Anyone ever sewn their own living room drapes?

Question

I have a large window, 10 feet across by 5 feet high, any thoughts on some easy drapes to make, and should I line them?

Answer 1

I prefer to make curtains over drapes. I like to use sheers underneath to provide layers that help to insulate, yet let the light in during the day. Curtains can be made for the seasons, heavier for winter and airy for summer.

Sometimes, when windows are large, it is actually cheaper to use flat sheets - less sewing, can be matched to decor, and you can go floor to ceiling in most homes and apartments.

Answer 2

yes---I made my own drapes
I bought some medium wieght fabric, did a 6 inch hem for the bottom & a 4 inch hem for the top. I bought several dozen drapery rings with the large, square alligator clips , put them up on a 1 inch dowel ( I made the mounts myself but you can buy them pretty much anywhere) & clipped the drapes to every other clip.
I already had 2 banquet size linen white table cloths that I sewed the same way as the drapes & hung them behind the drapes on the empty clips I had left on the dowel.
It gets pretty cold here in Manitoba so I needed to "line" the drapes. They look & work really good

Answer 3

I've done lined drapes a couple of times, and I'd far sooner pay someone else to do them, just because I don't have the room to cut and sew that much fabric. (and I've been known to make tents and sleeping bags, so I'm used to handling big pieces of fabric!) Curtains I don't balk at, but lined drapes get to be heavy sewing. You also need header crin and sometimes drapery weights.

Easier solution might be a plain commercial drape, and then you dress it up with a valance, swag, etc. in fabric you like.

Lining improves the hang, makes the fabric last longer, gives a uniform look from outside and can add some thermal resistance.

Answer 4

My mother has sewn her own curtains a number of times.

Yes, you will want a liner of some kind. And be sure to hem them all the way around so they won't unravel.

The biggest thing you have to be careful of is to make sure you have a place to put your curtain rod. You can either make loops, or make a sort of channel in the curtain itself to put the rod through. The loops will probably be easiest, but not everyone wants to show their rods.

If you aren't sure what to do yourself, I believe either the DIY network or HGTV.com has instructions.

Good luck!