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Complete Curtains Sewing and Installation
Instructions
First things first. Before you
start you may want to
go to our "Designing Window Treatments"
page to get ideas on what your final look can achieve.
Then you may wish to
go to our "Lace Curtain Dictionary"
to become familiar with the terms used.  Lastly
you may wish to
go to our "Types of Curtain Rods"page
to choose the style of Rods to use. If you have purchased
lace by the yard, have basic sewing knowledge and access to
a sewing machine, you can make a beautiful curtain in a short
amount of time. Learning how to sew lace curtains is a very
easy matter. We have quite a few lace curtain patterns
using lace fabric from our collection that can make a big difference
in the "look" of your room, adding color and style to your decor.
At Olde Worlde Lace we try to make ordering curtain lace
by the yard very easy. Once lace yardage is made
into lace curtains, it's easy to hang them just where you want
them. With these simple step-by-step Lace Curtain sewing instructions
, you can: (1) measure your windows and purchase the correct
amount of fabric; (2) ; and (3) install the curtains on your
windows.
Equipment and Supplies
As in any project, it helps to know what
equipment and supplies you are going to need before you get
started. To sew a lace curtain, you will need the following
some equipment and supplies.
First, you'll need the following tools:
Also, you'll need these sewing items:
To install a curtain inside the window frame,
all you will need is a spring-tension curtain rod. To hang the
curtain on the wall outside of the window frame, you will need
these items:
tape measure
pencil
cafe-style curtain rod and its brackets
screw driver
screws or molly bolts
drill
level
Preparing to Sew a Lace
Curtain
You're probably ready to start sewing right
away, but there is a certain order of things that need to be
accomplished first.
Note: Since the size of the window determines
the amount of material you will first need, measure the window
Before you can sit down at your sewing machine
and begin to sew, you must:
-
Decide what type of curtain rod you want
to use.
-
Measure the window
-
Purchase the curtain lace fabric and
rod.
-
Cut the curtain pieces out of the fabric.
Deciding what type of curtain rod to use.
A simple curtain can be hung with a cafe-style curtain rod or
a spring-tension rod. Mounting a spring-tension rod does not
require any hardware and installs the curtain inside the window
frame. A cafe-style curtain rod must be hung with brackets that
are affixed to the wall-side of the window frame and hangs the
curtain outside of the window frame, against the wall. So, before
you go any further,decide where on the window you want the curtain
to hang and what kind of curtain rod you'll need to do that.
Measuring the window. The measurements you
take here will determine the success or failure of your curtain
making project. Remember the old saying: MEASURE TWICE,
CUT ONCE! Refer to the diagram below as you measure
your window in the following manner:
-
Get your pencil, paper, and measuring
tape.
-
Decide how long or short you want the
curtain to be.
-
Measure the width of the window. For
a curtain that will fit inside the window frame, measure
from the inside of one corner to the inside of the other
corner. For a curtain that fits outside the window frame,
measure between the width outside the window frame
where you want the curtain.
-
Write down your measurement in inches.
-
Measure the desired length of your curtain
above and below the window where you want the curtain or
in the case of a cafe curtain measure from where you will
hang the rod to the desired length.
-
Always figure your measurements in inches.
Figure 1. Measuring
the window
Time to purchase the fabric and curtain rod.
Now it's time to figure the amount of material you will need
including allowing for a pattern repeat.
To determine how much lace material
you need:
Get your pencil, paper, and calculator.
1. Determine how full you wish to have the gather of material.
As an example all of the Heritage Lace Curtain pictures
("Click
Here") are shown as 1 1/2 fullness. This
means that if your rod is 60 inches you would need a curtain
that has a finished width of 90 inches (1 1/2 X 60 =90).
You would need two widths. You can use a fullness
as much as 3 times as in custom lace window treatments if
you wish. If your rod size is larger and your answer
is wider than the width of the fabric that you are purchasing
you will need at least two or even more widths.
2. Add inches to the length of the finished
curtain to allow enough material to make the rod pocket
and hem. As an example if you want a 1 1/2 inch
rod pocket and a 3 inch bottom hem you will need to add
1 1/2 + 3 = 4 1/2 inches. You would double that (in
order to make double hems) which would be 9 inches which
you need to add to your desired finished length to give
you the total lace yardage you will need when you sew each
width together.
