wheel here.
What you'll need
- 4 yards of Flock Together Fractal Jewel Cotton, 44"/45" wide, 100% cotton
- Matching thread for construction
- A curtain rod, already hung, so you can measure your real window
- Your usual basics: rotary cutter or scissors, a long ruler, pins or clips, a marking tool, and a size 80/12 needle
This plan makes one pair of curtains. Each panel finishes about 42" wide by 63" long. That fits a lot of standard windows, with the pair covering about 84" of width gathered on the rod.
Here is the cutting math. Cut two panels, each 44" wide by 72" long. The extra length covers your hems and the rod pocket. Measure your own window first, though. If your finished length needs to be longer or shorter, change that 72" cut before you start. Measure twice. Cut once. That old saying earns its keep here.
Brief steps
First, press your fabric well. Then square up the edges. Go slow on that first cut. A straight edge now saves you fussing later. Check which way the squares run, and keep both panels going the same direction.
Second, hem the sides. Fold each long edge in 1/2", then another 1/2", and press. Stitch close to the fold with a 1/4" seam allowance feel, at about 8 to 10 stitches per inch. Do both sides of both panels. Take your time, it's not a race.
Third, make the bottom hem. Fold the bottom up 1/2", then another 3", and press. That deep hem gives the curtain a little weight, so it hangs nice and straight. Stitch close to the top fold of the hem.
Fourth, make the rod pocket. Fold the top down 1/2", then another 3", and press. Stitch close to the bottom fold of that pocket. Leave both ends open. Your rod slides right through. Backstitch at both ends, because that spot takes a lot of tugging every time you change the curtains.
Fifth, hang them up and step back. Check the length on the real rod. If one panel hangs a touch longer, that's fine. Adjust the hem if it bothers you, or leave it and enjoy them. Just like that, you're done.
My tips from the sewing room
Tip one: test on a scrap first. Fold a scrap double and check your stitch length and tension. I've skipped that test before. I've also had to rip it out before. Two minutes now saves real time later.
Tip two: press every fold before you stitch it. A pressed fold basically sews itself. An unpressed fold fights you the whole way down.
Tip three: sew both panels the same way, in the same order. Do the sides on panel one, then the sides on panel two. That way your hands learn the rhythm, and the pair matches when they hang side by side.
Tip four: it doesn't have to be perfect. If a hem wobbles a little, leave it. You're your own worst critic. Nobody is standing at your window checking your stitching with a ruler.
If I can do this, y'all can do it. Super duper easy, and it makes a really really big difference in a room.
Thanks so much for sewing along with me today, folks. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the Flock Together Fractal Jewel Cotton 44"/45" Fabric Per Yard at Linda's Electric Quilters.
