If you can sew five straight lines, you can make this simple curtain pattern for any room in your house! Even beginners can sew this basic curtain pattern.
We’re giving our home office / library a makeover, and I thought this IKEA fabric was the perfect fabric to complement the literary nature of the room. Plus, it’s a whopping $4.99 a yard—if you’ve ever purchased enough fabric to make curtains, you know that’s a bargain.
And along with new curtains for me, comes a simple curtain pattern for you! These curtains are unlined and definitely let in a lot of light and offer little privacy. But if you use a heavier fabric, you can still use this basic curtain pattern and get more privacy in the end.
There are a lot of tutorials for no-sew curtains, but come on ladies (and gents), you can learn to sew a straight line! These curtains are a great beginner project because each curtain has only five straight lines of sewing (see below). For two custom curtain panels, you can sew ten straight lines! They don’t even have to be that straight! And because they are sewn, they should last longer than curtains made exclusively with fusible hem tape.
Supplies for this Simple Curtain Pattern
- Fabric (yardage determined below)
- Coordinating thread
- Ruler
- Scissors or rotary cutter
- Disappearing ink marker
- Pins
- Fusible hem tape
Determining Fabric Yardage:
For floor to ceiling curtains (my personal favorite because it adds drama and softness to a room), take the height of your ceiling and add 14″ for the top and the bottom hems. So, if you have a 96″ ceiling (8′), you will have a total of 110″ fabric for each panel. Double that for two panels and you have 220″ of fabric, or just over 6 yards. I bought 7 yards just to be safe, and have enough left over to make some matching pillows.
If you want another length (say, the height of the window + curtain rod), use that for your height measurement, and still add the 14″.
I suggest buying fabric that is at least 60″ wide. Standard 45″ fabric is just too narrow for most windows, if you fully want to close the curtains. Most home decor fabric is 60″.
Instructions for this Simple Curtain Pattern
Cutting the Panels
Measure out the full height of your first panel, with the hem allowances (using the above calculation, it would be 110″). You don’t have to be super exact, there is plenty of fabric to hem with. Just get close.
Cut both 110″ panels. I use a rotary cutter and mat, but you could just as easily use scissors.
This particular fabric had writing on the selvage. Creating a nice side edge requires me to turn the fabric under, and the writing showed through to the front. Not cool.
So I trimmed off the selvage (again, scissors would work just fine here).
To create the side “hem” on the curtain, iron a 1″ hem along the entire 110″ length of the fabric. A ruler can help guide you.
Turn the fabric over one more time, enclosing the raw edge in the fold, and iron. Pin to hold down the hem.
Sew the hem closed all the way down the curtain, using a narrow 1/8″ seam allowance (meaning 1/8″ away from the interior edge of the folded fabric). Do this to both sides, for both panels.
Creating the Rod Pocket
This tutorial used the “rod pocket” method for hanging. No grommets, tabs, or hardware to deal with.
To determine the height of your “pocket”, double the width of your curtain rod. I have a pretty hefty 1 1/2″ curtain rod, so my pocket is 3″ deep. If you have, for instance, a narrower 1/2″ curtain rod, your pocket only needs to be 1″ deep.
Add 3″ to your pocket height: for mine, 3″ + 3″ = 6″. 1″ of this will be just turning the fabric under (see the next paragraph and illustration), 2″ will be the ruffle at the top, and 3″ will be my pocket.
To create the rod pocket, fold over the fabric at the top 1″ and iron. (Important note: if you are using a directional fabric such as this text fabric, make sure you are making the rod pocket at the top of the curtain because you don’t want your print upside down!) If you’d like, use some fusible hem tape to hold this fold down (optional).
Then fold the fabric down 5″ (which is my original 6″ minus the 1″ fold). Iron the edge and pin in place:
Sew the edge of the fabric in the same way you sewed the side hems above, with a 1/8″ seam allowance.
Because my pocket needs to be 3″ deep, I am going to sew another line 3″ above the seam I sewed (not the folded edge of the fabric). I used a ruler and drew a line 3″ above my seam all the way across using a disappearing ink marker. This leaves 2″ above the line for the ruffle.
Note: if your rod pocket needs to be, for instance, only 1″ deep, sew the line 1″ above the seam you sewed.
Sew down the line you just drew. You’ve completed the rod pocket for your curtain! Follow these directions to make the rod pocket for the other panel as well.
Hemming the Curtains
To hem your simple curtains, hang them up. You’ll notice I have quite a bit of fabric pooling at the bottom. Some people like this look, but I find it a little messy, especially with a huge dog who will try and sit on them. So I hem them to floor length.
