Homemade curtains

I bought a book last week, about making your own soft furnishings - I've decided I'm going to get rid of the horrible tin venetian blinds we have (courtesy of the last owner) and make some proper curtains. Ambitious, I know!

I was wondering if anyone has some tips/hints for me? I've measured all the windows, allowed a bit extra on the measurements for some nice 'drape', and I'm currently deciding what kind of curtains, what colour etc. So it's off to Spotlight for me tomorrow, yay!!

Any help appreciated!

My lovely mum has just made new curtains for us! YAY! I think she used 2- 2.5 times the width of the window for the fabric. She also uses the curtain tape and hooks from spotlight to "gather" the tops. We have "pinch pleats" rather than just a pulled gather - this depends on the tape you choose. We found the people at Spotlight really helpful. Goodluck - new curtains make such a difference!

mum and i made all the curtains fot our house!! much cheaper! and not that hard either as CF mentioned!!! we got our stuff from spotlight too

definatly at least 2 1/2 times the width for nice full curtains

we got the ?? can't think of name where its got the tape and everything on the top done and all you need to do is cut to measure and hem bottom and sides, was quite easy I even had spotlight cut it into the width for each curtain

Darn, there was a great thread about this ages ago but I can't find it.

Don't hem the bottoms straight away, let them hang for awhile cos the weight will pull them down a bit. I remember Astrid told me that in the other thread, but that's all I can remember!

Ooh, good tip Lulu!! Although I'm a bit anal and wouldn't want to put them up unhemmed, dya think that making them a few inches short and leaving them to settle would do the same thing?

I'm being VERY ambitious I think - our bedroom and front room windows are seen from the front of the house so I want them fancy schmancy. I want to have pulled back lace first, then a sheery colour so people can't see in, but then I also want a proper opaque set for inside, when we don't want light coming in - you think thats too much for a first timer??

Ah, thats a pearler tip from Astrid. I can't take the credit for that one! But I would certainly take the advice, she really knows what she is doing.

Yep, its a BIG job. Do a practice run first.

I have sheer curtains on the "outside" and blockout on the inside. The sheers/lace are easy as you can usually buy the length you need and just hem the sides. They are usually just a rod pocket and easy to do.

My curtains haven't "settled" at all - so be careful you don't make them too short in case they don't.- much easier to take up than add length.

Sounds exciting - have fun picking out your fabric!

Hahaha, I was looking at the book last night, trying to figure out material lengths etc, and I realised just how big a job it all was! So I've changed it a bit for now - I'm just gonna make one sheer curtain (to be closed all the time) that slips onto the curtain rod, and a lace curtain that can either be pulled back or left shut, depending on light requirements. It's still gonna look better than what's already there, and there's a higher probability that I won't stuff it up!

Thank you so much everyone for your help - apparently I've given out too many rep points in the last 24 hours, but I'll get back to you!

The other thing with curtains is that some will shrink if you wash them. This makes them too short.

I made my own curtains for all rooms in my house. To* make really plush curtains, allow 2.5 to 3 times the width.* Definitely no less than twice the width or they will look terrible. Also go for thick fabrics - the lined stuff is great and lasts longer with the sun.