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!
Jamie p says
December 10, 2012 at 10:33 amGreat! I’ve been struggling with finding curtains too. I found some white blackout curtains at Walmart that you can put behind other curtains so using these tips would really help. Thanks
Janelle says
December 10, 2012 at 11:12 amJamie: I found the same blackout curtains at Target and as I was walking out I found a green set that I chose to put in front of these more sheer sheet/curtains. They work great for keeping out the light and still allow my curtains with the pattern to let light through when I want them to. Stay tuned for my next post with the room reveal!
BusyWorkingMama says
December 10, 2012 at 12:13 pmCute!!
lisa lo says
December 10, 2012 at 12:14 pmOh yeah!! Done this :o) Like the idea with the fitted sheets too.
Elle says
December 12, 2012 at 11:35 pmSo true about the price of curtains! This is a nice idea for affordability and built in coordination if that’s your style.
CCW says
December 13, 2012 at 10:56 amI have been doing this for years, especially in the bedroom! It is a thrifty way to get an entire ensemble.
CCW says
December 13, 2012 at 10:56 amI have been doing this for years, especially in the bedroom! It is a thrifty way to get an entire ensemble.
ColleenMarie82 says
December 13, 2012 at 1:22 pmCute and easy, perfect!
Janelle says
December 13, 2012 at 6:35 pmThanks everyone! Glad you like them. I adore the polka dots in her room (and the extra cash in my wallet)!
vickie couturier says
December 15, 2012 at 7:41 amwow,great tips,cant wait to try it out
Eileen says
December 16, 2012 at 6:21 pmSuch great timing…our son needs curtains and have been having a hard time finding something that is not so boring like plain blues or greys, or something not sheer or lacy or frilly. I know I can do this! Thanks for the step by step info.
Another thing is finding the right Shower curtains. I have been having heckofatime finding some. I do want fabric with a liner, so anything goes. It seems like on sale you can find most shower curtains at a good price but selection is not the best. I have looked EVERYWHERE and online. My daughter thought about making them out of sheets too. Am considering but know you would have to probably use two to swag them or have vertical seams. Any thoughts about that? I am NOT a seamstress at all, so I need EASY:)
Eileen says
December 16, 2012 at 6:23 pmOH, by the way that room did turn out beAUTIFUL! I love the molded shelf that separates the two paint colors too. Bold paint with the lighter curtains is AWESOME!
Janelle says
December 22, 2012 at 8:54 pmThanks Eileen. I’m actually FAR from a seamstress myself so give it a try. The flat sheet to curtain is actually very simple with straight lines and hems. The valance was more complicated in the measuring but again the actual sewing was all straight lines. Nothing fancy.
As I said I’m not an expert seamstress so this is just an idea for the shower curtain off the top of my head. I believe most machines have a button feature. If you had your piece of fabric (be it a sheet or standard fabric cut to size) and matched it up to the size of the shower curtain liner you wanted to use, all you’d have to do is mark where the holes of the liner were onto the fabric, than make a button hole using your machine (no, I’ve never done this but I’ve seen my mother-in-law do it!). Then use the shower curtain rings or hooks to hang and it’s done! That’s my best guess without looking online for other ideas. Give it a try and let us know if it works! We might have to try that one for a future tutorial if it does. 🙂
Girldene says
September 18, 2013 at 7:21 amHi Eileen
I used to work for J.Penny some years ago and I would show my customers how to to this something. I also showed them how to take this project onestep further and make a
comforter it is just as easy just put batten between two sheets the size you need from twin-to queen. not only will you have a whole set but do the chairs as well all you need is a large staplegun . And you can perform wonders allover your home.
Jennifer Mae Hiles says
December 18, 2012 at 8:18 pmThose turned out really cute! I have the exact same predicament. Ugly sheets hanging over the windows to block the morning light. I’ve gotten so used to them that I didn’t realize how ugly it was until family came over for my birthday and saw my bedroom. Now it’s time to do something about it. I’m not too good with a sewing machine but at my last house, I made a curtain from some fabric and used something called Fabric Glue. It actually worked great (although not perfect) but for all the sewing challenged folks like me, it worked pretty well.
Robin O says
December 19, 2012 at 7:58 pmI am impressed! I wish I were better at sewing. These look fantastic. Thanks for the simple instructions!
Janelle says
December 22, 2012 at 8:56 pmI’m not a pro at sewing either Robin. The flat sheet to curtain is pretty forgiving and easy even if the valance is more intimidating. Give it a shot! The worst that can happen is ripping the seams out and using it as a sheet, picnic/beach blanket, tent for the kids, tablecloth …
ANN*H says
December 20, 2012 at 2:55 pmThanks for the great pictures and the tutorial on making curtains from sheets. This is really great as you can pick the design or print of the sheets to make your curtains with. Gives you more options then the standard plain colored curtains they have out. These are nice to do the babies room in to in a cute print. Easy to make and change as they grow .
Holly Trudeau says
December 26, 2012 at 11:07 amWhat a great idea! Yea I would def have to bypass the actual sewing & get the tape, honestly I didn’t even know there was such a thing lol, shows how much I sew! Thanks for the idea!
Ruth V. says
January 2, 2013 at 7:31 amGreat tutorial! I was shocked to see how much curtains are when I was planning our nursery. I ended up making a lot of our bedding and decorations myself too 🙂
Danielle says
January 2, 2013 at 11:22 amVery good idea! Curtians are expensive! But these look good! Great work!
Rachel J says
January 6, 2013 at 8:42 amI LOVE those polka dots! What a great idea for thrifty curtains. I need to dust off my sewing machine…
catherine b says
January 10, 2013 at 11:40 amSHEETS GALORE! found time to make a whole bunch this was awesome I was even able to make some for my daughters doll house 🙂
Denise says
January 11, 2013 at 5:28 amWhat a great idea! And sheets would be easier to sew than if you bought curtains and had to modify them!
JRFrugalMom says
February 10, 2013 at 8:18 amWhat a great idea, curtains can be very expensive…..and so can nice fabric.
Lisa says
April 1, 2014 at 10:10 pmI used Liquid Stitch instead of sewing. Took me 10 minutes from the package to the curtain rod. I like the pooling effect though, so I didn’t have to sew anything on the bottom. Great idea, thanks!
Shannon says
April 11, 2014 at 4:37 amWhat an awesome craft! Thank you for sharing this!
nicole dz says
June 10, 2014 at 8:24 pmWOW! Amazing how you took a sheet and turned it into some lovely curtains. I love that the sheet is easy to clean to then most fabrics for curtains. Very nice DIY!
Dandi D says
June 2, 2015 at 6:58 amThis is a really great idea–I should do this for my son’s room.