| I was sick of my plain windows. I had all the right | | | | and press. Pin. Sew with a blind hem stitch. You |
| furniture in the room, but nothing on my | | | | can also sew the hem in place with a straight |
| windows.Here's the dilemma. I am moving to | | | | stitch.6. Sew the lining and fabric togetherLay the |
| Texas in a few months... so whatever I decided | | | | fabric right side upLay the lining right side down so |
| to make had to be versitile enough to use on the | | | | that the bottom edge is 1" above the bottom |
| windows in the house in Texas. So, I didn't want | | | | edge of the fabric.Align one side edge... pin and |
| to make something so tailored that I couldn't | | | | sew together with a 1/2" seam. Repeat on the |
| reuse the fabric.I also didn't want to spend too | | | | other side.Turn the drape right side out. Your |
| much time on this project. After all, I'm only going | | | | fabric will fold over to the lining side about 1 1/2". |
| to be in the house for a couple more | | | | Carefully press the drape so that the fabric is |
| months.What I came up with was simple, but | | | | even on both sides of the lining. Pin in places to |
| beautiful drapes that were super easy to make. | | | | keep the layers from slipping.7. Lay the drape |
| And I'm going to show you how!I made a total of | | | | lining side up8. Fold in the raw side edges of the |
| 8 panels... 2 per window. I averaged 2 Panels a | | | | fabric and pin. Stitch in place with a straight |
| night. So, you could easily dress up a window in a | | | | stitch.9. Tuck the raw edges of the fabric at the |
| day.The rods cost me $25 each... totaling | | | | bottom corners of the bottom hem... and stitch |
| $100.The fabric on sale cost me about $300.I was | | | | the bottom corners in place.10. Lay the drape |
| able to give my room softness, drama, color and | | | | lining side up again11. Measure from the bottom |
| a designers touch for less than $500. These would | | | | edge up the finished length and mark with a |
| have cost close to $4000 if I had a professional | | | | couple pins12. Fold the top edge down to the lining |
| design and make these for me.So, here's how to | | | | side so that the top edge is about 1" past the pins |
| make them.1. Install your curtain rods. Install these | | | | you just placed. Pin the top edge in place.13. Stitch |
| first and hang the rings you're going to use.2. | | | | the top edge to the drape along the pinned |
| Measure from the bottom of the curtain ring to | | | | measurement in step 1114. Clip or sew the curtain |
| the floor. Subtract 1/4". This is your finished | | | | rings to the drape along the stitched line15. When |
| length.3. You will use the full width of your fabric | | | | you hang the drape, the fabric will fold over to |
| for the width of your panel.4. Cut your fabric and | | | | the front. Arrange and fold the fabric as |
| lining:Cut fabric width = full width of fabric (trim | | | | desired.And there you have it! Gorgeous, |
| off the selfage if the fabric doesn't lay smooth | | | | professional quality drapes that can add some |
| and flat)Cut fabric length = finished length + 10" | | | | serious class to any room. You can make formal |
| (bottom hem) + 14" (heading)Cut lining width = | | | | draperies with silk fabric and a tassel fringe along |
| fabric width - 3"Cut lining length = finished length + | | | | that folded over edge. Or you can have more |
| 4" (bottom hem) + 2"5. Sew the bottom | | | | casual drapes like the ones in the photo.Happy |
| hemsFold the bottom edge of the fabric up 5" | | | | sewing!Jennifer Thoden has helped thousands of |
| and press.... fold up another 5" and press. Pin. Sew | | | | people just like you to successfully sew |
| with a blind hem stitch. You can also sew the hem | | | | professional quality draperies. If you liked this |
| in place with a straight stitch.Fold the bottom edge | | | | "how-to" then you will love Click here for more |
| of the lining up 2" and press... fold up another 2" | | | | step by step sewing projects. |