Although I have tackled numerous DIY projects, I wouldn’t categorize myself as an “expert.” I possess some skills, but I am not a DIY influencer like the incredibly talented Marlee and Gretchen who always lend me a helping hand. These designers are truly gifted. Trust me when I say that anyone with a basic level of skill can create these charming curtains with just an iron. In my previous post, I discussed the final two fabric options, with these block print curtains coming in second to my beloved Boro ones. I can’t resist them, to be honest. However, I still find them delightful, and I’m about to guide you through the process of making your own. Once you grasp the steps, feel free to let your creativity run wild with endless possibilities for adding a cafe curtain. Let’s dive in.
Making these curtains was surprisingly easy. Almost too easy. Here’s what you’ll need for quick and simple cafe curtains:
Start by measuring your windows to determine the size of your cafe curtains. Depending on how much gathering you desire, you may need to experiment with the amount of fabric to use. Our windows are 30″ wide, and to maintain some pleating even when closed, we factored that into the fabric measurement by adding to the total length. We cut some scrap pieces to find the perfect gather amount and settled on a final width of 38″ for each panel (as we were making two panels per window), ensuring seam allowance on all sides.
Before cutting each panel, determine the overall length, where you will hang the curtains, and consider the size of the top and bottom “hem” you desire. We opted for a 3″ hem at the top and bottom, similar to traditional curtains. For the sides, we allowed about an inch for a clean edge. After cutting out our 10 panels (two per window), we gave them a quick ironing. We then folded over the side seams and pressed them for a crisp edge, followed by the larger top and bottom hems, making sure to fold under the frayed edges.
Once we had a neat hem guide, we used iron-on seam tape to secure everything in place. This tape is effective and forgiving in case of mistakes or do-overs, making it ideal for various projects. We used a high heat setting for our linen fabric, but always follow the instructions based on your fabric type. Placing a damp cloth between the fabric and the iron can aid in bonding if the iron alone is insufficient.
Continue applying the seam tape and ironing all edges until you have a finished panel. It may not be flawless, but your edges will remain fray-free, and any imperfections will blend into the folds, especially since the curtains are designed to stay gathered whether open or closed.
You might be wondering about the rod pocket or tabs for hanging the curtains. The beauty of this simple DIY is that you don’t need them! We discovered these fantastic pinch ring clips from Rejuvenation that attach directly to the fabric, simplifying the assembly process. Since our fabric was quite thin, the pinch clips struggled to grip, but a simple solution was to adjust the tension by pulling the rings apart before clipping them onto the fabric.
These clips can be easily adjusted, and after experimenting, we settled on using five per panel, evenly spaced across the fabric to achieve the desired pleats. Finally, slide the two panels onto each tension rod and hang them up!
café Curtains Kitchen NoSew