To be perfectly honest, I hate to cover up my windows. Staring out into the world is one of my favorite pastimes. But, I also realize you need a little privacy and some protection from the sun; plus, the softness of curtains and drapes adds a distinct coziness to a room. For our Nature Brights Kitchen, we chose a design that captures the freshness of a spring day and sweeps it into the room. In true Sew4Home fashion, our tab-top curtains are easy to make. Clever seaming gives you fully lined, finished panels with no visible stitching on the sides.

Open or closed, these curtains are lovely to look at and enhance the room. The instructions below are for one panel; you can make as many as needed for your window area. We made six panels to cover our set of three large windows. Fully lined, the panels do a great job of blocking the sun when needed, but they aren't super bulky, which allows them to be pulled to either side for a full open view or grouped in three sets of two for a little decorative variety.

Our Nature Brights projects were made using Patty Young's wonderful Flora & Fauna by Michael Miller Fabrics. To learn more about the collection and all the tutorials available, read our article: Nature Brights Kitchen: A Bowlful of Color with a Generous Helping of Style. You'll find Flora & Fauna online at FatQuarterShop.

Sewing Tools You Need

• Any Sewing Machine (we recommend the Janome Memory Craft 5200)

Fabric and Other Supplies

The fabric yardage is based on ONE curtain panel and ONE tie back. Depending on the size and number of your windows and the height of your curtain rod, you will need to adjust your measurements accordingly. Below, we explain how we determined the sizes of our cut pieces.

• Fabric for top of panel: ½ yard of 44/45" wide fabric: we used Patty Young's Flora & Fauna Humming Birds in Lime
• Fabric for bottom of panel and tieback: 2¼ yards of 44/45" wide fabric: we used Patty Young's Flora & Fauna Dandelion in Lime
• For the tab top, tieback, and flange: ½ yard of 44/45" wide fabric: we used Patty Young's Flora & Fauna Ta Dot in Ebony
• 2½ yards drapery lining: we used a bright, white cotton
• Heavyweight fusible interfacing
• 2½" header tape -- 40" long
• Eight decorative buttons (6 for the tabs, 2 for the tie back)
• Two 2" D-rings (finish to coordinate with your fabric)
• All purpose thread
• See-through ruler
• Fabric pencil
• Iron and ironing board
• Scissors or rotary cutter and mat
• Straight pins

Getting Started

The first step in creating this curtain panel is to do some math. Yay! We explain how we determined our cut and finished measurements. But, you're likely to have a different size window and/or your hardware (or rod) will be set at a different height. So, you can follow our example and adjust it accordingly to meet your curtain needs. We all have certain curtain needs, don't we?

Finished LENGTH measurements

Total height

The height from the top of our rod to the floor is 84½". But, we did not want our curtains brushing on the floor and getting dirty, so we subtracted ½" from the total height. Our finished height will be 84½" - ½" = 84"

Tab height

Our top tabs are 2½" in height from the top of the pole to the top of the curtain. This is a standard measurement for tab top curtains.

Panel body height

The finished length of the panel body (without the tabs) will simply be the finished height minus the height of the tabs. 84" - 2½" = 81½"

Top fabric height

We decided to make our panel out of TWO fabrics, because that's just how we roll. The top fabric is a 16" finished length (just a little less than 1/5 of the total finished length). 81½" ÷ 5 = 16.3" We rounded down to 16".

Decorative flange

You'll notice we have what's called a 'flange' in between our top and bottom fabrics. This is a decorative finish you see quite a bit in home décor. It's basically piping without the 'pipe'. This measurement is ¾" where it sticks out from the seam. Just remember that for later; because it is sewn into the seam and overlaps, it doesn't affect the overall height.

Bottom fabric height

Our bottom fabric is easy to figure out, just subtract the finished length of the top fabric from the total finished length of the panel body. 81½" - 16" = 65½"

Cut LENGTH measurements

Now we need to add for hem allowances at the top and bottoms, as well as for the seam allowance where the top fabric is sewn to the bottom fabric.

