How to Sew and Install a Lace Window Curtain

First things first.  Before you start you may want to go to our "Designing Window Treatments" page to get ideas on what your final look can achieve.  Then you may wish to go to our "Lace Curtain Dictionary" to become familiar with the terms used.  Lastly you may wish to go to our "Types of Curtain Rods "page to choose the style of Rods to use.  If you have purchased lace by the yard, basic sewing knowledge and access to a sewing machine, you can make a beautiful curtain in a short amount of time. Learning how to sew lace curtains is a very easy matter.  We have quite a few lace curtain patterns using lace fabric from our collection that can make a big difference in the "look" of your room, adding color and style to your decor. At Olde Worlde Lace we try to make  ordering curtain lace by the yard  very easy.  Once lace yardage is made into lace curtains, it's easy to hang them just where you want them. With these simple step-by-step Lace Curtain sewing instructions , you can: (1) measure your windows and purchase the correct amount of fabric; (2) ; and (3) install the curtains on your windows.

Equipment and Supplies

As in any project, it helps to know what equipment and supplies you are going to need before you get started. To sew a lace curtain, you will need the following some equipment and supplies.

First, you'll need the following tools:

tape measure
paper and pencil
calculator
work table
iron and ironing board

Also, you'll need these sewing items:

sewing machine in good working order
scissors
pins
material
thread
fabric marker

To install a curtain inside the window frame, all you will need is a spring-tension curtain rod. To hang the curtain on the wall outside of the window frame, you will need these items:

tape measure
pencil
cafe-style curtain rod and its brackets
screw driver
screws or molly bolts
drill
level

Preparing to Sew a Lace Curtain

You're probably ready to start sewing right away, but there is a certain order of things that need to be accomplished first.

Note: Since the size of the window determines the amount of material you will first need, measure the window

Before you can sit down at your sewing machine and begin to sew, you must:

1. Decide what type of curtain rod you want to use.

2. Measure the window

3. Purchase the curtain lace fabric and rod.

4. Cut the curtain pieces out of the fabric.

Deciding what type of curtain rod to use. A simple curtain can be hung with a cafe-style curtain rod or a spring-tension rod. Mounting a spring-tension rod does not require any hardware and installs the curtain inside the window frame. A cafe-style curtain rod must be hung with brackets that are affixed to the wall-side of the window frame and hangs the curtain outside of the window frame, against the wall. So, before you go any further,decide where on the window you want the curtain to hang and what kind of curtain rod you'll need to do that.

Measuring the window. The measurements you take here will determine the success or failure of your curtain making project. Remember the old saying: MEASURE TWICE, CUT ONCE! Refer to the diagram below as you measure your window in the following manner:

1. Get your pencil, paper, and measuring tape.

2. Decide how long or short you want the curtain to be.

3. Measure the width of the window. For a curtain that will fit inside the window frame, measure from the inside of one corner to the inside of the other corner. For a curtain that fits outside the window frame, measure between the width outside the window frame  where you want the curtain.

4. Write down your measurement in inches.

5. Measure the desired length of your curtain above and below the window where you want the curtain or in the case of a cafe curtain measure from where you will hang the rod to the desired length.

6. Always figure your measurements in inches.

Figure 1. Measuring the window

Time to purchase the fabric and curtain rod. Now it's time to figure the amount of material you will need including allowing for a pattern repeat.

To determine how much lace material you need:

Get your pencil, paper, and calculator.

1. Determine how full you wish to have the gather of material.  As an example all of the Heritage Lace Curtain pictures ("Click Here") are shown as 1 1/2 fullness.  This means that if your rod is 60 inches you would need a curtain that has a finished width of 90 inches (1 1/2 X 60 =90).  You would need two widths.  You can use a fullness as much as 3 times as in custom lace window treatments if you wish.  If your rod size is larger and your answer is wider than the width of the fabric that you are purchasing you will need  at least two or even more widths.

2. Add inches to the length of the finished curtain to allow enough material to make the rod pocket and hem.   As an example if you want a 1 1/2 inch rod pocket and a 3 inch bottom hem you will need to add 1 1/2 + 3 = 4 1/2 inches.  You would double that (in order to make double hems) which would be 9 inches which you need to add to your desired finished length to give you the total lace yardage you will need when you sew each width together.

