Turn a Sheet into Curtains {Craft Tutorial}

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When updating my daughter’s bedroom I knew one of the biggest concerns was her curtains. We spent the summer hanging an ugly blue sheet over the windows to block out the early morning light with hopes of getting a few more hours of sleep in the morning. I’ve spent years admiring my friend Anna’s homemade curtains with a beautiful paisley blue fabric and knew I wanted something with a fun pattern on them. I searched and searched but couldn’t find curtains I liked that were affordable (I stress “affordable” in that comment). How can people charge so much for a piece of fabric with a pocket sewn in it?

Although I’m not a master seamstress I wanted to tackle the project and stumbled upon an affordable set of full size sheets at my local TJ Maxx! The pattern was perfect with bold pink and green polka dots and I was dancing in the isle when I found them. I did some searching online and the project seemed doable! If I can do this can you too! Here are the step-by-step examples of what I did.

MATERIALS:

• Full size flat sheet (Measure your window and compare to the size of the sheet to ensure you have enough fabric. You’ll need about 2.5 times the width of your window in order to have nice fullness in the curtain.)

• Seam ripper (small scissors might work in a pinch)

• Sewing machine & matching thread (seam tape would work for a no-sew quick project!)

DIRECTIONS:

1. Find a set of inexpensive full size sheets that you love and do a happy dance for the cost savings by being crafty!

2. Wash and iron the flat sheet.

3. Find the end with the larger hem and rip the end seam only to the fold (where the hem ends). ** Note: If you want a curtain with a ruffled top you’ll need to leave the larger hem for your bottom hem and use the other side to make your double pocket.

4. You should have an open pocket. Fold the ragged fabric back inside the pocket and stitch or tack it so the pocket remains open. (Repeat on the other side.)

5. Thread your curtain rod through the pocket and hang on the wall covering your chosen window.

6. You likely have a pool of fabric on the floor. Some people like this appearance in formal spaces such as dining rooms.

7. If you want to shorten the length you’ll need to measure and mark the fabric at the appropriate place.

** Remember to allow for the extra fabric length to make the hem as wide as you prefer!
(Curtain and hem length is totally up to you. Some people hang them just above the floor, some at sill height and some just below the sill.)

8. Cut the extra fabric off

(I found it easiest to fold the fabric and cut once with a fabric rotary cutter but my mom suggested buying a high quality fabric scissor).

9. Fold your hem over twice to hide the raw edge

(some prefer a narrow hem while others prefer a wider hem).
Pin and iron your seam.

10. Sew your hem

(or use seam tape for a no-sew option).

11. DONE!

Hang your new curtains and admire your handy work.
(Don’t they look great next to my weeDECOR dragonflies from my previous post?!)

 

VALANCE:

See my little girl’s room reveal featuring Land of Nod accessories!