Tabs

As you may remember, if you were paying attention, our top tabs are 2½" in height from the top of the pole to the top of the curtain. These loop over the rod, so you need double that height. Then, one end overlaps the top seam by 2" on the front (that's where the accent button is sewn). Therefore, the total finished length will be 2½ x 2 = 5" + 2" = 7". Finally, we need to add to the length for seam allowances. Our cut length for the tabs will be 7" + ½" seam allowance on one end to create the finished end of the tab + ½" seam allowance on the other end where it will insert into the top seam = 8".

Top fabric

We only need a ½" hem allowance at the top, since the overlapping tabs do the actual hanging. And, we know we only need a ½" seam allowance at the bottom to sew the top fabric to the bottom fabric. Our cut length for the top fabric will be 16" + ½" seam allowance top + ½" seam allowance bottom = 17"

Flange

The flange is a little tricky because you have to account for the fact it's folded in half, with raw edges together, before it's sewn into the seam. So, we need to double the finished height we figured above, then add for the seam allowance. ¾" x 2 = 1½" + ½" seam allowance on EACH side (1") = 2½"

Bottom fabric

We need a total of 7½" for a nice deep hem on the bottom (also standard) and a ½" seam allowance at the top to sew the bottom to the top. Using our finished measurement of 65½", we add 7½" hem + ½" seam allowance = 73½"

Cut WIDTH measurements

Well, this part is fairly easy. We decided the finished width of our panel curtain would be 41"; so, all our pieces just use the full width of the fabric, including the selvedge. This gives us the extra we'll need for the sides.

The only exception is the tabs. These need to finish at 2" wide and we need a ½" seam allowance. Instead of cutting two strips to sew together, we can cut just one 5" strip and fold it in half (2½ x 2). So, our cut width is 5".

Finally, we're ready to cut! Referring to the cut length and width measurements we figured out above, cut as follows:

1. Cut one 8" x width of fabric strip from the tab fabric. Then, turn the fabric and cut six 5" x 8" strips for your six tabs.
2. Cut one 17" x width of fabric piece from the top fabric (Humming Birds in Lime in our sample).
3. Cut one 2½" x width of fabric piece from the flange fabric (our tab fabric and flange fabric are the same: Black Ta-Dot) .
4. Cut one 73½" x width of fabric piece from the bottom fabric (Dandelion in Lime in our sample) .

Lining

Let's not forget, we still need to cut a lining. It's important to use the proper lining for your panel because it helps with light control, protects the fabric from fading in the sun, and gives the curtain body. The lighter-weight fabric just isn't enough on its own. However, if you choose a heavy decorator weight fabric, you might be able to get away without a lining. All-in-all, with full length curtains, we're going to strongly recommend a lining.

Before we cut the lining, we need to do some math again! It's standard practice to make the lining shorter than the actual panel so the lining doesn't hang below the hemline (much like the lining in a skirt). That measurement is usually 3" less than your finished total length. So, we need to subtract this from our total length before hemming.

Our total finished length is 84". Our hem allowance at the bottom was 7½" and at the top ½". 84" + 7½" + ½" = 92"

The cut length of the lining will be 92" - 3 = 89"

For the width, we cut the lining 5" less than the cut width of the panel. This is also a standard measurement.

The cut width of the lining will be 44" (width of fabric) - 5" = 39"

1. Cut the lining piece 89" x 39".

Tie Backs

Just when you were ready to put away your cutting tools. The tie-back!

Our tie backs are 2" x 24". To figure out how to cut each section, follow these steps:

We approached the width the same way as the tabs above, because the finished width is the same 2". We will cut our strips 5" wide. 2" finished width + ½" seam allowance = 2½" x 2 = 5".

We wanted an accent fabric on each end. So, we decided the main fabric of the tie back would be 20" and the accent fabric would be 2" at each end. 20" + 2" + 2" = 24" finished length. But ... we also need to account for the overlap to hold the D-rings on either end, so we need another 2" on either end. Therefore, our accent piece needs to actually be 4" finished.