3. You will then need to adjust for the
pattern repeat. When you sew widths together it is
just like when you use wallpaper. You have to cut
each width a little longer (cut length) in order to match
the pattern across the lace curtain (or wallpaper).
To do this you divide the total length in inches by the
pattern repeat. Round that number up to the next highest
full number and multiply that amount by the pattern repeat
to get the actual cut length of each width. For example
if you have a length of fabric that is 102 inches
and a pattern repeat of 12 inches it would be 102 / 12 =
8 1/2. Round the 8 1/2 to 9. 9 X 12 = 108 (cut
length) which is the amount you need for each width in order
to allow for a pattern match.
4. To get the total amount of yardage
you need just multiply the amount of widths you need by
the cut length and divide by 36. For instance if you
need two widths as in example above and the cut length is
108 then it would be 108 X 2 = 216 / 36 = 6 yards.
IF THIS IS YOUR FIRST EXPERIENCE AT SEWING
THIS CAN SOUND COMPLICATED. YOU ARE WELCOME TO GIVE
US A CALL ON OUR TOLL FREE 1-866-775-LACE (5223) NUMBER OR E-MAIL
US ON OUR
"CONTACT
PAGE".
WE
WILL BE VERY HAPPY TO FIGURE ALL OF THIS FOR YOU. JUST
GIVE US YOUR CHOICE OF PATTERN, ROD WIDTH, DESIRED FULLNESS,
FINISHED LENGTH AND THE SIZE OF YOUR ROD POCKET AND BOTTOM HEM.
WE WILL FIGURE THE AMOUNT OF LACE YARDAGE YOU NEED AND EVEN
TELL YOU HOW MANY INCHES IN LENGTH TO CUT EACH PIECE.
Cutting the curtain pieces.
Let me remind you to
MEASURE TWICE, CUT ONCE. Follow
these steps to cut out your curtain widths:
-
Lay the material out on your work table,
wrong side up, making sure to smooth out all of the wrinkles.
- Measure the cut length (the length
after adjusting for pattern repeat) of each width (if more
than one) with your tape measure (W'),
marking the edge of that width with pins or a fabric marker.
-
Check your measurements one more time.
Make sure you cut exactly where you figured the length
because it will affect how the pattern repeat comes out.
-
Cut out the curtain piece along the pins
and/or markings.
Sewing the Curtain
After all that preparation,
it's finally time to start sewing. Remember that the wrong side
of a fabric is that side which you don't want to show. The fabric
design and pattern are not as attractive on the wrong side.
There are three steps involved in sewing your curtain: (1) setting
up your equipment, (2) sewing the widths together, (3) making
the curtain casing, and (4) hemming the curtain.
Setting up your equipment.
It's important to have everything ready to go before you start
to sew. To get ready, do the following:
-
Choose a time to sew when you can work
without interruptions.
-
Set up your iron and ironing board, setting
the iron at the proper setting for your curtain fabric.
-
Set up your sewing machine on your work
table and thread it with your chosen thread.
Sewing the widths together
in order to match the pattern.
-
Place one width on top of the other with
the right sides facing each other.
-
Slide the top width up or down until
the pattern on each matches the other. Part of one
piece will be longer than the other on top and the other
will be longer on the bottom.
-
Cut off the excess single layers at the
top and bottom.
-
Measure in 3/8 inch and sew widths together.
-
Repeat this for as many widths as are
included in the curtain.
Sewing the rod pocket. The
rod pocket will form the part of the curtain that fits over
the rod. To make the rod pocket:
-
Turn down the top edge of the fabric
1 inch along the entire top, wrong side to wrong
side, pressing the fabric with the iron as you go, until
the fabric stays down by itself.
-
Turn down the same edge another 2 inches,
(or whatever measurement will allow the rod to pass through
after sewing) with the right side of the previous turned-
down edge against the wrong side of the fabric, again pressing
the fabric with the iron as you go, until the fabric stays
folded by itself.
-
Pin along lower folded edge.
-
Sew along pinned edge.
