Looking for help with curtains/window treatments
Since I'm all into decorating right now, I wondered if I could have some help? I'm hoping to try my hand at making some curtains/window treatments for our living room and kitchen, especially now that I've taken a peek at curtain pricing and about fell over. Maybe window treatments are special but they are not that special for me to warrant forking over that kind of money. No ma'am.
So, inspite of my limited craft and sewing ability, I've pretty much determined I'm going to make curtains. But, I can't find next to anything on the internet to help me in my endeavors. I am heading to the library in the next few days to pick up some books, but was hoping I might solicit some help here as well.
If you have made any type of curtains or window treatments and would be willing to share a picture and simple instructions with us, I would be most grateful. Please email me or else post it on your blog and email/comment with the link. Also, if you know of any helpful books, patterns, or websites on making your own window treatments, I'd appreciate hearing about those as well. Thanks in advance for your help. I'm looking forward to seeing your beautiful creations and being inspired!
So, inspite of my limited craft and sewing ability, I've pretty much determined I'm going to make curtains. But, I can't find next to anything on the internet to help me in my endeavors. I am heading to the library in the next few days to pick up some books, but was hoping I might solicit some help here as well.
If you have made any type of curtains or window treatments and would be willing to share a picture and simple instructions with us, I would be most grateful. Please email me or else post it on your blog and email/comment with the link. Also, if you know of any helpful books, patterns, or websites on making your own window treatments, I'd appreciate hearing about those as well. Thanks in advance for your help. I'm looking forward to seeing your beautiful creations and being inspired!
posted by Crystal Paine at 10:22 PM
26 Comments:
Crystal,
I googled "make your own curtains" and this GREAT site came up: www.alternative-windows.com. They have free (and really detailed) directions for valances, cafe curtains, no-sew curtains (YAY!), and others, too. Hope this helps- wish I'd had this link when we moved in OUR house! ;o)
In His joy,
Mrs. Wilt
PS- They also have free directions for making bedding, cushions, tablecloths, and all kinds of wonderful decorating goodies. Good luck! :o)
Crystal, I have made a few different styles of curtains, but nothing too fancy. However, you could look and see if you're interested in anything like what I have and I can post about how I made them. :) I was going to just link to a couple of the pictures, but I couldn't seem to get the html right. Oh well. :)
And yes, the prices of curtains is exactly why I made my own!! I am not a big seamstress either. :)
I haven't made any with a pattern, but I found that making valances was easy. I just measured down the window how far I wanted it to go, cut the material twice as wide as the window and as "long" as I wanted plus 2" for hemming and the curtain rod. Then I did a 1/4" fold at the bottom and then folded again to hem (like you would hem a skirt or something). Did the same at the toop with a 1 1/4" "pocket" for the rod to go through. I just go cheap rods at Target. Of course, if you get a thick rod you'll need a bigger "pocket" for it to go through.
Do you have an IKEA near you? They have rather reasonably priced curtains you can hem to suite your needs. I've done a whole large window there for under $30.
Hi Crystal!
I am not skilled in sewing at all. You could always ask your talented seamstress sister to help you! Sometimes, Kmart has really good deals on curtains, valances. I have also lucked out in the clearance sections of other department stores.
Hello! I have recently come across your blog! I have a website that might help you with window treatments. It's http://www.bhg.com/bhg/category.jhtml?categoryid=/templatedata/bhg/category/data/WindowIdeaCenter.xml
(I have no idea how to make a link to it!) I hope this helps you!
Go to Big Lots!!!! They have great window treatments for a fraction of the cost. I once found Williamsburg (yes, THAT Williamsburg)designs for about $3.00 per piece. You can't make curtains that inexpensive either. I would check it out. Also too, go to the thrift stores...I know they are where you are at....there is one over by the medical center (close by you) that is really good too. Remember the back way from your old town to new???? That area.
Check out the consignment stores too......jack pot sometimes.
You might want to check out Big Lots if you have one in your new city. I was in one today and they have some pretty curtains for lots cheaper than buying material unless you *really* want to tackle curtain making. I just recently moved also and know the stresses it brings so I just wanted to pass this on in case it would help you.