Pin the curtains so that they just brush along the floor. I have pins both at the fold and to hold the excess fabric behind the curtain:
Iron the fold so that you can use it as a guide.
Your calculation should have left you with 8 or 9 inches of extra fabric for the hem. I like a hefty 6″ hem — it allows the curtains to hang better, and because the bottom is heavier, they aren’t as likely to randomly float away from the wall if there’s a little draft.
Measure 7″ away from the ironed fold, and draw a line. This leaves 1″ to fold under and 6″ for the hem.
Cut along the line you just drew. I used scissors. Fold over the fabric at the top 1″ and iron. If you’d like, use some fusible hem tape to hold this fold down (optional).
Then fold your hem back along on the ironed fold line you already made and sew down the hem, in the same way you sewed down the hem for the rod pocket above.
SIMPLE CURTAIN PATTERN
Equipment
- Scissors If you don't have the above cutting tools
Supplies
- Fabric See full tutorial for determining yardage
- Coordinating thread
Instructions
- Measure out the full height of your first panel and cut your fabric.
- To create the side hem on the curtain, iron a 1" hem along the entire length of the fabric.
- To determine the height of your rod pocket, double the width of your curtain rod and add three inches.
- Fold over the fabric at the top 1" and iron.
- Then fold the fabric down the height of your rod pocket (above), minus 1". Iron the edge and pin in place. Sew the edge of the fabric.
- Sew a line above the seam you just sewed that is double the width of your curtain rod. This is where you will put your curtain rod. The fabric above is for the ruffle.
- Hang your curtains. If they need hemming pin the bottom of the curtain so it just brushes the floor, and hem.
Voila! You’ve made this simple curtain pattern! If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments and I will try and clarify or modify the tutorial to be more clear.
Comments & Reviews
SUSANNA H HAXELL says
I am VERY new to sewing (i.e. I have only made cloth napkins :) I would like to make simple curtains to be hung on tension rods to cover some storage space under counter tops at work. I do not want a ruffle. So, could I still basically follow these instructions but just alter the top to not have the ruffle? Would I fold the top over only once or twice, when making the hole for the curtain rod? Thank you for any help you can offer!
Cori George says
Yes, I would try it just folding the top over once!
May says
Hi Cori,
I love the fabric design you are using for these curtains. It looks very unique and beautiful at the same time. You also have great instruction showing how to make it. Nicely done! Thank you for sharing.
Marion Delmaire says
Hello and tnx for this tutorial , i wanna make courtains for my child’s room(he’s 10) and i found this https://www.quartierdestissus.com/tissus-occultants/486-tissu-occultant-ignifuge-graphic-art-3700808687164.html !beacause i realy want somethig colorful ! Do you think it will do or it is to much for a children’s room?
Cori George says
I say go for it!
Allie says
I’ve just bought my first sewing machine and curtains are the top of my list of projects. This tutorial was easy enough for me to follow, even as a complete sewing beginner. Thanks!
Cori George says
I’m so glad you find them easy to follow!
Running Scared (Eldar & Nigar song) says
I loved this post! Have been keeping up with your blog for a while now and yourr always coming out with soome great articles.
I shared tthis on my facebook andd my followers loved it!
Keep up the good work :)
Luggage says
I loved this post! Have been keeping up with your
blog for a while now and your always coming out with some great stuff.
I shared this on my facebook and my followers loved it!
Keep up the good work :)
Abi says
I am a sewing newbie. About all I know is how to sew a straight line. Your article is excellent. I still have one question. How do I know how much fabric i need for the width of the window? Thank you.
sn says
You will likely want 1/3 more than the width of the window.
Silk says
hi, i wanted to know distance between window and Curtain Rod ,we have french window of 2 meter of Length and 2.1 meter of height,what will ideal dimensions of curtain go with that? thank you in advance
Cori George says
Hi Silk — I’m not positive what you’re asking? I usually hang the curtain rod about a foot higher than the window (or as close to the ceiling as possible). Hope that helps!
joyce jordan says
I get my fabric from a Thrift store and you can find some sewing item at the thrift store or look on the internet for nice bargain price fabric ex , I love sewing .
Traci says
I have never sewn more than a button, but I want to make curtains for our new Runaway Camper. There are three small windows measuring 21″ high by 31″ wide. Would you still need the same 14″ for top and bottom hems? Thank you!
Cori George says
You could definitely get away with less at the bottom!