Curtains 101 Inches Long

386 posts, read 907,377 times 5,910 posts, read 10,514,308 times Originally Posted by dmwlakewylie Congratulations on the new house! The higher ceilings sound wonderful. It sounds like you need longer curtains. It looks che@p (sorry to utter those bad words) to have curtains that are a little too short. I don't think you can get around the new windows without spending money, but I know that can be daunting since you just spent a lot for the house itself. In lieu of floor-length curtains, you can try curtains that hit the window sill. That's if you have windows sills. You would need to hem the curtains or have them hemmed. Here are a couple of ideas: Since you can't hide the hem on the floor, they'll need to be crisp and even if you go for a shorter look. If you're good at sewing, great, otherwise I would have a seamstress hem them.You can use the leftover fabric for throw pillows, tiebacks etc. Yes, the ones in the first link look like they've been cut and hemmed.

If you ask me they're a little too long for the window, though. Maybe you can post pix. 41,275 posts, read 31,312,651 times Can you "add" a panel to the bottom of the drapes, in a neutral, coordinating fabric? 25,740 posts, read 36,310,981 times 1,652 posts, read 5,883,248 times 10,920 posts, read 7,447,096 times 230 posts, read 427,904 times Originally Posted by AnywhereElse I was going to try doing the panels in the picture, but I wisely chose to have a professional do it. Adding to her draperies shouldn't be all that hard or expensive I would think, especially if she takes them to a seamstress. Shop for solid colored curtains, in a variety of fabrics and designs, available online from World Market.Curtains establish the mood of a room: Sheers seem to emit airy freshness; cafe curtains communicate stylish flair; tab-tops are ever so modern; and heavy velvet drapes connote traditional formality. With some careful measuring and a bit of patience, you can make a very attractive pleated valance to enhance simple sheers.

Here's three ideas for sewing your own curtains.
Vinyl Flooring Sauna Cafe CurtainsFrench bistro designers know a thing or two about ambiance.
Buy Fallout 3 T ShirtTake the classic cafe curtain: Hung at a window's midpoint, this simple drapery allows the sunshine to fill a room while providing privacy and filtered light to the diners inside.
Install Laminate Flooring ClosetCafe curtains made from a vintage tea towel achieve the same effect with little sewing. You'll need a curtain rod -- brass, for the traditional bistro look -- and matching rings, either the sew-on or clip-on kind. Cut the tea towel across the width, and turn the top half around so that the towel's ends become the bottom borders of each curtain. Measure your window from the sill to where you want the rod to hang (midway is the usual cafe length), then hem the top end of each curtain so that it hangs from the rod to the sill.

Attach clip-on rings, or hand-stitch plain rings to each curtain. Custom Tab-top Linen CurtainsTab-top panels do not require curtain rings or drapery pins to hang them. The tabs slip easily over your choice of decorative hardware. Because tab-tops are so simple, they can easily be made at home. Martha uses two tones of contrasting linen -- chartreuse for the ground and pale blue for the borders and tabs. Choose an attractive rod, such as bamboo, as it will show between the tabs. To determine the length of pole you will need, consider where you want the panels. Making a Pleated Valance1. First, take all the measurements: Determine the finished width of the valance (the measurement across the window) by installing the valance hardware and measuring the distance between the two brackets. (Our finished valance is 57 inches wide.) 2. Measure for pleats: Our valance has ten 1-inch pleats. Multiply twice the width of each pleat times the number of pleats (in our case, 2 inches times 10 pleats equals 20 inches).

Add this number, plus 2 inches for the side hem allowances to the finished width measurement. For our 57-inch wide valance, the unfinished width is 79 inches.To determine the amount of pleats for your valance (and the width of each pleat), try experimenting by pinning before you cut or sew your fabric. Fewer pleats spaced farther apart will give a more tailored appearance, while more pleats spaced closely together will make your valance look fuller and more traditional. Each pleat is formed by folding the fabric under by 1 inch (or however wide you've determined each pleat will be). 3. Determine the finished length of the valance (the measurement from top to bottom): Ours is 12 inches long, but you may want to make yours a bit shorter or longer depending on the size of your window. When you've determined your finished length measurement, add 6 1/2 inches to accommodate the top and bottom hems. 4. Sew the valance: Turn bottom hem under 1/2 inch, and press. Then turn under again 1 1/2 inches, and press.

Machine stitch close to the turned edge. To cover the hem stitching, pin a 5/8-inch-wide grosgrain ribbon an inch in from the hem. Then machine-stitch trim close to each edge. (The amount of trim you will need is the same as the unfinished width measurement.) 5. Turn the top hem under 1 inch, and press. Turn under 1 inch again, and press. Stitch close to the turned edge. Then turn under 2 1/2 inches, and press. Pin in place, but do not sew. 6. Then create side hems. Working on one side at a time, turn under 1/2 inch, and press, then turn 1/2 inch again, and press. Stitch close to the turned edge. 7. Sew the pleats: Starting from the exact center of the valance's width, make an equal number of pleats to the left and to the right of the center. All pleats should face center, so half will face one direction and half will face the other. Form and pin each pleat. Then press each pleat from top to bottom. (We left 5 1/2 inches between each pleat.) 8. Secure pleats by stitching across the entire width of the valance, 1 inch down from top of valance.