Hey everyone. Today we're making a pair of curtains, and you're going to learn how a textured Luxe Cuddle can warm up a whole window.
Meet the fabric first
This is Amber Luxe Cuddle Wild Rabbit from Shannon Fabrics. It is a Cuddle fabric, and Luxe Cuddle is the collection.
Two words fit this one. Complex and rustic.
Here's why. Wild Rabbit has a unique embossed texture. It looks almost marbled. That texture adds real depth to a flat piece of fabric.
It mimics the hide of a rabbit, but it is friendly and warm as well as chic.
Now the numbers, because they matter here. It is 100% polyester. It measures 58 to 60 inches wide.
The color is Amber. The tags call it Brown, and that is how it reads — warm and earthy.
Shannon Fabrics points to quilts and wearable scarves for this fabric. Today we're taking it to the window, and that wide cut is why it works.
The project: a pair of curtains
A pair of curtains here is simple. Two panels. Same size. Same direction. Clean hems and a rod pocket on top.
Why does this fabric suit it? First, that 58/60-inch width gives you a full panel with no piecing. Second, the embossed, marbled texture gives you pattern without a print to match. Third, that warm Amber brown brings the rustic, cozy feel curtains do best.
Let's size it with real numbers. Our example window is 48 inches wide. We want a finished length of 60 inches.
Use the full width for each panel. After side hems, each panel finishes about 56 inches wide. Two panels give you about 112 inches of fullness — more than twice the window width. Nice and gathered, just like that.
For length, cut each panel 68 inches long. That is 60 inches finished, plus room for the top pocket and the bottom hem. Two panels at 68 inches is 136 inches total. Buy 4 yards, and you'll have room to square your ends.
Materials list
- 4 yards Amber Luxe Cuddle Wild Rabbit, 58/60" wide, for a pair at 60" finished length
- All-purpose polyester thread to match the Amber color
- Size 90/14 ballpoint or stretch needle
- Walking foot for your machine
- Curtain rod and brackets, sized for your window
- Long ruler, rotary cutter or sharp scissors, and a marking pen
- Plenty of pins or clips
Brief steps
Step one. Measure your window first. Measure the width, then the length you want. Write it down before you cut. Trust me on that one.
Step two. Lay the fabric flat, right side up. Check the marbled texture. Pick one direction, and keep both panels running that same way.
Step three. Cut both panels 68 inches long. Take them outside and shake them. Cut minky edges shed a little, and a shake now saves cleanup later.
Step four. Hem the long sides first. Fold each edge under 1/2 inch, then 1/2 inch again. Clip every 3 to 4 inches. Sew with a stitch about 3.0 to 3.5 millimeters, roughly 8 to 10 stitches per inch.
Step five. Hem the bottom the same way. Fold under 1 inch, then 1 inch again, and sew.
Step six. Make the rod pocket on top. Fold the top under 1/2 inch, then fold again 3 inches. Clip it well. Sew close to the lower fold. Leave both ends open for the rod.
Step seven. Slide the rod through both pockets. Hang them up, then step back. Adjust the gathers with your hands until they fall evenly. Here we go — that window looks completely different.
Practical tips before you sew
Use that walking foot. I have sewn Cuddle without one, and the layers crept on me. I had to rip a seam out and start over. Learn from my mistake, y'all.
Check both panels side by side before you hem. If one texture runs the wrong way, you will see it in the light.
Go slow on those long hems. We're not reinventing the wheel here, but a seam will wander if you rush it. Slow down at the thick corners, too, or the needle snaps.
Want them shorter or longer? Completely up to you. Just change the cut length, and keep the pocket and hems the same.
And here is your permission beat. Your curtains do not have to be perfect. You are your own worst critic. Once they're hanging, nobody is measuring your hems. Take your time. It's not a race. If I can do this, y'all can do it.
Alrighty. Thanks for sewing along with me today. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the Amber Luxe Cuddle Wild Rabbit 58"/60" Fabric per yard at Linda's Electric Quilters.
