Hey everyone! Today you will learn how to sew a simple pair of curtains from one wide cut of fabric.
Here we go.
First, let's look at this fabric
This is Blue Turquoise Haze.
It comes from Wilmington Fabrics.
It is a cotton wideback fabric.
And it measures a full 108" wide.
The fiber type is cotton.
It is sold by the yard.
The color is blue turquoise.
The tags place it with the light blues.
It works as a blender fabric.
That means it adds color without a busy print.
The tags also call it a dry brush fabric.
So you get soft texture across the surface.
Just like that, the color does the talking.
That haze look is really really pretty.
It reads calm and fresh anywhere.
But that 108" width is the real helper here.
Most curtain panels need piecing or narrow cuts.
You get one wide piece instead.
One cut can become both panels.
No seam hunting, no matching, no fuss.
We're not reinventing the wheel here.
The project: a pair of curtains
We are making two finished panels.
Each panel finishes about 52" wide.
Each panel finishes about 84" long.
That is a standard curtain length, folks.
Together they cover a window nicely.
Think a window about 48" to 60" wide.
The extra width gives you soft gathers.
Why does this fabric suit curtains?
The wide width splits cleanly into two panels.
The cotton presses crisp, clean hems.
And the blue turquoise haze glows in daylight.
Sun coming through it is super duper pretty.
You could hang these with a rod pocket.
You could add grommets across the top.
Or you could use clip rings instead.
My preference is the simple rod pocket.
It sews fast and hangs soft.
The other two work great too.
Completely up to you.
Materials list
- 2 1/2 yards of Blue Turquoise Haze Cotton Wideback — that gives you one piece 108" wide by 90" long to split into two panels
- Matching thread — I like a 50-weight cotton for hemming
- A size 90/14 needle — fresh, so it glides through the folded hem layers
- A long tape measure — these panels are bigger than a quilting ruler
- Chalk or a removable marker for marking your cut and hem lines
- Pins or clips for holding the folded hems
- Your curtain rod, brackets, and clip rings if you chose them
- Your iron — honestly, the iron does half this project
Brief steps
First, hang your rod before you cut.
Measure from the rod down to your sill.
Or measure to the floor, your choice.
That number sets your finished length.
Now press your whole piece well.
Big fabric loves to hold fold lines.
Lay it out flat somewhere big.
A clean floor works just fine, y'all.
Cut your piece in half across the width.
Each half measures about 54" by 90".
Here is your warning, right at the risk.
Measure twice before that first cut.
A crooked cut here follows both panels.
Slow down, square the edge, then cut.
Now fold each long side under 1/2".
Press, then fold under another 1/2".
Stitch those side hems down each panel.
Use a stitch length of about 3.0 mm.
Next, fold the top under 1/2" and press.
Then fold the top down 3" more.
Stitch along the lower edge of that fold.
Just like that, you have a rod pocket.
For the bottom, fold under 1/2".
Then fold up a 3" hem and stitch.
Check your length before that final stitching.
Hang one panel and look first.
Adjust the second panel to match it.
Practical tips from my table
Press before you measure.
Then measure after you press.
I learned that one the hard way, y'all.
My first curtains hung a full inch uneven.
One panel relaxed after pressing, the other did not.
The fix was easy: I re-hemmed the long one.
Nobody ever noticed but me.
If your window is wider, buy more yardage.
Add a third panel in the middle.
It gathers in and looks intentional.
And remember the permission beat, folks.
It does not have to be perfect.
You are your own worst critic.
Nobody visits and measures your hems.
Take your time, it is not a race.
If I can do this, y'all can do it.
Slide them open, let that blue glow in.
Oh my goodness, what a difference a curtain makes.
Thanks for spending a little time with me today.
We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the Blue Turquoise Haze Cotton Wideback Fabric Per Yard at Linda's Electric Quilters.