3. You will then need to adjust for the pattern repeat.  When you sew widths together it is just like when you use wallpaper.  You have to cut each width a little longer (cut length) in order to match the pattern across the lace curtain (or wallpaper).  To do this you divide the total length in inches by the pattern repeat.  Round that number up to the next highest full number and multiply that amount by the pattern repeat to get the actual cut length of each width.  For example if you have a  length  of fabric that is 102 inches and a pattern repeat of 12 inches it would be 102 / 12 = 8 1/2.  Round the 8 1/2 to 9.  9 X 12 = 108 (cut length) which is the amount you need for each width in order to allow for a pattern match. 

4. To get the total amount of yardage you need just multiply the amount of widths you need by the cut length by 36.  For instance if you need two widths as in example above and the cut length is 108 then it would be 108 X 2 = 216 / 36 = 6 yards.

IF THIS IS YOUR FIRST EXPERIENCE AT SEWING THIS CAN SOUND COMPLICATED.  YOU ARE WELCOME TO  GIVE US A CALL ON OUR TOLL FREE 1-866-775-LACE (5223) NUMBER OR E-MAIL US ON OUR "CONTACT PAGE".   WE WILL BE VERY HAPPY TO FIGURE ALL OF THIS FOR YOU.  JUST GIVE US YOUR CHOICE OF PATTERN, ROD WIDTH, DESIRED FULLNESS, FINISHED LENGTH AND THE SIZE OF YOUR ROD POCKET AND BOTTOM HEM.  WE WILL FIGURE THE AMOUNT OF LACE YARDAGE YOU NEED AND EVEN TELL YOU HOW MANY INCHES IN LENGTH TO CUT EACH PIECE.

Cutting  the curtain pieces.

Let me remind you to MEASURE TWICE, CUT ONCE.  Follow these steps to cut out your curtain widths:

1. Lay the material out on your work table, wrong side up, making sure to smooth out all of the wrinkles.

2. Measure the cut length (the length after adjusting for pattern repeat) of each width (if more than one) with your tape measure (W'), marking the edge of that width with pins or a fabric marker. 

3. Check your measurements one more time. Make sure you cut exactly where you figured the length because it will affect how the pattern repeat comes out.

4. Cut out the curtain piece along the pins and/or markings.

Sewing the Curtain

After all that preparation, it's finally time to start sewing. Remember that the wrong side of a fabric is that side which you don't want to show. The fabric design and pattern are not as attractive on the wrong side. There are three steps involved in sewing your curtain: (1) setting up your equipment, (2) sewing the widths together, (3) making the curtain casing, and (4) hemming the curtain.

Setting up your equipment. It's important to have everything ready to go before you start to sew. To get ready, do the following:

1. Choose a time to sew when you can work without interruptions.

2. Set up your iron and ironing board, setting the iron at the proper setting for your curtain fabric.

3. Set up your sewing machine on your work table and thread it with your chosen thread.

Sewing the widths together in order to match the pattern.

1. Place one width on top of the other with the right sides facing each other.

2. Slide the top width up or down until the pattern on each matches the other.  Part of one piece will be longer than the other on top and the other will be longer on the bottom.

3. Cut off the excess single layers at the top and bottom.

4. Measure in 3/8 inch and sew widths together. 

5. Repeat this for as many widths as are included in the curtain.

Sewing the rod pocket. The rod pocket will form the part of the curtain that fits over the rod. To make the rod pocket:

1. Turn down the top edge of the fabric 1 inch  along the  entire top, wrong side to wrong side, pressing the fabric with the iron as you go, until the fabric stays down by itself.

2. Turn down the same edge another 2 inches,  (or whatever measurement will allow the rod to pass through after sewing) with the right side of the previous turned- down edge against the wrong side of the fabric, again pressing the fabric with the iron as you go, until the fabric stays folded by itself.

