Hey everyone. Today you're going to learn how to sew a simple pair of curtains from one wide piece of fabric.
Here we go.
The fabric first
This is the Blue Bright Night Butterflies Royalty Cotton Wideback Fabric Per Yard from Timeless Treasures.
Let's start with the numbers.
It is 108 inches wide.
It is 100% cotton.
It weighs 144 grams per square meter, a nice quilting weight.
It is digitally printed and sold per yard.
The look is right there in the name, folks. Blue is the color story, with an aqua note in the mix. Bright butterflies carry the print. They give you color and movement across a big, open surface.
Here's why the width matters so much. A curtain panel needs width and length at the same time. At 108 inches wide, this fabric gives you two generous panels from one cut across the width. No piecing. Just like that.
The project: a pair of curtains
A fresh pair of curtains changes a whole room. You sew straight lines. You hang two panels. Suddenly the window looks finished.
My pair finishes at about 50 inches wide by 84 inches long, per panel. That is a good standard length. Measure your own window before you cut. You want the pair about one and a half to two times the window width, so they gather nicely. Completely up to you.
This fabric suits curtains for three reasons. First, those butterflies get room to show across a full panel. Second, that 108-inch width gives you both panels side by side. Third, cotton presses crisp hems and hangs well.
Let's do the math together.
Start with one cut 90 inches long, using the full 108-inch width. Cut it in half lengthwise. Now you have two pieces, each 54 inches wide by 90 inches long.
Side hems take 4 inches of width. Top and bottom hems take 6 inches of length. That lands you at 50 by 84 inches, per panel.
A 90-inch cut is 2 and a half yards. I order 3 yards, for room to square up the ends. If I can do this, y'all can do it.
What you need
- 3 yards of this wideback fabric for the pair described above
- Thread to match the blue ground
- A curtain rod and a tape measure
- A long ruler, rotary cutter or scissors, and pins
- Your sewing machine with a regular presser foot and a size 80/12 needle
- An iron, because pressed hems sew so much straighter
Brief steps
One. Press your fabric. Lay it flat and check the butterflies. Decide which way is up, so nobody flies upside down.
Two. Cut one piece 90 inches long from your yardage, using the full width. Then cut it in half lengthwise, into two pieces 54 inches wide.
Three. Hem the long sides first. Fold each long edge under 1 inch and press. Fold under 1 inch again and press. Sew close to the inner fold, at about 8 to 10 stitches per inch.
Four. Make the bottom hem the same way. Fold under 1 inch, press, fold under 1 inch again, press, and sew.
Five. Make the rod pocket at the top. Fold the top edge under 1 inch and press. Fold under 3 inches more and press. Sew close to the lower fold. That pocket fits most home rods. Check yours first, folks.
Six. Press both panels flat. Slide them onto the rod, spread the gathers with your fingers, and step back.
Seven. Let them hang a day before you judge the length. Cotton relaxes a little on the rod. Oh my goodness, those butterflies in window light are really really pretty.
Tips from my window to yours
Wash and press before you cut. Cotton can shrink a little, and shrinking first keeps your curtains the planned length.
Try two hanging options. Sew the rod pocket like I do, or hem the top flat and use clip rings. I prefer the pocket, for that soft gathered look. Completely up to you.
Go slow on those long side hems. A 90-inch hem wants to wander. Guide gently, and let the machine feed it.
Here's your permission beat, and I mean it. Your panels do not have to match to the last sixteenth of an inch. Gathered on the rod, a tiny difference disappears. You're your own worst critic. Take your time. It's not a race.
We're not reinventing the wheel here. One wide cut, straight hems, and a window that finally looks dressed. Super duper easy.
Alrighty. Thanks for sewing along with me today, folks. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the Blue Bright Night Butterflies Royalty Cotton Wideback Fabric Per Yard at Linda's Electric Quilters.
