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Tag: Drapery

A Simple Idea for Customizing Store Bought Curtain Panels

After more work this past weekend on the master bedroom, I can say it’s almost done and I couldn’t be happier with the overall refresh.

Everything in the space has been upcycled, repurposed, or DIYed, so essentially little $$$ (money) has been spent on jazzing it up – that’s my favorite kind of room makeover.

Today, I’m going to share the details on the new window curtain panels.  Now, you know I went darker with the focal wall, so that meant the layers in the space needed to go lighter to create balance and contrast.

I found pretty, but basic cream-colored solid velvet rod pocket curtain panels at Lowes and thought they’d be a perfect base for the room.  Of course, I couldn’t just leave them as-is and had to customize them to give them a designer, custom look.

This is the result…

Add a leading edge to customize any store bought window curtain panel - Tutorial by @Jenna_Burger, www.sasinteriors.net

I forgot to snap a picture of the packaging, but believe me the ‘before’ was a simple cream-colored curtain. AND each of them were a wrinkled mess. Here is a peak at what they looked like.

Store Bought curtains 'before'

Plain Jane.

Now the ‘How-To‘ on  jazzing them up to give a custom, designer-look…

Materials Used:

  • Store Bought curtain panel(s)
  • Fabric for leading edge – 1 yd. was enough for 3 panels
  • Matching thread for leading edge fabric
  • Sewing machine
  • Iron
  • Measuring tape
  • Misc / typical sewing materials + supplies

When shopping for a leading edge fabric, I found a deep plum colored material that coordinated perfectly with some of the other accents in the room.  I purchased 1.5 yds, but only used about 1 yd.

Once I determined that I wanted to have a 3″ leading edge, I layed out the fabric and marked off, then cut every 4-1/2″.

Here is the breakdown: 3″ finished leading edge + 1/2″ seam on side edge + 1″ seam on the other edge = 4-1/2″

Add a leading edge to customize any store bought window curtain panel - Tutorial by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

I used chalk to make the 4-1/2″ line, but a straight edge could also be used.  Then using the same straight edge or a scissor, cut the line.

Add a leading edge to customize any store bought window curtain panel - Tutorial by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

One strip of fabric won’t be enough length needed to create the leading edge, so two strips will need to be sewn together to create one long strip (then depending on your panel length, you should have a longer strip than panel).

For my 3 panels, I cut 6 strips that were each 4-1/2″ wide, then put 2 of the ends together and sewed them.

Add a leading edge to customize any store bought window curtain panel - Tutorial by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

Add a leading edge to customize any store bought window curtain panel - Tutorial by @Jenna_Burger, www.sasinteriors.net

Once the longer 3 strips were made, it was time to iron the edges to create (1) side that has a 1/2″ seam and (1) side that has a 1″ seam.

I used a tape measure to make sure my 3″ was consistent throughout the entire strip.

Add a leading edge to customize any store bought window curtain panel - Tutorial by @Jenna_Burger, www.sasinteriors.net

Once the 3 strips were ironed, it was time to attach them to the curtain panel.

I started off by placing the curtain panel and the leading edge fabric face down, leaving extra contrast fabric at the top and bottom.  Then I tucked the edge of the curtain panel into the 1″ folded side of the leading edge fabric and pinned it in place.

Add a leading edge to customize any store bought window curtain panel - Tutorial by @Jenna_Burger, www.sasinteriors.net

It was time to sew.

I started by sewing the edge of the curtain to the edge of the contrast fabric.

Add a leading edge to customize any store bought window curtain panel - Tutorial by @Jenna_Burger, www.sasinteriors.net

Then I sewed the other edge.

Add a leading edge to customize any store bought window curtain panel - Tutorial by @Jenna_Burger, www.sasinteriors.net

Once each side was done, I was ready to deal with the 2 ends at the top and bottom of the curtain.  At each end, I folded over the extra fabric and sewed.

Add a leading edge to customize any store bought window curtain panel - Tutorial by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

Once the top and bottom were sewed, I trimmed the extra threads, and the panel was complete!

Add a leading edge to customize any store bought window curtain panel - Tutorial by @Jenna_Burger, www.sasinteriors.net

Instead of using the rod pocket, I used rings with clips to hang the panels.

Here is a good closeup view and you can see how the leading edge fabric is sewed all the way around onto the edge of the curtain panel.

Add a leading edge to customize any store bought window curtain panel - Tutorial by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

Add a leading edge to customize any store bought window curtain panel - Tutorial by @Jenna_Burger, www.sasinteriors.net

The windows in my bedroom are large and here is a peak at how the space is all coming together…

Add a leading edge to customize any store bought window curtain panel - Tutorial by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

Add a leading edge to customize any store bought window curtain panel - Tutorial by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

Add a leading edge to customize any store bought window curtain panel - Tutorial by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

It feels great to have this space almost complete – Finally after almost 2 years!