3. Pin along lower folded edge.

4. Sew along pinned edge.

Hemming the sides and bottom of the curtain. If you want your curtain to have a finished, professional look, you must hem the sides and bottom. Follow these steps to hem the sides of the curtain:

1. Fold the edges of the fabric in 1 inch along each side, wrong side to wrong side, pressing the fabric with the iron as you go, until the fabric stays down by itself.

2. Turn each side edge in another 1 1/2 inches, with the right side of the previous turned-in edge against the wrong side of the fabric, again pressing the fabric with the iron as you go, until the fabric stays folded by itself.

3. Pin along folded edges.

4. Sew along pinned edges

Now, follow these steps to hem the bottom of the curtain:

1. Fold the bottom edge of the fabric up 3 inch, wrong side to wrong side, pressing the fabric with the iron as you go, until the fabric stays down by itself.

2. Turn the bottom edge up another 3 inches, with the right side of the previous turned-in edge against the wrong side of the fabric, again pressing the fabric with the iron as you go, until the fabric stays folded by itself.

3. Pin along folded edges.

4. Sew along pinned edges

Take a look at your beautiful new curtain. The only thing left to do now is to hang it up.

Installing the Curtain Rod and Hanging the Curtain

The way you install the curtain rod will greatly affect the look of your new curtain. After all the effort you put into making the curtain,you don't want it to hang crooked or fall down.

Note: If you're mounting the curtain rod outside the window frame on a part of the wall that is not backed by a wooden stud, I strongly recommend that you use molly bolts (or other similar device) instead of screws to affix the brackets. This will prevent the curtain rod brackets from pulling out of the wall.

Note: Make sure you really want that molly bolt where you're putting it, because once it's in, the sleeve can't be removed without making a large hole in the wall.

To use a molly bolt:

1. Drill a hole that is slightly smaller than the metal sleeve at the desired location.

2. Insert the sleeve into the hole.

3. Place the curtain rod bracket over the hole.

4. Put the washer on the screw and screw the screw into the metal sleeve.

Installing the curtain rod. Installing a curtain rod need not be difficult or time consuming. If you choose to use a spring-tension rod, all you have to do is push the ends of the rod together until the rod is short enough to fit inside the window frame, put the rod inside the frame, then let the rod expand until it fits snugly against each side of the window.To install a cafe-style curtain rod, gather these tools:

measuring tape
curtain rod and curtain rod brackets
screw driver
level
drill
pencil
screws or molly bolts.

Now you're ready to put up the curtain rod by following these steps:

1. Hold one of the brackets against the wall where you want the edge of the curtain, and mark the holes in the bracket on the wall with a pencil.

2. Pre-drill the marked holes.

3. Insert molly bolt sleeves if you are using these instead of plain screws.

4. Place the bracket against the wall and insert the screws into the holes or molly bolt sleeves.

5. Use the screwdriver to screw the screws into the wall .

6. Measure the distance of the bracket from the edge of the frame, and them down.

7. Repeat steps 1-5, making sure to place the second bracket the same distance from the edge of the window as the first bracket.

8. Hang the rod on the brackets, using the level to test for crookedness.

9. Hang the curtain if the rod is level, or remove the second bracket and repeat step 7 if the rod is too crooked.

Hanging the curtain. Now you're ready for the last and easiest step of all, hanging your beautiful new curtain. Just follow these steps:

1. Insert the curtain rod into the casing at the top of the curtain.

2. Gather the much-wider curtain along the rod until the rod-ends are visible at either end of the curtain.

3. Hang the curtain and rod up on the window.

4. Arrange your curtain along the length of the rod so that it gathers evenly.

You may want to continue on and make 3 or 4 inch wide tiebacks and valances to further enhance the look you want.  Now that you've finished hanging your curtain, take a moment to look around the room. You'll notice that it looks completely different. Window curtains pull the decor of a room together, softening the edges of the window and making the room a more pleasant place to be.Give yourself a big pat on the back for taking the time to make your curtain, then relax with a cup of tea while you plan your next home decorating project.

Our page is very basic.  For a much greater discussion of "How To" sewing instructions you may wish to go to:

ALTERNATIVE-WINDOWS