And, finally, we need a ½" seam allowances on the top and bottom of our pieces. So, our tie back sections will be cut as follows:

1. Tie back main fabric 5" x 21"
2. Accent fabric 5" x 5"
3. The tie back needs to be strengthened with interfacing. Cut a 2" x 20" strip of heavyweight fusible interfacing.

One final note on all the cutting (and the eventual pinning together): Pay attention to the direction of your fabric! We chose two fabrics, both of which have a distinct direction. Be mindful of direction when figuring out all your cuts, and pinning all the sections together. There's nothing more tragic than an upside-down humming bird or a dandelion plunging into the earth instead of reaching for the sky.

At Your Sewing Machine & Ironing Board

Pre-make your six tabs

1. Fold and pin the six tab pieces in half, wrong sides together.
2. Using a straight stitch and ½" seam allowance, sew along one short side, pivot at the corner, and sew to the next corner. Clip the corners diagonally. Turn right side out, poking out the corners so they are nice and sharp. Press.
   NOTE: The open end you used for turning will later be sewn between the panel and the lining, hiding its raw edges.
3. Top stitch around the two long and one short sides of each tab. Set aside.
   

Make and insert flange and attach top panel to bottom panel

1. Fold and press the flange piece in half, wrong sides together.
2. Place the flange along the top raw edge of the bottom panel. Pin in place.
3. Using a basting stitch, sew the flange to the bottom fabric. Remember to pay attention to the direction of your fabric.
4. Place the top fabric right sides together with flange/bottom fabric.
   
5. Using a ½" seam allowance, sew the top fabric to the flange/bottom fabric. Press the flange down and the seam allowance up.
   
6. On the top fabric only, topstitch through all layers, including the seam allowance, just above the seam line.
   NOTE: Depending on the actual widths of your selected fabrics, you may need to slightly trim the width on each side of each sewn panel piece. In order to make a straight seam later, the side edges must be flush from top to bottom.

Bottom hems

1. Create a double-fold hem along the bottom. Fold up and press 3½", then fold and press again 4". Stitch close to the fold to finish the hem. Set aside. If you're new to hemming, check out: How to Make a Simple Hem.
   
2. Repeat the same hem on the lining piece. Remember, this piece is shorter than the panel piece so it will finish shorter.

Sew front panel to lining along each side

1. Lay the panel on a table, right side up. Place the lining piece right side down (the sewn hem side will be the wrong side) on top of the panel. So .... right sides together.
   
2. The hem of the lining should fall within the hem of the front panel and the whole lining should be 5" narrower than the face panel.
3. Align the lining and the front panel along one side, pin and stitch with a ½" seam allowance. Stitch from the top of the panel to the bottom.
   NOTE: I've used some vibrant colors and patterns in my illustrations so you can tell right side from wrong side, etc. In case you were wonderin' where those fish came from!!
   
4. Remove from the machine and lay it out flat again. Pull the lining so it aligns with the opposite side of the front panel. This will cause the sewn side to roll in a bit. Pin and stitch this side with a ½" seam allowance.
   
5. Remove from the machine and lay it out flat again. Now, in order to lay flat, both sides of the front panel will curve around to the back. Match the raw edges of the front panel and the lining along the top edge, making sure the center point of the lining matches the center point of the front panel. To find your center point, you can either measure from each side or fold the entire unit in half and mark.
   
6. Press the side seam allowances towards the outside edges.

Insert tabs and sew top seam

1. Place the six tabs in between the lining and panel at the top raw edge. Line up the raw edges of the tabs and the raw edges of the curtain/lining. The two end tabs should be placed against the fold of the side hem. The other tabs are spaced 5½" apart.
   
   NOTE: 5½" apart was what worked for our panel; depending on the finished width of your curtain, you'll need to divide the width evenly to determine the spacing of the tabs.
   
