How to make simple kitchen curtains
Kitchen curtains are relatively easy to make because
- you just have to know how to sew in straight lines
- kitchen windows tend to be smaller than other windows in your home, as are curtains, with no large lengths and widths of fabric that can be unwieldy
- washable lightweight cotton curtains are best for kitchens and these fabrics are easy to handle when sewing
Here are the easy steps to make your kitchen curtains.
1. Measure your Curtains
Wide
Measure the width of the rod – this will be the width of each finished curtain panel in a pair of curtains if you want to achieve reasonable fullness after ruching.
Long
Take the length (or drop) of your curtains starting from the rod to two or three inches below the sill for curtains that go all the way to the window or to the floor for curtains that go all the way to the floor (the shorter is generally better in an informal room like a kitchen)
2. Calculate how much fabric you need
In addition to the length, you will need about 4 inches for a top header and 6 inches for a bottom hem and about 4 inches for the width of each curtain panel for the side seams. (Remember to include both curtains in your calculations when calculating how much fabric you need.)
The fabric comes in fixed widths. Try to get the width correct so that you only need one width for each curtain panel. Don’t worry if it’s a bit too wide. You can increase meetings. If the fabric is not wide enough, you can stitch the lengths together. Remember to include the additional seams in your calculations.
If your fabric has a pattern, you will need to align it between the two curtains. Take any waste here into account. You don’t have to worry too much about a little pattern repeat.
If fabric is not preshrunk, add 10% allowance for shrinkage
3. Prepare the fabric
Wash and iron the fabric so it doesn’t shrink BEFORE you make your curtains with it.
Trim the pieces as needed, making sure to match the large patterns and have the pattern run in the correct direction on both curtains.
4. Sew
Join lengths as needed for wide curtains. Fix, sew and iron the seams. Then fold and stitch the side seams of each curtain panel to enhance the edges. Fold the top 4 inches of the curtain panels inward and press, then fold 2 inches down and press to make a 2-inch hem. Sew this hem close to the bottom of the seam (leaving about a two-inch channel for the curtain rod).
5. Hang and Finish the Curtains
Leaving the bottom hems intact, hang the curtains on the drapery rods, then pin the hems together. (This is the best way to get the correct length.) Draw the curtains down and finish the bottom hems carefully after folding, pinning and ironing. Do not cut off excess fabric within reason: a larger hem will be heavier and will help the curtain hang well. Just fold it under an inch or so, then press to make it neat and then create a 4 or 5 inch hem to match each curtain panel.