How To Make Curtains – Step By Step Sewing Tutorial Guide

Last updated: October 18th, 2022

There are many things that are common all around the world. Whether it is food, eating habits, or the things we use. One such thing is the curtain. It doesn’t matter if it is a house, restaurant, office, or anything else, you can always use curtains on the doors and windows. They not only improve the look but also help from keeping dust and sunlight out of the area.

Even though the purpose of the curtain remains the same, people have started experimenting with them to get different types of curtains. The design of the curtain depends on the creativity of the sewer and if you have a sewing machine at home, then you can also make a curtain yourself. It is very easy to make as you will need just basic sewing and stitching skills to get the work done.

How To Make Curtains – Step By Step Sewing Tutorial Guide

Here in this post, we are going to tell you about how to sew curtains easily just as we told you how to sew bag step by step. Since there are different types of curtains available out there you get things according to the one which you are thinking to sew. If you are new to sewing and don’t know anything about curtain sewing then we will recommend you try the rod pocket curtain since it is the most common and widely used curtain around the world.

Most of the curtains have a rod pocket because they can be easily attached and removed from the curtain rods. Once you got to know about the steps, you can modify the fabric, design of the curtain, etc. according to your needs to get a whole different version of the curtain. So don’t wait and start following the steps mentioned below to sew a curtain yourself without any assistance.

Things You Will Need To Sew Curtain Yourself

Before making anything yourself, make sure you pick the right things for your project. It is nearly impossible for anyone to get the work done with the wrong materials and you must know how to take care of sewing machine. Though, it depends on the type and requirements of one what type of things he will need to complete the project and the same goes for curtains too. Since many of our readers are new to sewing and stitching, we are going to use only basic things and the easiest fabric to work with. Below we have mentioned a list of all the things that you will need to make curtains for yourself.

Things Needed To Sew Curtain

  1. Drapery Fabric – This is actually a lightweight woven fabric that is perfect for making curtains, pillow covers, bedding products, and many more. In this tutorial, we are going to use this fabric since it is very easy to work with it.
  2. Ruler or Measuring tape.
  3. Scissors.
  4. Fabric Marker, Chalk, or Pencil.
  5. Pins (for pinning while stitching).
  6. Thread (make sure it is durable).
  7. Iron (to iron the finished product).
  8. Sewing Gauge (optional, but can be used for rod pocket measurement).

1) Pick The Right Fabric For Your Curtains

Fabric For Curtains

The best thing about making a curtain is that you can use different types of fabrics for it. Though we will recommend you to go with woven fabric as it is easy to use and it is also durable than other fabrics. If you want then you can also take some other fabrics like velvet, tartan, voile but remember that they will be harder to sew.

Also, you must have a sewing machine that is compatible with the fabric you are going to use for your curtains. Woven fabric is very lightweight, so almost all sewing machines will work with it and that is just another reason why you should go with this fabric. The sewing process is the same for all so you need to pick the right fabric for your project.

2) Measure The Window/Door Where You Will Add The Curtains

Measure Width Height For Curtain

Alright, you have to fabric and all the necessary things to make the curtain, it is time to measure to width and height of the window/door. The width can be measured easily and remember to add 5″-10″ more in the measurement so your curtains will have some room. Also, a little more width gives curls on the curtain which improves the overall look for it.

To measure the height, you need to decide the type of curtain you are sewing. In this tutorial, we are going to make a curtain with rod pockets so it will be a bard casing curtain. In case you want to make a bar loop curtain, you need to add about 4″-5″ more to the height measurement because it will be taken by the loops on the curtain.

3) Cut Fabric According To The Measurement

Cut Curtain Fabric

When you have to measurements it becomes really easy to cut the fabric. Use a measuring tape or ruler to make marks on the fabric for cutting. We will recommend you cross-check the length and width marks on the fabric with the measurements you have taken one more time before cutting them so be sure of everything.

If you are to cutting such big fabrics, then you can either take help from someone or fold the entire fabric into half and then cut it. Mark lines on the entire fabric and use a chalk to write directions on it for cutting. Many people consider making a rough cutting at 1″-2″ more than the actual size and later trim the fabric with the scissor.