Crystal, Here's one link I found found on HGTV.com: they have video to show the actual process for a few different types of curtains. http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/pac_ctnt_988/text/0,,HGTV_22056_51766,00.html
If you just go to hgtv.com and run a search for "curtain", it pulls up over a thousand results, most with detailed directions.
Good luck!! I'm going to be doing the same thing soon, so I'll be watching the responses with interest!
I recently needed new curtains also. I was going to sew them but the material I liked was almost as expensive as buying new curtains! So, here's what I did. My dining room is robin's egg blue and brown. I was very blessed to find some blue, brown, and white striped valances on EBay at a great price - $6.00 I think for two windows! I then went to Wal-Mart and bought some long brown fringe and sewed across the bottom. This really dressed them up, and they look great in my dining room.
My daughter redecorated her room with her Christmas money but ran short when she got to the curtains. Again, we visited EBay and found some nice, plain, white straight valances (brand new in package from Pottery Barn!) at a reasonable price. We were in Hobby Lobby and found these really cute turquoise (the color of her room) fabric flowers probably 6 to 8 inches in diameter. We bought four and hung one on each side of the white curtains, and they are too cute!
These ideas were time savers, and all we did was buy some reasonably priced curtains and dress them up. Too easy!
Most of what I have done is not hard nor very fancy...but they have had (in the past) and who knows these days with our very limited sewing stores out there, but a kind of special backing that helps you know where to sew if you want to make pleated drapes...
I have found some very beautiful and inexpensive "day drapes" or "sheers"...when your house is where it is too easy to see inside from passerbys, these white or off white curtains that can simply go over any kind of blind, or underneath the draw kind of draperys, can be found at antique or 2nd hand shops...that is where I got mine and am most happy with them. Washable too..and being white will go with any decor.
Here's a link to some curtains I made in October. They were super easy, and only cost around $30, if I remember correctly, for the 4 curtains. I have enough leftover fabric that I think I may make some simple panel valences for the baby room we're working on...we'll see. I don't really like sewing curatins--so boring!
http://sewchic.blogspot.com/2006/10/curtain-pictures.html
In our family room I bought 6 white sheers from Big lots(I couldn't find them cheaper than Big lots), and then sewed my own valances to give the room a more cozy feel. I have pretty big windows and I still only needed one sheer per window, but it depends on what look you are trying to acheive. Also, for our office/living room I bought two white roman blinds for our windows, and I believe they were around 12.00/piece at ikea. I love the way they look, so clean and simple.
Curtains are fun to make, and add such character to a room. Be sure to show us the results when you've finished!
Okay, I ditto Big Lots!! (I think I already told you to look there, though.) You can get nice curtains for really cheap- I found this out while re-doing Mom and Dad's room...of course, I found it out AFTER I had already bought other curtains.
Your little sis
Recently I was at JoAnn's, looking in their clearance section (everything was 50% off the marked down price too) and found some really pretty lace (about a foot in length, and then you could choose how long you wanted it to be) that had holes up at the top that makes it just perfect for using as a valence. So I couldn't resist when I got it for $1.50 a yard when it was QUITE a bit more "normal" price.
I have just redecorated my kitchen and am making new curtains. I you would like to see them, there is a picture posted on our blog here:http://tapestriesoftheheart.blogspot.com/ . They're very easy to make. If you need any advice, I'd be glad to give it. I've made lots of curtains and have yet to come across any that are hard to make. Hope that is a little encouraging. = )
I ditto Noah's comment. I have made a number of curtains using this simple valance style. Once you are comfortable with this, you can vary the style by doing tabs or sewing on ribbons to tie over the rod. I've found that unless I use fabric from a yard sale, very clearance priced or stuff that's given to me, it can still be quite expensive to make your own. It all depends on what you want and the price of the fabric. The upside is that a lot of the time you will save a good amount of money and then of course, you have many more options to get just what you want!
Check out no-sew curtains. This might save some time.
http://www.denverfabrics.com/pages/static/curtains/no-sew-curtains.htm
Could you tell us exactly where and what price you found curtains? Like the other readers I would think places like WalMart/Big Lots/Dollar General etc... would have them pretty cheap.
