DIY: Create your own Curtains

I decided that every Friday I am going to post some type of crafty project, whether it be an idea from me or from a fellow crafty business owner. Why Friday? Because it is just before what most people have which the next two days off. Plus, I liked the sound of DIYF. It reminds me of TGIF-(Thank goodness it's Friday)

So I am going to start my weekly DYIF with making curtains for your home, office or studio...whatever makes you happy! I really wanted a living room re-do, and that is just what I did. So below are the curtains I had.

I made these curtains too, but I was ready for a more subtle look with less orange. I wanted to find some type of neutral fabric with little pops of color.

Here are a few more pics of all the orange in my living room, which was my husbands idea to have such a bright vivid color all over the room:

I thought by atleast changing the curtains for now it will help tone everything down.

So while shopping at one of my favorite places, IKEA, I came across the perfect fabric. It even had pops of orange in it to bring out the remaining orange accessories around the living room.

I also found perfect fabric for under the curtains, which was a white sheer fabric with a subtle berry pattern.

The under curtains were a sinch to make. They didn't even need to be sewn because of the material they were made out of, they didn't frey.

All I had to do was measure the size of the window, and clip them up the same way I did the with the old ones. Yes, I said clip them up. IKEA does have great affordable ways to get things done so I bought this wire with clips:

You can purchase this for yourself here for an amazing $4.99!

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20079342

So back to the curtain making, the outer fabric I had chosen was for the most part exactly what I was looking for, except the orange color was a bit to light. No problem! I fixed it by painting the fabric with regular old acrylic paint. I am telling you, redoing things doesn't have to empty your wallet. The acrylic paint I used was 99 cents.

                                                                            Before

                                                                             After

Once I was done painting the little flowers on the curtains to make them a deeper orange, I started cutting the fabric to fit the window. After that,I serged the edges, but really it wasn't neccessary. I can sometimes be a perfectionist and I love the look of a serged edge of fabric.

After serging, I started turning all the edges in 1/4 of an inch and pinning it in place. This is where I was going to hem the edges by just running a stitch down the sides.

If you don't have a sewing machine or you just don't know how to sew,no problem! You could always use some type of no-stitch fabric glue, available at craft and hobby stores.

Once I had everything pinned, I sewed a single stich along the sides. When I was done with the sides, I turned the top of the curtains down 2 1/2 inches. This is where the curtain rod will go through the curtains. I sewed that up and then hemmed the bottom of the curtains the same way I did the sides, just turning the fabric in about 1/4 of an inch.

After working on four panels, because I have two windows in my living room, I was ready to hang up my newest creations! What do you think about this project? Is it something you think you can do? I think so, I have faith in you, if you heart desires you to make new curtains!

The curtains done!