Michele Made Me

Tutorial: A Certain Curtain

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Last week, if you recall, I was cleaning and organizing my workroom and, no, it ain’t over. Yeah, the work continues. I have a whole list of lovely workroom-related to-dos (here). So this week I am busily trying to put a few of those chores behind me. For instance, over the last few days I’ve installed a hanging rod: a place where I can hang things, you know, like wet sheets of painted paper or fabric pieces I’m working on. I’ve also painted the shelf and brackets that will go above the credenza. I’ve yet to actually put them up though. Maybe later today. Tomorrow at the latest. Aaaaand…. I’ve made a curtain!

So that is what I am going to show you today. Okay? Let’s get this show on the road!Tutorial: A Certain Curtain

For this curtain you will need:

  1. A few meters (yards) of fabric. Enough to cover your window or doorway. I’m putting up a doorway-curtain so I needed roughly 5 meters (yards) of fabric which I divided in two. Hint: So that your curtain looks nice and full, you want to have at least twice the width of your doorway or window in fabric.
  2. Several small pieces of colourful fabric roughly 20cm x 30cm (9″x12″) in size. Any fabric will do, I used a mix of polyesters and cottons.
  3. Fusible web. You will need enough to fuse to all of your small pieces of fabric. There are many brands, I just happened to have Heat ‘n’ Bond.
  4. Rotary cutter, acrylic ruler, and cutting mat.
  5. Scissors, thread and pins.
  6. Sewing machine.
  7. Your trusty iron and ironing board.
As directed on your particular brand of fusible web, use your iron to fuse the small colourful fabric pieces to the fusible web. Be sure to put the gluey side of the fusible web facing the back of your fabric.
Do this to all your little colourful pieces… They will now have the texture of paper because they are in fact backed with, well, paper.
They are now ready to be cut into strips. I cut mine into 1/2″ strips using my rotary cutter, acrylic ruler and cutting mat.
Then, after trying the strips in many and various patterns and designs on my curtain fabric, I decided upon a strippy configuration that I liked.
I then removed the backing paper from the backside of my strips, the derrière, if you will.
And I ironed all those strippies to my curtain fabric.
Now, I had 2 lengths of curtain fabric. So I repeated this whole process for the second length of curtain fabric as well.
The strips were now glued to my fabric but I wanted them to be permanently affixed. So, I went to my sewing machine and straight-stitched those strips forever in place. FOREVER….
Once all my strips were lastingly installed, I joined my two lengths of curtain. I’m proud of my work here… Not to brag, but I did a French seam… Aw shucks, it was nothing…No biggie… There are only 150 tutorials on the web that show this seam technique where no raw edges show. Welcome to the Department of Redundancy Department. Admittedly, it IS pretty nifty! Just google “How to sew a French seam” and voilà! The internet has everything. Many many times.
Next, I hemmed the right and left sides of my curtain.
And I folded the top over and pinned it in place like so… I did use pins, I promise. Invisible pins of doom…
And machine-stitched the fold in place. There you have it: rod pocket!
And the curtain is complete! Sort of. Just have to get a curtain rod. At which point I will hem the curtain. So, almost done. But not quite. STORY OF MY LIFE.
Nevertheless, here it is! A Certain Curtain!
 
You have yourself a fabulous day or night, as the case may be!
Note 1: The Certain Curtain was originally designed to hang the other way, with the strips going horizontally. However after trying the curtain in both directions, I much preferred the look of it this way. Lesson: Your instincts are sometimes wrong. Well… at least mine are!
 
Note 2: This is my 97th blog post. Three more posts before the big 1-0-0. You’re officially invited to join me for my 100th post Celebration! But I’ll remind you again. Yippee!
 

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Simone says

    Awesome! I love that you basically designed your own fabric with the applique of the color strips! I like the vertical stripes as well, tres cool! I laughed when you said you still had to get a curtain rod – I do stuff like that all the time, ALMOST finish a project then have to wait until I have that 1 item that I haven't found yet!

  3. PEACHES says

    Ooo lala!!! For some reason I see it reminds me of music… Rhythmic and colorful…beautiful! And I know what you mean about last minute changes and happy accidents 🙂

  5. maree says

    Isn't it great to just go with the flow when you are creating? Love the final result and bet you are super happy with your crisp new curtain. Well done you. Ciao

  8. Mascottblog says

    It is lovely , no question … some would say : " Pourquoi faire simple, quand on peut faire compliqué ? " … But still , you wouldn't have had a truly UNIQUE curtain !!!! And from what I have started to understand , it wouldn't be YOU 😉

  11. Chandler says

    That looks so easy to make.. I will have to give it a try sometime. I have been desperately looking for some new ideas on how to cover up the windows in my bedroom.

  23. creativejewishmom.com says

    very nice Michele! the curtain reminds me of chopsticks, so I was thinking maybe you should make some chinese inspired lanterns Michele style for your room! thanks for sharing on Craft Schooling Sunday!

  27. Anonymous says

    Good morning finding you made my day, having gone too Jo-ann's for advice how too cut strips etc the use's of fusible web confused,as well as i tried useing not satisfied untill this tutorial Your choice of heatnbond and your design and colors great thanks renee now i have too find it by for now