   
2. Using a ½" seam allowance, sew through all layers along the top of the panel. You DO stitch ALL the way across, including across each folded edged.
3. Clip the two top corners of the panel at a diagonal. This makes it easier to turn the corners.
   

Attach header strip

1. The header strip adds strength and body to the top of the panel so it doesn't droop between the hanging tabs. Place the 40" long header strip on the bed of your sewing machine (facing the opposite direction of your panel). Pin in place if needed. The bottom of the header strip should line up with your sewn seam. The top will simply extend about 2" beyond your seam allowance.
   
2. Stitch through all layers within the top seam allowance.

Turn right side out and complete tabs

1. Turn panel right side out through the open hemmed bottom. Press the sides smooth. You will have a fully lined, finished curtain panel with no visible stitching on the sides.
   
   
2. Pull the tabs out firmly and overlap them 2" onto the front side of the panel. Pin in place. Secure each tab with a decorative button hand or machine sew through all layers.
3. Topstitch all the way across the top of the panel, approximately ¼" - ½ from the top edge, to help keep the taps in position
4. At the very bottom corner of the panel, fold under the remaining raw edge of the side hem.
5. Make a short vertical stitching line, in thread to match your fabric, to secure the side hem to your bottom hem. 

Tie backs

1. The tie back needs to be strengthened with interfacing. Find your 2" x 20" strip of heavyweight fusible interfacing.
2. Pin and sew a 5" x 5" accent square to each end of the tie back strip, right sides together. Press seam allowances toward the accent squares.
3. Fold the entire strip in half and LIGHTLY press to create a center fold line.
4. Press the fusible interfacing to the wrong side of one half of the tie back strip. Align the top of the interfacing strip with the center fold line.
   
5. Fold the tie back in half, right sides together. Pin.
6. Sew from one short end, down the long side, leave a 5-6" opening for turning, and continue sewing to the opposite short end. Trim corners diagonally.
   
7. Turn right side out. Press. Poke out all the corners so they are nice and sharp, and turn in raw edges of the opening so they are flush with the sewn seam.Top stitch around the enter tie back.
   
8. Fold each accent square in half and slip a D-ring into the fold. Stitch in place, matching the previous line of top stitching.
   
9. Sew a decorative button on either end.
   
10. For our 'three-sets-of-two' configuration shown in the photo above, we simply made a non-interfaced version of the tie-backs from of our leftover scraps and used that as a ribbon to bunch and hold the center two panels in place.
    

Contributors

Project Design: Alicia Thommas

Sample Creation: Kathy Andrews, What Sew Ever

Other machines suitable for this project include the Viking Husqvarna Sapphire 835 and the Singer 7470 Confidence.

Comments (4)

Mama Lusco said:

	... Thank you for the wonderful tutorial! I used your directions for my new living room curtains and they turned out great. Here's a link to mine: http://mamalusco.blogspot.com/...-home.html
	report abuse vote down vote up

March 08, 2010
Votes: +0

Liz Johnson, Editor, Sew4Home said:

	... Wow! You get the prize for fastest turn-around on a project idea. I like the long stripes. Thanks for sharing.
	report abuse vote down vote up

March 09, 2010
Votes: +0

Mama Lusco said:

	... I did it again, this time for my master bedroom. I used the same steps for the valance, except made a rod pocket instead of inserting tabs. Thanks for the great tutorial! http://mamalusco.blogspot.com/2010/03/decorating-my-home-master-bedroom.html
	report abuse vote down vote up

March 12, 2010
Votes: -1

Liz Johnson, Editor, Sew4Home said:

	... Hey, Mama Lusco ... that's so great. I'm thrilled you were able to easily alter the steps to create a valance. You are a décor dynamo!
	report abuse vote down vote up

March 13, 2010
Votes: +0

Name

Comment

smaller | bigger

Subscribe via email (Registered users only)

I have read and agree to the Terms of Usage.

Add Comment Preview