Hi Crystal.
DIY network has an article on 'no-sew' window treatments that has quite a few options and pictures. Some of them look really cute!
DIY Window Treatments
When I went to make curtains, I had decided I wanted something simple, like where you take fabric and loop it prettily over the rod. I figured it should be cheap! But when I realized how much fabric I had to buy at even $1 a yard, it was expensive! I ended up buying curtains for $7 each at Ross Dress for Less and the curtain rod for like $5 (decorative one) I have also gotten curtains for under $5 on clearance at K-mart.
I have made valances also very easily and there are alot of nice ways to make them!
I think half of my problem is that I am picky and I want the living room and kitchen window treatments to "match" - I'm planning to use the same fabric or something very similar for both. Trying to find some cheap curtains that are the right size and match and that I like for both rooms seems highly unlikely. I'm planning to look anyway, though, because you just never know. I'm leaning more towards something super simple and no-sew (or just a hem). I think I can make that work and do it for very inexpensively, too. We'll see.
Thanks for all your input, keep it coming and keep sending me pictures of your curtains and other decorations in your homes - it is very inspiring!
Crystal,
Unless you are really feeling creative and WANTING to make curtains, I hope you will be able to just find some great window treatments on clearance or at some type of discount store!
Your new baby will be here before you know it. Enjoy your little girl while you have this undisturbed one-on-one time.
All this coming from someone who is NOT very creative. Just sounds like lots of work and tears to me. :)
Looking forward to seeing whatever you come up with!
I'm so glad to hear your morning sickness is better and that you are off of bed rest!
You never posted about your problems with your pregnancy. Is everything alright now? You said that an update would be "forthcoming", so maybe I missed it?
Blessings,
Cindy
Another option to a valance is cornice boards. Some plywood found at Home Depot in a bargain bin and some pretty fabric stapled on could give a nice dressy look to the living room. Then, you could use matching fabric for no-sew curtains in the kitchen area. They would match, but be distinctive.
I found great deals on curtains at Target, Wal-Mart, & Big Lots also. $1 cloth napkins make up my living room valance look. You can also get a grommet kit at a hardware store for holes across the top of the curtains & use ribbon to hang them on a rod. So many possibilities!
Hi Crystal,
I got window treatments through variuos sources for the 21 windows in my home. I had one valance and two panels made (for one window). I got 2 valances at Yard Sales. 5 Treatments I got for free. Four treatments came from Ebay for my kitchen/dining room (the Delicious pattern). One Panel set I had made for utility room window. The one in the twins' nursery I ordered from Penney's just cause I was on bedrest and in a hurry to get it finished. It was the most expensive by far at $35 dollars. I got 4 panels and 2 valances at Penney's online outlet for $25 for my master bedroom (they matched my bedding). The other four came from thrift stores. All total I paid less than $175.00 for all. Also check out Romantic Home Sewing by Christina Strutt. I love her ideas! Hope this helps.
Crystal, here is an ebay auction with books titles that may interest you(280069005868). I believe they were around $20 individually new(maybe more, maybe less...not sure and may depend on being hardcover or soft). Titles that have been helpful to me in home sewing are listed below(if they interest, you can search eBay or elsewhere for low individual pricing. Check for them at the library as a quick check online at our local system had three of the four and other titles but not the complete set. Believe there have been window treatment magazines...check with Barnes or some other large bookstore? Know I have other titles but have many books still packed.).
Sewing for the Home
More Sewing for the Home
Sewing Projects for the Home
Window Treatments
I've made swag and jabot treatments, pleated(with coordinating color inserts and covered buttons) fabric cornices, and roman shades to match for bedrooms but they were all custom sizes and carpet color coordinated and left at the windows when the house was sold. Have pics but know they are still packed away, too.
Hope this helps get you started along with the other great ideas already shared!
Joyce :-)
Crystal, this site came to mind today. It isn't instructional but does have a nice online catalog that can prompt ideas for sewing.
Country Curtains
Post a Comment
<< Home