If you want to see some more ideas and inspiration on creating / embellishing curtain panels, take a look at these past posts:
How-To Make a Simple Lined Window Panel
Drop Cloth Curtain Panel with Leading Edge Detail
How To Add Decorative Trim to Curtains {for cheap}
How-To Hem Curtains
Adding Stripes to Curtains using Paint
The Right (and Wrong) Way to Hang a Curtain
10 Online Resources for Affordable Curtains

Have you ever jazzed up typical curtain panels? Or do you stick with the store-bought style? Have you had window panels custom made?  Was it worth the cost for custom? It really is amazing what can be done with a little fabric and/or trim!

 

How To Make Any Curtain into a Shower Curtain

I am thrilled to have my master bathroom complete!  The kind and thoughtful comments that YOU, my awesome readers, have left over the past week have made the craziness all worth it.  So thank you, thank you, thank you.  As I mentioned during the reveal, I DIYed (technically not really a word, but you got it) my shower curtain using two window drapery panels (a.k.a. curtains), and now I’m going to show you how.

I had found these curtain panels a while ago and they were basically the inspiration for the space and everything I chose was set around these beauties.

When I originally purchased the window panels my intention was to simply put the shower curtain rod through the already created rod pocket of the window panel.  A problem arose when I went to hang them because the end of the rod was too big (2.5″ dia) for the rod pocket opening in the curtain.  (I hope I didn’t lose ya)…

My first thought was to create a bigger rod pocket on the curtain, but that would have involved sewing and shortening the height of the overall window panels. I nixed that idea right away because I envisioned the window panels as high as possible to heighten the room.  After some thought, I decided to use typical shower rings to create a ring top style panel. Take a look at my quick sketch.

So, here are the steps I took…

I had twelve shower hooks (which is typical for every shower), which I divided amongst the two window panels – 6 and 6.  Then I put a hook at the end of each panel and divided the remaining hooks (4) on the panel.

Note:

  1. My window panels were 54″ wide, times 2 = 108″, wider than a typical shower curtain – that’s okay.  Any width curtain should work and if you’re using this idea for a single shower stall, one window panel should be enough (the length might have to be altered).
  2. A ball-style shower hook would work best.  You can find them in most stores and they are one of the least expensive styles.
  3. As an added step which I have NOT DONE, you can make the cuts more secure by creating a sewn button hole with your sewing machine.
  4. I DID NOT sew the two panels together to create one large “shower curtain” panel, but it’s possible to do.   I left them as two panels in case I decide to use them someplace else in the future.

Once you’ve evenly spaced the shower hooks, using a scissor, cut a 1/2 – 3/4″ slit at each of the shower hook positions (ONLY CUT through the one layer of fabric, not both – the outside layer should look clean and uncut).

Before inserting the ball style shower hooks into the newly cut hole, first put on the shower curtain liner.  Because my window drapery panel was longer than a typical shower curtain, I had to get a longer plastic liner, which I found at Bed, Bath, and Beyond.  It was a little more expensive than a typical plastic liner, but was a must because of the extra length.

Once the plastic liner is in place, put the shower hooks through the “button” holes (or simply the cut holes since I haven’t yet made actual button holes).

And it’s done.  This really is a simple and easy project that makes a huge impact!

Using the two window panels creates for a slightly more flow-y (not in a bad way) shower curtain style as you can see in the image below.  Because the curtain is hung from typical shower hooks, it opens and closes just as a regular shower curtain would.

And here is the overall bathroom space –

The taller than typical curtain really gives the space more height, which makes the overall feel of the room much larger.  Actually one reader left me a comment saying, “Wow, you have tall ceilings”.  But honestly, they are only 8′-0″ high – typical of most homes.  But again, the long panel makes the space feel elongated.  This same idea pertains to the window valance, which is hung at the ceiling plane.  If you remember back from this post on The Right Way to Hang Window Drapery Panels, the higher the panels are hung, the larger the space. I have a tutorial coming soon on how I created the window valance, so stay tuned.

I link my projects to some of these parties: Skip to My Lou, Dittle Dattle, Between Naps on the Porch, Today’s Creative Blog, Stories of A to Z, All Things Heart & Home, Savvy Southern Style, House of Hepworths, Finding Fabulous, Creation Corner, The Shabby Nest, Tatertots and Jello, Thrifty Decor Chick, Under the Table & Dreaming