Net Curtains and sewing projects around the home.

Many of us get a sewing machine and start thinking of sewing clothes.  However there are so many opportunities to use your sewing around the home. Here are  two quick and easy ways to put your sewing machine and skills to good use.

Net Curtains
 Net curtains help provide you with privacy without obscuring your view from your windows. They are also useful for diffuse harsh light, brightening up a room and tying together elements like furnishings, carpets and wall coverings.

To make net curtains you will need
Fabric - Voile, Muslin, Curtain Net or Organza.
Scissors
Pins
Sewing Needle
Thread
Net Curtain wire and hooks and eyes.

Step One

Measure and press your fabric. Your curtain needs to be at least as wide as your window, many people like to have the net curtain a little wider to allow for gathering.  Add 4 cm to the width for the hem and about 5 cm to the length for the hem and casing.

 Step Two
Hem the bottom of your curtain. Here a chequered pattern on your ironing board is hand. Fold the fabric from the right side to the desired width of your hem (about 2 cm in this case. a  check pattern on your ironing board helps.  Press the fabric to create a sharp fold.

  Then fold the fabric over again, so the raw edge of the curtain is now totally enclosed.. Press again , pin and sew the hem in place.

Handy Hint
If the fabric won't stay in place when ironed try a small bit of spray starch.

If your machine came with a rolled hemming foot and your fabric is thin enough, you may want to use a rolled hem in your curtains, such as this one.
Being able to make a rolled hem is a handy skill, and net curtains are a good way to experiment with them.


Step Three
 Hem the sides of your curtain as above. You may want to try to make these hems a little smaller.

At the bottom corner fold the side hem into itself at a 45 degree angle, pin the hem in place and sew in place.

Step Four
Make a casing  for the curtain wire. To do this just hem the top of the curtain in the same way you hemmed the bottom.

Now you just need to thread your curtain wire through the casing and screw the hooks and eyes into the wire (the curtain wire is threaded to make this easier). Place a hook into one side of your curtain wire and an eye into the other. Then screw the corresponding hook and eye into the window frame (or into the wall using the correct wall  plugs). We use a hook in one end and an eye into the other to make it  easier to know which side is the right side and which side is the wrong side should you have to take your curtains up and down.

Another simple project is to simply sew loops made from  ribbon onto your tea towels and wash cloths. This makes them stay on hooks much more securely.

So there we have two new simple ways to use your sewing around the home. Please check out our other handy blog entires for home projects such as...

Making a Kindle Cover

Making a Plastic Bag Holder

The Non Sewing Cushion Cover 

Home made reusable cable ties

How to Line your Curtians

Remember to enjoy your sewing, and to never be afraid to try out new exciting things.

Choosing Curtain Headings

Many people feel a sense of trepidation when measuring up for their curtains. One thing people often seem to worry about is whether they have allowed for enough "gather" for their curtains.   It's understandable, people take great pains to choose their curtain fabric and they don't want to have to buy too much, or have too little and  need the curtains to be remade.

The amount of gather you need for an attractive fullness mainly depends on your choice of curtain heading tape. The main four are shown here, starting from the top left and going clockwise they are Eyelet, Pencil Pleat  Pinch pleat and Goblet Pleat.  The choice of curtain heading can radically alter the final look of your curtains and really should be thought about as you pick your curtain fabric

Eyelet headers can only be used with a pole and not tracking. Light will shine through the eyelets as well  making it unsuitable if you need to totally block any light.  You will need your curtains to be twice the width of your curtain pole.

Pencil pleats are a more traditional curtain header. Here the amount of gather can be varied a little, however the curtain look f far nicer with the full possible gather of two and a half times the length of your curtain pole. 

Pinch pleats can give a very sophisticated look to plain fabric, becoming the main feature of the curtain itself. This sort of pleating suits  curtain tracking more than a curtain pole. Your curtains will need to be two and a quarter times the length of your curtain tracking for these pleats.

Goblet pleats will also give a curtain a regal feel.  look. Again suitable for plainer fabrics on curtain tracking without  where the pleats will be more easily seen. Goblet pleats also require your fabric to be 2 and a quarter times the width of your tracking.

So there are the four main curtain headers. You can also stylise your home even further with your choice of  curtain tiebacks. And remember if you are in ANY doubt at all your local Fabric8 shop will be more than happy to help you. 

Lining Curtains, A New Year's Project

I always return to my sewing room invigorated after the Christmas break. I always enjoy working on a project that will give me real long term benefits when the new year starts. So in a bid to cut down on my heating bills and to enhance my sewing room I've decided to line my curtains.
There are several very good reasons to line your curtains;

1) To make your curtains last longer. The reverse side of your curtains can spend a lot of time exposed to the sun. This can lead to the pattern on the curtains becoming faded, or the fabric weakening.

2) Protecting your home from drafts and lowering your heating bills. Whilst any barrier between your room and window is beneficial to your heating bills, a special thermal lining can dramatically cut down on drafts and help keep your room cosy and warm.

3) To add body to your curtains. Pleats and folds in the fabric of your curtains look more pronounced with the correct lining or inter lining. The result can be quite dramatic, making your curtains and indeed your room look far more luxurious.

4) Blocking out the light. Whether you need a room dark in the day time due to working shifts or watching television, or if you have a street light right outside your bedroom, the correct lining will help any curtain block out the light.

Here are some examples of the linings available with  their properties, to help you choice the right lining for your needs.

Basic curtain lining  comes in both ivory and white. This is the cheapest lining available and will help towards insulating your curtains and protect your curtain fabric.  However this lining will not add much body to your curtains.

Curtain interlining  adds depth and body to your curtains. It also adds much greater thermal insulation than regular lining. A soft fuzzy fabric, the interlining is sandwiched between your curtains and a lining fabric.

Blackout curtain lining is a synthetic fabric. it has a rubber or plastic feel to it and provide fantastic light proofing. It's also a very good thermal insulator  however does not provide the extra body that the interlining does.

Bonded interlining provides a simpler way to interline your curtains. The fuzzy warm interlining is bonded to a lining fabric all ready for you to sew onto your curtains in one easy step. This provides protection for your curtains as well as insulation and adding body and fullness.

Next week we will  show you several different ways to add lining to your existing curtains  to help keep you warm in the coming winter months.