It it worth making my own curtains/blinds?

[Artura]

We have a few curtains and roman blinds to replace. I'm an OK sewer (done a few quilts, kids clothes etc), and wondering if I should have a go myself? Will I actually save much money or will it just take me ages and end up looking a bit rubbish? Anyone any experience?

I have made all the curtains and blinds in my house. I find it very rewarding but also tiring. It's a lot of work so I would be intrigued to know how much money I've saved. Some, I'm sure, but maybe not much. There is a very good instructional website if you would like a link.

I think ready made curtains are the way to go for curtains if you can find a fabric. Obviously if they're too long it's not a big job to shorten them yourself. I made a couple of our Roman blinds but bought the next three off blinds2go. The mechanism is better than on my ones.

Do you have the space to work?

Don’t underestimate how difficult it it to wrangle all those lengths fabric and lining.

I only make curtains when I can't find ready made ones I like, or if want a particular fabric as it generally works out more expensive.

I do them on the dining room table for space, anything smaller would be a PITA

Its not hard at all though and there's a way
you can sew the lining and curtains together so you don't have to do hems.

I tend to try and buy good quality second hand curtains and then adjust them myself.
I am an ok sewer but making curtains from scratch needed a very big clean area and table to work on, plus my mum to help move around all the fabric and help me measure etc properly (these were very big, heavy interlinked curtains though).

I made all the Roman blinds and curtains for my house using Skopos materials.
As PPs have said, it is time consuming and a bit faffy, but I saved an awful lot of money. Eg, for my Bay window which was 11ft in length, I was quoted over £500 just for the blinds. So I bought the fabric and all other items needed, and made them for around £60. It did help that I lived near Skopos mills at Batley at the time so was able to buy heavily discounted fabric, but yes, if you can, go for it.

You do need a good amount of table - and floor - space, and I kept my iron/board set up whilst making them as it helped to press seams etc as I went along.

The sense of satisfaction was immense.

And, as my mum always said, measure twice, cut once....and take your time, don't rush.

Have fun!

Thanks everyone - sounds like I need to work out if I can make the space. We have a kitchen table but I don't think it'll be big enough. I might start with a small roman blind for our bathroom. I remember making one years ago and it was much more fiddly than I'd expected it to be. Have a book out from the library so will look for some ideas. Buying 2nd hand sounds a good option too, then cutting to size.

If you can find a ready made to fit then it's usually cheaper but anything bespoke you can save a fortune and get lovely fabrics. I extend our dining table and work on it, these are DS odd size curtains in progress.

A large table makes it easier as does a lot of space. However I managed to make a pair of interlined, full-length curtains (each consisting of two widths of fabric, plus a detachable black-out lining) with a sewing machine perched on an ironing-board. I cut the fabric whilst kneeling on the floor as it is only the width of the fabric you will cut across e.g.54". The length will only be measured, marked and it's width cut across. Did this after an eye-watering high estimate from a department store. Saved a fortune and was very pleased with the results. You will be too.

I have made made all my blinds and curtains for decades. However, I have recently decided that I will have them made for the majority of my windows (new house, lots of windows).

It just doesn't add up financially. I use the Merrick and Day blind tracks, once I have factored in fabric, lining and track it doesn't add up.

Blinds 2 go romans are made on a decent track. Their fabrics aren't quite as swish as those I might have used but I can't justify the time/cost of making them to myself anymore compared to the cost of having them made somewhere like there.

I reckon I will make them for my two sitting rooms because I will use really nice fabric. I am looking out for 10m lengths of Zoffany silks or crewelwork on eBay which do come up from time to time.

I have never had a massive table, only ever had my dining table but I use the floor and pin and tack the life out of whatever it is I am making. My blinds are hand stitched other than the pockets in the linings for the rods and attaching the velcro at the top. All done on my knee on the sofa other than the machining.

You need to buy this book, there is a new edition but this one is absolutely fine and despite the name covers blinds in depth.

www.worldofbooks.com/the-encyclopaedia-of-curtains-by-catherine-merrick-gor001676288.html?keyword=&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIsMP5ve382gIVg7DtCh1v0wkWEAQYBSABEgKF2fD_BwE

I was thinking of getting that book, thanks for the advice. I think I'm going to make a small roman blind for one of our bathrooms and see how it goes. Then probably order online when planning the bigger curtains. Thanks!