4) Start By Sewing The Sides of Your Curtain Fabric

Sew Side Hems

When you are ready with the right sizes of fabric in your hands, start sewing the sides of it. You can read about the best sewing machines in India to buy one best for yourself. We need to pin and sew one side first and once it is done correctly, the same steps can be followed for other sides as well. To do this you will need to place your fabric upside down and create an in-fold of one side for about 1 1/2″.

Remember that folding must be done correctly with equal folds from top to bottom. You can use a ruler to mark points at the right spot and then use pins to keep your folds in place. Once done, start sewing the folded fabric and keep removing the pins as you go. Do not worry about the frayed ends because they will be turned inside out later.

5) Prepare The Top Hem First

Hem Curtain Header

When both sides of your fabric are done, it is time to hem the top side. Remember that you will need to insert the rod on the top side so we will be using a 3-inch double folded hem on the top. Double folded is the recommended hem for curtains with rod pockets because it gives it strength to hold on to the rod.

To do this, just fold the top part of your curtain fabric for about 3″ and then do it again with the same measurement. Now you need to sew the folded hem at 1/2″ from the bottom. When you are sewing the hem make sure the stitch and the top part of the curtain are creating a pocket. If you feel that the pocket is small as compared to the rod, then you can increase the fold of the hem.

6) Time To Sew The Bottom Hem

Curtain Bottom Hem

Sewing the bottom hem is very easy, since you have already made hems on 3 sides it has become easy for you to do it one the last side too. Before creating a hem on the bottom, hang the curtain on the door or wall one time to see how big the hem should be. Though, if you want then you can create the hem according to your needs.

For the size of fabric we have taken in this tutorial, we will recommend you to make the same double-fold which we did for the above hem, but this time only 2-inch hem on the bottom. Once you have folded the fabric, just stitch the hem at about 1/2″ from the top side of the folded hem, and you are done with the bottom side too.

7) Iron Every Hem and Side Of The Curtain

Iron Curtain Hems

We are done with the sides, top as well as the bottom hems and you can use Singer sewnig machines to do that. Now, you need to iron every hem to make the fabric look smoother. Ironing also helps in setting the stitches and when you are done you can also use the scissors to cut any loose threads. If you don’t have iron, then you can also use fingers to press the hems.

Though it is not necessary but if you want then you can also bind the hems with another fabric. To do this, you will need to bind only the sides and bottom of the curtain and not the top. Instead of binding the top you can use a decorative fabric to the header and sew it about 1-inch from top to make an illusion of extra height.

8) Add The Curtain To Rod

Hang The Curtain

So, we are done with everything, and now is the time to add our self-made curtain to the rod. Just open the curtain rod, add your curtain to it and look at the amazing creativity of yours. After hanging the curtain, just take a quick look at all sides, hems, and the rod pockets to check if anything is missing. If so, just take the curtain out and fix it using tailoring scissors.

We have prepared this rod pocket curtain and the same steps can be followed for other types of curtains too. If you want, then you can also take some other fabric and make curtains out of it. Remember that sewing anything yourself is all about creativity and about learning. Keep experimenting with other fabrics and designs to learn more about sewing.

Final Words

So this is all about how to sew curtains – step by step guide and we hope now you know everything about how to make professional lined curtains yourself. There are many ways in which you can sew curtains but the steps we have mentioned above are the easiest among all. Also, you can modify the curtain according to different homemade curtain ideas.

We will keep this post updated with more methods and advanced tips and tricks to make curtains without sewing, so keep visiting Sewing Machine Portal to know about them. If you are facing any issues in making curtains yourself or you have some questions regarding how to sew pleated curtains or making curtains how much fabric then you can ask us for help via the comments below.

WRITTEN BY Aman Sharma

Aman Sharma is a content writer who specializes in creating compelling, informative content. His writing style is engaging and easy to read, making it perfect for online readers. Aman is also an expert in social media marketing and knows how to use social media to promote your content.

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