Easy No Sew Curtains

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My dad is kind of a jack-of-all-trades.  I’ve written about how he has helped me with various furniture upcycle projects for my home.  I have an island, a light fixture, and a headboard thanks to his ingenuity.

He also sews.

I never knew it was weird for dads to sew until I started getting looks when I would mention it.  I took mission trips to Mexico in high school and college on which the ladies had to wear dresses, in keeping with the tradition of the village we were going to.  Every year, my dad sewed me a few new ones.  Boy did that get laughs when I told the Mexican ladies!

I realized a few years ago that as much as I’d like it to be so, my dad isn’t going to be around forever and I didn’t have a clue how to hem, stitch, or sew a thing … aside from buttons.  I took the required sewing class in 8^th grade home economics and have a pillow to show for it.  But without someone standing behind me directing me, I was at a loss.

So Christmas that year became about sewing.  I got a machine and learned how to use it.  I’m still no expert, but can sew a (relatively) straight line.  I’ve made some simple projects with success.

I’ve been thinking about sewing some curtains for a while.

We have several windows in need of them.  I did a simple fix to a curtain for our bedroom last year, getting one at Ikea that was floor length and cutting it to the length needed, finishing with a simple hem.

I’m still looking for ideas for my bay window in our family room that currently has hideous blinds in it that we’ve used exactly twice (just to keep the sun out on really hot days).  It’s one large window and two small side windows…if you have any ideas, please share!

 

So since I’ve had curtains on the brain…why I had this towel hanging in our bathroom window for six months is beyond me. (Hey – you can see our color coded towels in this picture!)

Twice a year we get mildew in this bathroom.  It’s during those seasons when we’re not running the air or the heat.  I guess the moisture just gets to be too much.  The fabric blinds that were there finally had had it last November and I threw them out.

I put up a dish towel as a temporary fix and just never got around to changing it.  But when spring came and my niece’s bridal shower was approaching (that I was hosting) I knew I had to do something.

Can I tell you, this was the easiest project I have ever done in my home!  I didn’t even have to get out my sewing machine!

No Sew Curtains

We got an inexpensive curtain rod and matching rings with clips, which my husband kindly hung.

And you will not believe what the curtain is made from – a painting drop cloth!

Be sure to get a canvas cloth.  We got ours at Lowes, but this one is just like the one we got.

I had assumed that drop cloths only came in large sizes, and expected to cut and stitch the curtain to size.  I found out when at the store, however, that they make a lot of different sizes.  We got one that is 4 x 5.  I was thrilled that these were going to be new sew curtains!

I thought about washing, drying, and ironing the cloth.  But instead I just gave it a good shake and told myself that the steam from the shower would take care of any little wrinkles.  And it has! (‘Perfectionist’ does not describe me)

When I first hung it, I didn’t fold over the top.  It looked a lot like the towel that had been there before, so I took it down and flopped the top over a bit.  That looked better, but still…flat.

That’s when I got the idea to pull up a couple of spots and double clip them, creating a little more of a gathered effect.

 

Here’s my advice if you decide to try these no sew curtains:  play around with them.  Try clipping them in different ways and then stepping back to see how it looks.  Don’t be afraid to try them lots of different ways.

If you are looking for floor length curtains, consider letting the fabric pool on the floor a bit.  I think that would look cool.  Maybe you’ll luck up like me and the size will fit without sewing, but if not, it would be easy to cut and do a simple hem.

Not only were these no sew curtains easy, but they were so inexpensive!  I really don’t think you could do curtains cheaper than this.  And I LOVE the rustic look!

Hang on to this idea for when you need a quick and cheap curtain.

And don’t forget to pass along your ideas for my bay windows–I need to get rid of those blinds!

 

*This post contains some affiliate links.  Part of why I created The Sparrow’s Home was to be able to share resources that I’ve found useful or wonderful in some way.  Every so often, I’m fortunate enough to become an affiliate with the makers of these fantastic resources.  This will never add cost to my readers.