How to Sew a Curtain (Easy Charm Pack Curtains)

This blog post is a sewing tutorial on how to sew a curtain for any room in your house. All you need are charm squares (5″ fabric squares) or any size squares, a sewing machine, curtain rods and a soft measuring tape. It’s a fun project and so easy to do. This sewing tutorial provides instructions to make curtains for small windows or larger windows. Patchwork blocks make such a pretty window curtain. See instructions below.

I made some new curtains for the window next to my sewing table. I wanted this curtain to feel like a patchwork quilt and have a finished backside that was not see through.

Making your own curtains is an easy way to decorate your home to match your own style. If you want to use a small tension rod instead of a curtain rod, you can do that too. You will use the same method for a kitchen window, bathroom window, bedroom window or family room window. If you want full-length curtains, no problem.

How to Sew a Curtain – To Do List Before You Sew

First step I did was measured the width of my windows. I wanted the curtains to hang 4 to 6 inches above the top of the window and below the window sill. So I added 8 inches to the total height because that’s the recommended curtain height. 

Next thing you want to do is measure the width of the window so you can calculate your desired curtain width. Add 8 inches so the panel starts 4 inches before the window for the left curtain panel and 4 inches after the window for the right curtain panel. So let’s say my window width is 50. I will take 50 and add 8 for a total of 58 inches. Now if you want really full curtains you can double the width, or add 1.5 times the width. Then divide that number in half for the curtain width for each panel.

Last step is decide if you want natural light to shine through the curtains. I wanted these  to be finished on the back (or have a curtain lining). Since these curtains are in a main room of my house, I want them to have a finished back so you cannot see through them at night. There curtains are made like a quilt, contains the quilt top with a backing fabric. I took the raw edges and finished them by sewing a bottom hem, top hem and hemmed the side of the curtain panels. Then top stitched all around for a finished look. 

By treating these curtains like a quilt, I decided to do a simple charm quilt or patchwork block curtains. Just cut your fabric into squares and sew them together to form rows. Then sew the rows together to form each curtain panel. Make sure both panels are the height and width you calculated. 

My sample curtains were made with leftover quilt fabric from other quilt projects and just sitting in my fabric stash. I also made a scrappy backing by sewing two large pieces of fabric together to fit over the quilt top (each curtain panel). 

Last step was to press all four pieces with iron: left curtain panel, right curtain panel and backing panels for both. Place each curtain panel right side onto each curtain backing panel and pin in place. Then sew all the way around using a .5 inch seam allowance leaving a small opening about 15 inches wide to turn the curtain panels inside out. 

Use a chopstick or any tool to push out the corners and help the outer seam allowance lay flat. Take back iron and press. The fold over the fabric at the 15 inch opening and top stitch to close.

You can place quilt lines horizontally or vertically to hold the panel fabrics in place or you can hand tie with yarn for a cottage core vibe. Pro tip: I never wash fabric before sewing quilts or curtains. You will need to tack down the front and back curtain panels before you wash on gentle cycle or by hand with a Shout Color Catcher sheet. 

Last step is to hang your curtain rod onto the wall for your window treatment. 

Like any good tutorial, it does not include a pattern but inspiration for you to create your own unique design. You can make a basic curtain panel or really fancy ones using your patchwork quilting skills. Skies the limit, let’s get started.

MAKE SURE YOU CHECK THIS OUT!

After you read this post, make sure you also check out Learn How To Quilt for Absolute Beginners. It’s jam packed with even more information, links and resources that are so helpful when you’re first learning. It also has a section with free quilt patterns that are great for beginners. So make sure you check this out, seriously don’t forget!

Grab a copy of my Quilt Planning Journal, filled with graph paper and some note pages to help you design at least 4 quilts or sewing projects! I have been using mine and love it. Just jotting down ideas, reminders about websites or fabrics, general inspiration. Pin in fabric swatches, photos of your finished quilts and enjoy your creative process!

