Joining Curtains Together....Help Me Please....!

[PastaandCheese]

I have a large 3.15m windows in my lounge.

Made to measure are coming in at minimum £590 and I was hoping to spend about £250.

It's been suggested on Property/DIY pages and in archives that I consider joining together two pairs of ready made.

Is anyone able to advise me on how difficult this is (I have a sewing machine but I'm not very good with it) and would it only work with eyelet curtains? Can't get my head round how you'd join a header tape on pencil pleat curtains.

Thank you.

I haven't done it but I guess you wouldn't try to join the header tapes. You would unpick the side seams, join them together and sew back along the original seam line but through both curtains. Without seeing the actual curtains, its hard to tell because there will probably have to be some jiggery-pokery at some point.

Hmm.. eyelet gap might be an issue though - you might have to trim one back a bit...

Would it actually be easier (if not cheaper) to make the curtains yourself from scratch? John Lewis has 'how to' videos which I used and was able to make several large curtains from.

I don't think I'm up to this..... Especially if it might be easier to start from scratch. I've only ever made toys and a quilt before.

I think you are right there are bound to be complications and I hadn't even considered eyelet spacing.

I mentioned making my own to DH and he laughed in a most cruel and unsupportive way.

I have made my own. THe sewing is pretty straightforward - its the scale that is a bit daunting. BUt if you take over the kitchen table and heave it around it is do-able. I looked a couple of on-lin e tutorials and cobbled together a how-to guide for myself.

THe main bits is doing the maths to work out your lengths, then working out how to match up the pattern repeat and then actually pinning it and sewing it.

I did a bay window - 8 drops pf fabric made into two curtains, fully lined in a weekend. I did do some swearing though... I had been quoted £1800 and I made them for £300.

You could just hang the curtains and not actually join them - you'd just need to draw them separately and then twitch them into line.

I have to do another set at half term so if you want to make them, we could be curtain buddies.

I plucked up the courage to make my own after buying the Designer Guild book on soft furnishings.

A walking foot that has feed dogs on the bottom so that both layers of fabric will be fed at the same rate is very very helpful.

On one set of curtains that I made, I pinned, tacked etc etc 4 times and at the bottom of the window sill length curtains I ended up with 4 inches on fabric left on one side. With the special foot, the first time I did the seam, it ended up perfect.

Oh.... I don't even have a time excuse as I start mat leave next week and DD will be in nursery half the week.....

The irony is DH would be better at it than me. Maybe we could do it together? He is good at measuring and cutting and I can use the machine.

I am feeling inspired by howgoodisthats experience..... It would save a fortune.

A walking foot Tb..... I've never heard of this but sounds like a good idea as I do find my machine is very fast.

I think I'll have a google later and look at fabric this weekend.

Can I point you in the direction of video on YouTube?

I cheated with mine as I ended up getting eyelet curtains so I have never actually joined them, I just have 2 pairs of curtains. The only time you can tell is when I close them and they separate, but then I pull the other curtain over and it is fine. They are in my bedroom though.

I have made my own curtains before but they were for smaller windows as I just don't have the space to lay the fabric out flat for bigger curtains. And I agree a walking foot for your machine is a must. Have a look on YouTube, there are loads of videos on there about walking feet etc

We have four (hand-me-down) curtains across one of our windows. It's worked really well since DH pointed out we could put the end hook from each curtain into the same hook on the curtain rail, so they pull across together without actually bring joined- does that make sense?

Yes, that makes perfect sense redkites. The master bedroom is above the living room and is just as large so I'll use two pairs in there.

I am going to try my hand at curtain making but I've decided to start with a black out blind for new arrival's room. It's a smaller window and looks easier. Definitely getting a walking foot.

DH has convinced me to get the lounge curtains made though. The fabric alone without lining, tapes etc is coming in at £hundreds and I'm terrified of ruining it / making a hash of it.

Thank you all for your advice.