My mom and I teach sewing lessons everyday of the week in our retail boutique. We have had a lot of interest in sewing lined curtains lately so I thought I would offer a few tips on how to create your own window coverings.

First cut the length of your fabric six inches longer than the desired finished length. This allows for a three inch seam and rod pocket. Next cut the lining three inches shorter and four inches narrower.

Fold up the ends three inches and hem both the lining and the curtain fabric. To ensure a perfect hem use a ruler, pin and press before you sew it.

If you have the right machine surge the edges of the fabric, roll the surged edge under once and “stitch in the ditch” (sew really close to the edge) . If you can’t surge the fabric I recommend rolling the fabric over twice before top stitching, this keeps all the raw edges and frays from being exposed.

Wow… I just confused myself. I hope the picture below clarifies what I am trying to explain here:

Once both layers are hemmed put them together with right sides facing each other. The lining should be three inches shorter at the hemmed edge than the curtain.

(You may notice in the pictures that this does not look like three inches. These curtains I am making will puddle so I have only done an inch and a half seam as apposed to a three inch one.)

Sew a half inch seam on both sides all the way from end to end of the lining fabric. Turn the fabrics so right sides are facing out. Press the sides where the lining and curtain fabric come together to make a crisp edge. It is good to use a ruler for this part too. It will make the sides even and straight.

Fold under the corners to make a mitered edge and hand sew down. This makes for a nice clean finish at the corners.

Last you will sew the rod pocket just like you sewed the hem on the bottom of the panels.

The finished product:

Do you have any good tips, questions or maybe a related story on your blog? If so I would love to hear from you. Tell me about it in the comments.