30-Minute Curtains

Need some inexpensive curtains in a hurry? Here is how:

• Find out the dimensions for your new curtains by measuring the window you need covered. Add several inches to make sure the curtains actually cover the entire window, and to allow them to bunch up a little (which looks nice).
• Now split your measurements in half vertically, as we will be making 2 separate panels.
• Select a fabric that will work for your situation (ie; a light colored fabric will not block as much light as a darker fabric). For extra-darkening curtains, you will also want to get muslin (a plain, inexpensive fabric).
  
• Cut 2 pieces of materials to the size of your measurements. If you are using muslin, cut 2 pieces of muslin to those dimensions as well.
• If you are using muslin, sew a piece of muslin onto the back of each piece of fabric. It may help to pin the fabric to the muslin before sewing.
• Now, sew all 4 edges of each panel under. After sewing them all under once, I like to go back and sew the top and bottom edges under again. This gives it a sort of cuffed effect.
• Your curtains are almost done! Just need to add something to hang them with. Decide how far down from your curtain rack you want your curtains to hang and measure that distance. Now double that distance. We will call this new length "x"
  
• I used thick (1-inch) pieces of ribbon to hang these curtains. But you can use other fabric or whatever else you can think of. Ribbon is just neat and easy, and looks cute in a kid's room.
• Cut your ribbon into strips "x" inches long. I used 5 ribbon loops for each curtain panel (10 total) but you can alter this as needed.
• On each panel, use a pencil to mark on the underside of the top edge where each of the ribbons should be sewn. I usually put one near each edge, then fold the panel in half to find the middle and put a mark there. Now find the halfway point between the middle and the edge of each panel and put a mark there as well. That gives you 5 evenly-spaced markers.
  
• Now you will double over your ribbon to form a loop. Sew the end with the cut edges to each of your marks. Make sure the cut edges are sewn to the underside of the panel (not the front) so that it is not visible from the front.
• Iron if needed.
• Your curtains are ready to hang! Ta-da!!