How to Sew a Curtain – Sewing Instructions

Materials

Before jumping into sewing, there are a few basic things you’ll need to gather to make sure your curtains turn out exactly how you want them:

• Main fabric: Charm pack square (5″ x 5″ squares). Pick something you love! For my curtains, I used 100% cotton quilting fabric that was leftover from a quilt project.
• Backing fabric (optional): Backing fabric or fabric lining. I used 100% cotton fabric and pieced yardage together because I didn’t have enough of the main backing for both panels of fabric. This helps to block out natural light and give your curtains a finished look.
• Curtain rods: You can find these on Amazon or at Target—whichever fits your style. Just make sure you get rods for the width you need.
• Soft Tape Measure: Accurate measurements are key!
• Scissors: For cutting your fabric.
• Pins: To keep everything in place before sewing.
• Sewing machine: Makes life easier, but you can hand sew if needed.
• Iron: For pressing those seams nice and flat.

Sewing Instructions

Cut your fabric:

• Cut your fabric into 5″ strips by width of fabric. Then sub cut the strips into 5″ squares. You will make two curtain panels, each one will be made the exact same way. 

Sew Squares:

• Take two 5″ squares, right side of fabric facing each other and sew together down one side using a 1/4″ seam allowance. Continue sewing squares together until it’s the width of your desired curtain panel. 
• Make as many rows needed until you have the desired length of your panel. Sew rows together and press with iron when done.
• Repeat these steps for the second curtain panel.

Attach the backing fabric (lining):

• Cut backing fabric the same measurements as your curtain panel. Make two backing fabric pieces. 
• Place curtain panel on top of backing panel, right sides facing each other and pin in place with sewing pins or clips. I also used safety pins to hold the entire panel together so it would not shift while sewing.
• Sew all the way around the outside using 1/2″ seam allowance, leave a 15″ opening to turn the curtains right side out.
• Pull the curtain inside out using the small opening, inserting your hand into the opening and grabbing the curtain to pull through. 
• Use a chop stick or boning tool poke out the corners and run it along the seam line to flatten it out and reshape curtain panel. 
• Close the opening by folding both sides in by 1/2″, pin in place, then sew the opening closed. Backstitch at the beginning and end.

Top Stitch:

• Now sew 1/2″ around the outside edge of the curtains, this is called a top stitch. Now sew around the outside edge again but this time using 1/4″ top stich.

Create the rod pocket:

• Now we need to make the pocket for the curtain rod to slide into. At the top of the curtain panels, fold the fabric over 3 inches (or enough for your curtain rod to slide through), press, and sew along the edge to form a pocket for the rod. Use safety pins to test how much you need to fold over the fabric to fit your own curtain rod.

Secure curtain panel layers:

• The last step is to secure the front panel to the backing panel. If you don’t do this step, it will be very tough to wash these curtains because they will bunch up. You can machine stitch lines or a pattern to secure going from edge to edge. Another way is the hand tie the curtains using embroidery thread or cotton/acrylic yarn. 
• To hand tie curtains, take a yarn needle that has a point to go through fabric. Thread your yarn through the yarn needle and insert into curtain, then go back through the other side about 1/4″ from where you inserted thread needle. Tie the yarn into a knot, then knot once more tie. Trim yarn 1/4″ from knots. Repeat across curtain panel until you are satisfied. 

If you enjoyed this, you may also like these tutorials:

How to Sew a Handbag with Recycled Jeans

Simple Curtain DIY – Patchwork with Rod Pocket

How to Make a Pieced Quilt Backing

DIY Sewing Machine Cover

How Much Fabric for a Pillowcase

Make Heat Proof Recycled Denim Potholders

Learn to Sew – Conquering Your Fears as a Beginner

How to Sew a Pillowcase With Flap in 15 Minutes

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ABOUT SEW NIKKI

If this is your first time stopping by, welcome! My name is Nikki. I’m a weekend quilter, have a super small sewing space and taught myself how to sew and quilt by watching YouTube videos! My blog has How-To’s, Free Patterns and Pattern Reviews. Read more about me here.

Making your own curtains doesn’t have to be intimidating. In fact, you can add this to your list of easy projects. Such a simple project and looks so cute next to my sewing table. With the right fabric and a little bit of time, you can customize them for any room in your house. This DIY project is a great way to flex your sewing skills and add a personal touch to your space. Plus, you can say, “Yeah, I made those!”

Follow me on social media (Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter) so you get notifications when I post new patterns and tutorials. 

Want to learn how to crochet? Then check out this post, How to Learn How to Crochet – Guide for Beginners.

Sew, quilt, crochet and repeat!