I hate spending too much money on curtains. So, I'm going to buy 4 cloth tablecloths, 84 inches in length each, and straight-sew to make a pocket rod hole. This should serve well as panels. I'm then going to buy 2 cloth tablecloths at 120" length. I'm going to sew these together at the widths edge. This will be then be used as a valance.
All these tablecloths are purchased at a bargain price. I'm buying the fancy loop things (sorry I don't know what they're called!) that you place on each corner and one for the center. I'm hoping the center one will hide the joining seam. This is a northern faced window so I won't have to worry about fading so I'm not going to line these curtains. I already have the pocket rod from the previous curtains. Can anyone offer me advice on anything that I may be overlooking?
Yvonne k
Dear Yvonne,
I really like your idea and it will be very attractive. You can find great free instructions for tassels for tiebacks on the internet if you want that effect. You could also do tiebacks from the same material as your curtains.
If you haven't bought the material yet, I have another suggestion for you. Sometimes you can find a whole set of new drapes at a thrift store. I have frequently seen them and I know stores often give them stock that is from the year prior. I bought a new set for our office and they cost $8.00. I had never bought curtains this way before and have spent bundles buying good ones for years! I am really enjoying this bargain shopping. The other thing is material which is lovely in the same stores. There are also pretty brooches which you could match to use if you do the tiebacks. It can be an elegant touch to your curtains.
Which ever way you do them, I'll bet they will be lovely!
(09/27/2003)
By Bev
I use sheets, purchased on sale. I have some I made twenty years ago and they are still looking good. I have also used towels, pillow cases, napkins for valances, etc. The possibilities are endless. With some clever folding and a little sewing, you can make the top of the sheet look like it has a valance without any cutting. Then you can do a loose running stitch by hand the length of the valance at even intervals, pull each section of stitches to make a gather, knot and stitch off, you have a ruffled valance now.
By Stormy
I made my curtains from $1.00 dollar material from the craft department at Wal-mart. Just go to the cloth department and they should have a table with cloth that is $1.00 and they put new fabric on there all the time. They have all sorts of colors and textures! (06/20/2004)
By Erricka
Tie backs. I'm sure you can arrange to have left over fabric, you may want to fashion some sort of tie backs to hold them open in a nice way.
If you have a pattern on the material, and you sound like an experienced seamstress, just pay attention to the pattern direction. You'd hate to save money and end up with funky curtains that need to be re-made.
If you do have left over material, think about throw pillows for the couch. They are SUPER easy and will bring the room together and make the curtains look professional. Or, even use the table cloth on a table in the room, lol. (09/25/2004)
By Jade
I love your curtain idea! I made roman shades this way, but I used discount sheets that had a hole in them. I cut them to fix the window, and cut the bad part off. Then I put velcro at the top and a piece of velcro on a
2 x 1 piece of wood my husband had lying in the basement. I then put screw eyelets in the wood and sewed eyelets on the back of the fabric. Then I threaded the ribbon through and put the tassel on the end of it.
The only thing I bought was ribbon, and eyelets and 2 pretty tassels for the blind pulls.
I get so many comments on them! I am going to make more, I think. (10/26/2004)
By sarah_bellum
What a great idea! Tassel tiebacks at Walmart are pretty reasonable. You can also use tablecloths to cover a headboard or make a backdrop for picture taking. (03/24/2005)
By suzi homemaker
when my mom redid her 1/2 bath, she used towels in her new colors for her curtains. My ds did the same thing in the trailer she used to live in. They looked very nice. I have also used sheets for curtains. Dont have to pay high prices of curtains with a little imagination. (09/14/2006)
By janice
I do the same thing! I have a window in my kitchen that need to be covered for many reasons, heat and sun, cold and drafts for some, and awful holes left by someone who didn't know what they were doing. My last curtain makeover, I got some fabric at Joanns for $1 a yard (one of their half price clearance item sales, gotta love those!) and bought 3 yards, waa laa! Threw a quick stitch and done! You can even do a quick running stitch if you don't have a machine.
I also use shower curtain rods for curtain rods. In one of my upper rooms, someone built bookcase so close to the window there is no room to put curtain rod brackets, so I used a shower curtain rod. I also have a rod in my daughters room, for her thicker curtains (to keep out heat, cold and light) to make the curtain flush to the window, instead of having that gap that occurs when you have curtains hanging from the wall. (07/11/2007)
By Michawn
I've been doing this for years. Be careful if you pick a plaid or checks. I have foumd small (but noticable when hung) variations in the size of the patterns. You want them to match when hung. I usually get them at TJMaxx and get more than I need (you can always return them) to make sure I get matching panels. (09/24/2008)
By g.campbell
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