Curtain-making for beginners
There’s no better way to make your cash go further than quick furnishing fixes. So join in the craft revolution and try a little credit-crunch creativity! By Janet Palmer
Easiest-ever curtains
Made-to-measure curtains are expensive, so if you can't find readymade curtains in your choice of fabric, have a go at making these. They're basically panels of fabric hemmed all round and secured to a curtain pole using curtain rings with clips such as Adele or Taljare rings with clips, from Ikea (www.ikea.co.uk, 0845 355 1141).
Measuring up
Before you buy any fabric, work out how much you will need. Measure from the curtain pole to the floor or wherever you want your curtains to finish. Add on a total of 20cm for hems top and bottom. This gives you the length of fabric needed for one panel. Most curtain fabrics are between 137 and 150cm wide and you need at least twice the width of your curtain pole - not the window. For instance, for a 150cm wide pole you will need two 150cm wide panels.
If you find you need three panels, cut one in half lengthwise and join each half to a full-width panel giving you two panels of one and a half widths each. When you hang these curtains, have the join nearer the outer edge of the curtains where it will be less noticeable.
The next thing to consider is whether your fabric has a pattern. You'll need to allow extra fabric for matching up at any seams and so the pattern matches across the width of a pair of curtains. If you're not sure how much extra to allow, take your measurements with you and ask for assistance when you buy your fabric.
How to make
Cut out your panels, making sure any pattern will match across the width of all panels. If necessary, join any panels together to give you sufficient width. Neaten seam allowances and press them open. Press under 1cm then 3cm on both side edges and stitch. Press under 1cm then 9cm across top edge of panel.
Clip up your panels using about 10 rings with clips per 150cm width. Leave the curtains to hang for about a week to allow the fabric to ‘drop'. Pin up hems.
Take curtains down. Press under 1cm on edge of hem, then stitch the hem in place either by hand or machine depending on whether you want the stitching to be visible or not. Press and re-hang the curtains.
Illustrations: Terry Evans
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