Hemming the sides and bottom
of the curtain. If you want your curtain to have a finished,
professional look, you must hem the sides and bottom. Follow
these steps to hem the sides of the curtain:
-
Fold the edges of the fabric in 1 inch
along each side, wrong side to wrong side, pressing the
fabric with the iron as you go, until the fabric stays down
by itself.
-
Turn each side edge in another 1 1/2
inches, with the right side of the previous turned-in edge
against the wrong side of the fabric, again pressing the
fabric with the iron as you go, until the fabric stays folded
by itself.
-
Pin along folded edges.
-
Sew along pinned edges
Now, follow these steps
to hem the bottom of the curtain:
-
Fold the bottom edge of the fabric up
3 inch, wrong side to wrong side, pressing the fabric with
the iron as you go, until the fabric stays down by itself.
-
Turn the bottom edge up another 3 inches,
with the right side of the previous turned-in edge against
the wrong side of the fabric, again pressing the fabric
with the iron as you go, until the fabric stays folded by
itself.
-
Pin along folded edges.
-
Sew along pinned edges
Take a look at your beautiful
new curtain. The only thing left to do now is to hang it up.
Installing the Curtain
Rod and Hanging the Curtain
The way you install the
curtain rod will greatly affect the look of your new curtain.
After all the effort you put into making the curtain,you don't
want it to hang crooked or fall down.
Note: If you're mounting
the curtain rod outside the window frame on a part of the wall
that is not backed by a wooden stud, I strongly recommend that
you use molly bolts (or other similar device) instead of screws
to affix the brackets. This will prevent the curtain rod brackets
from pulling out of the wall.
Note: Make sure you really
want that molly bolt where you're putting it, because once it's
in, the sleeve can't be removed without making a large hole
in the wall.
To use a molly bolt:
-
Drill a hole that is slightly smaller
than the metal sleeve at the desired location.
-
Insert the sleeve into the hole.
-
Place the curtain rod bracket over the
hole.
-
Put the washer on the screw and screw
the screw into the metal sleeve.
Installing the curtain rod.
Installing a curtain rod need not be difficult or time consuming.
If you choose to use a spring-tension rod, all you have to do
is push the ends of the rod together until the rod is short
enough to fit inside the window frame, put the rod inside the
frame, then let the rod expand until it fits snugly against
each side of the window.To install a cafe-style curtain rod,
gather these tools:
measuring tape
curtain rod and curtain rod brackets
screw driver
level
drill
pencil
screws or molly bolts.
Now you're ready to put
up the curtain rod by following these steps:
-
Hold one of the brackets against the
wall where you want the edge of the curtain, and mark the
holes in the bracket on the wall with a pencil.
-
Pre-drill the marked holes.
-
Insert molly bolt sleeves if you are
using these instead of plain screws.
-
Place the bracket against the wall and
insert the screws into the holes or molly bolt sleeves.
-
Use the screwdriver to screw the screws
into the wall .
-
Measure the distance of the bracket from
the edge of the frame, and them down.
-
Repeat steps 1-5, making sure to place
the second bracket the same distance from the edge of the
window as the first bracket.
-
Hang the rod on the brackets, using the
level to test for crookedness.
-
Hang the curtain if the rod is level,
or remove the second bracket and repeat step 7 if the rod
is too crooked.
Hanging the curtain. Now
you're ready for the last and easiest step of all, hanging your
beautiful new curtain. Just follow these steps:
-
Insert the curtain rod into the casing
at the top of the curtain.
-
Gather the much-wider curtain along the
rod until the rod-ends are visible at either end of the
curtain.
-
Hang the curtain and rod up on the window.
-
Arrange your curtain along the length
of the rod so that it gathers evenly.
You may want to continue
on and make 3 or 4 inch wide tiebacks and valances to further
enhance the look you want. Now that you've finished hanging
your curtain, take a moment to look around the room. You'll
notice that it looks completely different. Window curtains pull
the decor of a room together, softening the edges of the window
and making the room a more pleasant place to be.Give yourself
a big pat on the back for taking the time to make your curtain,
then relax with a cup of tea while you plan your next home decorating
project.
See More
"Sewing Tips"
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"Home Page"
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"Decorating Tips"
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