| I was sick of my plain windows. I had all the right | | | | stitch. You can also sew the hem in place with a |
| furniture in the room, but nothing on my windows. | | | | straight stitch. |
| Here's the dilemma. I am moving to Texas in a few | | | | Fold the bottom edge of the lining up 2" and press... fold |
| months... so whatever I decided to make had to be | | | | up another 2" and press. Pin. Sew with a blind hem |
| versitile enough to use on the windows in the house in | | | | stitch. You can also sew the hem in place with a |
| Texas. So, I didn't want to make something so tailored | | | | straight stitch. |
| that I couldn't reuse the fabric. | | | | 6. Sew the lining and fabric together |
| I also didn't want to spend too much time on this | | | | Lay the fabric right side up |
| project. After all, I'm only going to be in the house for a | | | | Lay the lining right side down so that the bottom edge |
| couple more months. | | | | is 1" above the bottom edge of the fabric. |
| What I came up with was simple, but beautiful drapes | | | | Align one side edge... pin and sew together with a 1/2" |
| that were super easy to make. And I'm going to show | | | | seam. Repeat on the other side. |
| you how! | | | | Turn the drape right side out. Your fabric will fold over |
| I made a total of 8 panels... 2 per window. I averaged 2 | | | | to the lining side about 1 1/2". Carefully press the drape |
| Panels a night. So, you could easily dress up a window | | | | so that the fabric is even on both sides of the lining. Pin |
| in a day. | | | | in places to keep the layers from slipping. |
| The rods cost me $25 each... totaling $100. | | | | 7. Lay the drape lining side up |
| The fabric on sale cost me about $300. | | | | 8. Fold in the raw side edges of the fabric and pin. |
| I was able to give my room softness, drama, color and | | | | Stitch in place with a straight stitch. |
| a designers touch for less than $500. These would | | | | 9. Tuck the raw edges of the fabric at the bottom |
| have cost close to $4000 if I had a professional design | | | | corners of the bottom hem... and stitch the bottom |
| and make these for me. | | | | corners in place. |
| So, here's how to make them. | | | | 10. Lay the drape lining side up again |
| 1. Install your curtain rods. Install these first and hang the | | | | 11. Measure from the bottom edge up the finished |
| rings you're going to use. | | | | length and mark with a couple pins |
| 2. Measure from the bottom of the curtain ring to the | | | | 12. Fold the top edge down to the lining side so that the |
| floor. Subtract 1/4". This is your finished length. | | | | top edge is about 1" past the pins you just placed. Pin |
| 3. You will use the full width of your fabric for the | | | | the top edge in place. |
| width of your panel. | | | | 13. Stitch the top edge to the drape along the pinned |
| 4. Cut your fabric and lining: | | | | measurement in step 11 |
| Cut fabric width = full width of fabric (trim off the | | | | 14. Clip or sew the curtain rings to the drape along the |
| selfage if the fabric doesn't lay smooth and flat) | | | | stitched line |
| Cut fabric length = finished length + 10" (bottom hem) + | | | | 15. When you hang the drape, the fabric will fold over |
| 14" (heading) | | | | to the front. Arrange and fold the fabric as desired. |
| Cut lining width = fabric width - 3" | | | | And there you have it! Gorgeous, professional quality |
| Cut lining length = finished length + 4" (bottom hem) + | | | | drapes that can add some serious class to any room. |
| 2" | | | | You can make formal draperies with silk fabric and a |
| 5. Sew the bottom hems | | | | tassel fringe along that folded over edge. Or you can |
| Fold the bottom edge of the fabric up 5" and press.... | | | | have more casual drapes like the ones in the photo. |
| fold up another 5" and press. Pin. Sew with a blind hem | | | | Happy sewing! |