Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Original poster

I need HUGE curtains for cheap

29 replies

Amani · 15/04/2009 12:46

My bedroom windows are weird - 132" accross and 55" drop. I can't find any 'blooming' curtains anywhere that will fit and all the quotes for made to measure curtains come in the region of £300 + which is too dear for me - any ideas or where I can get cheap ones from??

OP posts:
feetheart · 15/04/2009 12:51

My flat has HUGE windows - 60" drop at least and nothing in the shops has ever been long enough. I have either made them myself (sounds daunting but with plain fabric and a borrowed sewing machine is simple enough) I have also got ex-display ones as they tend to make those big so you can see them or have got them from charity shops - got a pair for £6 few weeks ago.

HTH

SoupDragon · 15/04/2009 12:53

Ikea tend to be very long but generally aren't lined

SoupDragon · 15/04/2009 12:54

Ikea are usually a 3m drop.

littlerach · 15/04/2009 12:54

Yes, Ikea ones are long.

We bought them then lined them.

Or they sell fabric ot do your own

Metatron · 15/04/2009 12:57

ebay - is well worth a look.

Wilts · 15/04/2009 13:00

Dunelm mill may be worth a look.

Molesworth · 15/04/2009 13:01

I've got some lined ones from Ikea. But a 55" drop isn't freakishly long so can't you buy two pairs of curtains to cope with the width?

ExtremeFistingWiththeGoat · 15/04/2009 13:02

i got some on freecycle, made my own or went to a curtain exchange shop.

flightoftheeasterbunyip · 15/04/2009 13:02

There are loads on ebay, Metatron is right - search wide curtains or bay curtains or patio curtains. Should come up with good quality stuff, you can save the search to email you every day too.

Tend to be good prices as well, long ones are much harder to find and often go for loads, but short and wide are unusual enough to be cheaper

Metatron · 15/04/2009 13:05
Original poster
Amani · 15/04/2009 13:07

never thought of looking on ebay for curtains and got a quote of 100 for a pair of curtains with the black out lining - not bad..!
what do you think of buying 2 pairs and of curtains, so I have 2 bits hanging on the left and another 2 bits hanging on the right..or does that sound daft?

OP posts:
RubyrubyrubyRubis · 15/04/2009 13:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SOLOisMeredithGrey · 15/04/2009 13:17

55" long is not long.

Standard ready made sizes are usually

46x54

46x72

46x90(I think)

60x72(or might be 66x72)

60x90 " - -"

If the curtains have a reasonable hem on them, you could get 54" long and let the hem down.

I'd make them if I wanted specific sizes. Or get unlined ones from IKEA and buy loose linings.

flightoftheeasterbunyip · 15/04/2009 13:19

Lol Metatron, I have a curtain cupboard

Want to do some swaps??

SOLOisMeredithGrey · 15/04/2009 13:21

Oooh! something I did years ago. If the curtain width is 55" or there abouts(obviously more, not less), you can turn the curtains round so that the width becomes the length and vice versa(unless you want a pattern that you can't do this with)and then sew header tape to the original length iyswim.

Metatron · 15/04/2009 13:23

A curtain cupboard

Could indeed be interested in swaps! My sis is "borrowing" a couple of pairs of mine atm.

FigmentOfYourImagination · 15/04/2009 13:23

55" is short but do you want the curtains to be floor length ? Presumably the 55" is the actual size of the window not the actual drop you require ?

Original poster
Amani · 15/04/2009 13:24

lol at curtain cupboarsd

ok, if I buy 2 packs of curtains - 66" by 54", i could bring the hem down a bit. Also don't all cutains have a 'gather' so even if 66X2 =132" is 3 inches shorter it should be ok ?????

Flightsoftheasterbunny- do you have any spare curtains in that huge cupboard of yours?

OP posts:
Original poster
Amani · 15/04/2009 13:26

sorry 135" is width of window 55" in legth - isn't that the same as 'drop'?

OP posts:
Metatron · 15/04/2009 13:29

Are you wanting the curtains to sit right on the sill? I like mine all floor lenght except for dds room to stop them twirling up in them...

Original poster
Amani · 15/04/2009 13:33

yes - want them to be on the sill as directly underneath is the central heating

OP posts:
Metatron · 15/04/2009 13:35

Have you got any flexibility in where the pole/rod is? It is such a faff mucking about with hems.

Two lots of 66 wide will be fine, gives you 132 inches to gather up for each.

Original poster
Amani · 15/04/2009 14:26

got about 1.5 inches between the top of the window and ceiling.

think i am going to try and buy two packs of curtains and see how it goes.
thanks
xx

OP posts:
flightoftheeasterbunyip · 15/04/2009 17:10

Sadly nothing shortish and wide, we have 10ft high windows so most are looooong. Except a few pairs I'm saving for the 'next house' ha ha. I swear i only move to use neglected curtains.

Metatron - just trying to palm some off on my sis as well, my 'to go' pile consists of some long green lined Ikea ones, some long red velvet Ikea ones and some professionally made damasky ones in a sort of ultra violet

I have got some shorter Heals vintage ones that still don't fit anything, but I cannot and will not part with them...

Marne · 15/04/2009 17:12

Make some?