How to Make Eyelet Curtains
Go wild with the leopard print fabrics of Hobbycraft Artisan Bethany Salt, transforming the stunning designs into bold, contemporary curtains. They'll give any room in your home a stylish focal point, complementing the rest of your décor.
Follow the tutorial to learn how to sew your own eyelet curtains at home. This eyelet curtain project can be easily adapted to fit your window perfectly, and it even covers how to make matching curtain ties.
To make your curtains really one of a kind, why not try adding a trim along the bottom or both side edges and the bottom?
You will need
How to make
You will also need -
* Eyelet tape
* Eyelet rings
* 22” pom pom trim (optional)
Working out how much fabric you need
To work out how much fabric you will need for your curtain, start by measuring your window.
Mine is a small window so I am making one curtain using eyelets. My window measures 20” across and 50” deep including the frame. You will ideally need DOUBLE the width of your window in fabric, this will ensure that when your curtain is pulled back it will form pretty pleats. If you are making a pair of curtains, each curtain piece will need to measure the width of the window.
The drop of the curtain will depend on how long you would like it to be! I think a curtain looks best when it drops lower than the window, so I'd like my curtain to be approximately 57” long.
Consider the seam allowance when working out your measurements. (I've use ½”)
Cutting your fabric
If you're using a border at the top and bottom of your curtain, allow a length of 10” for each border and twice the width of the window.
Take the measurement of the drop you require, deduct 19” to allow for the borders and cut your centre fabric to this measurement.
Cut the lining 2” shorter than the length of the curtain and 4” narrower to allow 2” return of the outer fabric. This basically means the outer fabric will wrap around to the lining so that the seams sit on the lining side.
Top Tip: Use a blackout lining if you'd like your curtain to block out light coming in from the window.
Sew the top and bottom border panels right sides together to the centre fabric.
Press the seams open.
Hem the bottom of both the outer and lining fabrics by folding over by 1.5” twice and sewing.
Sew the lining and outer pieces right sides together along the sides.
Turn the right sides out and press. Now you'll see why the lining is slightly shorter than the outer fabric!
Sew across the top of the curtain to hold the two layers in place.
Fold over by ½” and press.
Sew the eyelet tape across the top of the curtain, folding the ends of the tape inwards to make a neat finish. Cut out the holes, a pair of curved scissors helps here!
Top Tip: Use an even number of eyelets for even pleats.
Push the eyelet rings into the holes until they click.
Cut your fabric to size -
* 20 x 10” Outer fabric
* 20 x 10” Lining fabric
Fold your outer fabric in half width ways, then mark 5” on the fold and 1.5 inches on the opposite side, slightly higher.
Draw a curved line from the top and bottom on the 5 inches across the fabric curved upwards to 1.5” Cut out this shape.
Fold the lining fabric in half and place the tie, also in half, on top.
Cut out the same shape.
Place outer and lining right sides together and sew all the way around the edge with a small seam allowance.
Leave a gap of about 4” to turn the tie out.
Turn out and press.
Top stitch along the top and bottom of the tie, making sure to close the gap in the bottom with this stitch.
Wrap the small end around a D ring and sew in place.
Repeat with the opposite end.
If you're adding a trim, glue that to the bottom of the tie with textile glue.
Then all that's left to do is hang the curtains and fit the tie backs!