Taking Dunelm curtains up - will this work?

[HopeAfresh]

My new curtains from Dunelm need shortening by c.14 cm (I want them to slouch the floor, so slightly too long is better than slightly too short. They are 228cm x 228cm, so not so easy to manage… and the last time I shortened curtains, I made a fold from the bottom and I think that it is better to shorten from the top?

The header tape is a whopping 14 cm wide and I need to shorten them by about 12cm (need to double check my measurements). I want a thin header tape instead of this wide one.

Option 1: unpick header tape, shorten from the top and replace with thin header tape. I’m worried about this going wrong and things unravelling (the lining coming apart etc.

Option 2: keep the existing header so that I don’t need to take anything apart (liner etc.) Cut the existing header in half and sew the top together again to create a hem there. This won’t be seen because it’s hidden by a pelmet. It means that I won’t remove any existing stitches that hold everything together and I won't need to go out and buy new tape, but I will make the existing header thinner and shorten the curtains at the same time.

I will try to add some photos.

Option 2. Less faff and chance for things to go wrong.

Cut the header tape along the red line. Use the curtain fabric and sew a hem along the green line.

It would leave them slightly too long, but better too long than too short(?) and would be less risky than taking them apart? They are massive and I've never done anything on this scale before. I don’t want it to be a cutting corners job, but don’t want to make a mess either.

Option 3..curtains closer to the size you want?

Not possible- I tried and couldn’t afford made to measure. It's a massive window. I need each curtain to be that width and with the width comes the length- a size down was too short.

Will you have enough header tape left if you do the cut on red line?

I would always take off the header tape, cut them, put header back on. Also that’s the way my friend who is a pro curtain maker recommends.

Just make sure you pin / tack / whatever your preference is the layers together before cutting it - should be fine.

I don't understand why you'd shorten from the top? Surely much easier to unpick the bottom hem (which is the last bit to be sewn when curtains are made), cut off the amount by which you need to shorten them, then turn up and resew the hem in the same way it was done originally. You may need to slightly unpick the side hems too, the bit that attaches the lining to the curtain fabric (if they are lined), but when you undo the bottom hem it will be obvious whether this is needed and how to do it.

Actually the cut should be here (red line).

There are lots of you tube videos on shortening curtains that would help.

Like this: https://wereinstitches.co.uk/how-to-shorten-curtains-the-easy-way/#:~:text=Well%2C%20some%20might%20say%20it%27s,it%20is…%20the%20big%20secret.

The bottoms are so neat that I don’t want to mess with them. If I make a mess the top won’t be seen.

The track is actually above the curtains not on the wall (a bit strange, but I’m not changing what’s there), so I need a thin header.

The header tape is 14ch wide. I was going to buy a single or double one, but thought I could cut it. Maybe starting afresh with a new one would be better…?

I’d take them back and just make some the correct length with the tape you want and buy or make separate linings.
The cutting and stitching will have to be really accurate to shorten from the top.

How long are the curtains? The weight may not be supported and hang well by a significantly trimmed header tape. I did option 1 and kept full depth of tape.

If you specifically want a narrower header then shorten at the top as you say.

I would normally shorten at the bottom, if you cut off the excess and then hang them you can pin the new hem to the exact length you want, take them down and sew. You could do both to get the length right.

The header tape will also fray when you cut it and it may be too thick folded under to sew easily.

I took mine to a seamstress who shortened from the bottom for £40. Perfect.

I tend to do 1. If the fabric is slippery or likely to fray, you can stabilise it with some large basting stitches below where the new tape will be so nothing moves.

They'll each be 228 wide and 214cm long. The wide header tape won’t work with the pelmet (I didn’t expect it to be so wide!)

That's a shame, curtains are the most annoying things to buy I find! Good luck with it 😁

I'd take the tape off, chop off excess length (height?) and put new header tape on. If you cut what you've got, it will fray.

Actually sewing on the header is the last step of making lined curtains so that's the easier part to change. If the fabric is sturdy you might just be able to pull it off once you have unpicked the end.
Then trim off spare, fold over 2cm at the top and pin/stitch your new header tape. I'd go for the 7-8 cm width as you need at least 2 cords to gather nicely.

https://www.dunelm.com/product/woven-pocket-tape-1000003227 this is the tape I'd suggest

I wouldn't cut the header tape, I'd take off the original, alter the curtain length from the top, and then sew on a narrower tape. I think that would be the easiest and most straightforward way of doing it

I think the header tape will fray if you cut it. Also, the gather might be tricky with that width.

If you don't want the deep header, I think your best option is to remove it and put on a new one, sorry 😊

I do feel your pain though. I recently hemmed three sets of curtains because the exact ones I wanted didn't fit my window or doors. I do quite like hemming though (saddo) 😂

Option 3 - take them to your local dry cleaner, where there is probably an alteration service.

It cost me about £30 to get mine done, and they were a similar size.

I had some curtains shortened and I was told you always shorten from the top for a good finish