How to make easy lined curtains

Making simple lined curtains

Sewing lining directly into a curtain gives a professional finish and adds body to the fabric so the curtain hangs well.

Making lined curtains couldn’t be easier, you simply machine stitch together the curtain fabric and the lining down the side hems and sew your choice of heading tape across the top to hold the curtain fabric and the lining in place.

Curtains with sewn-in linings are just as easy to make as unlined curtains, only you have added benefits — the curtains will hang better, provide extra insulation, and the curtain fabric will be protected from the damaging effects of sunlight.

This method of sewing the lining directly onto the curtains is suitable for both long and short curtains made from medium or lightweight fabrics. It is not suitable for curtains made from heavy-weight fabrics.

Instructions

Step 1

Cutting out

Cut curtain fabric to the required size and stitch widths together as necessary. Cut out and stitch the lining to make a panel 2 inches (5cm) narrower and 5 5/8 inches (14cm) shorter than the curtain. Mark the center of the top and lower edges on both fabric and lining.

Step 2

Stitch the sides

Place the curtain and lining right sides together, with side edges matching and lining 5/8 inch (1.5cm) down from the top edge. Pin, tack and machine stitch the sides, taking 5/8 inch (1.5cm) seams and stopping 7 1/2 inches (18cm) from the lower curtain edges.

Step 3

Press the sides

Turn the curtains right side out. Match and pin the center marks. You will notice the curtain fabric will wrap to the wrong side to form a 1 inch (2.5cm) border on each long edge. Press the edges so the seam allowances sit towards the center.

Step 4

Neaten the top edge

Press the 5/8 inch (1.5cm) top hem allowance to the wrong side over the lining. Position the heading tape on the wrong side, 1/8 inch (3mm) down from the top edge. The tape will extend 3/4 inch (2cm) beyond the curtain on each side and cover the raw edge of the top hem. Pin in place with the pins facing up and down. Leave the last 2 inches (5cm) of the tape free at either end.

Step 5

Attach the heading tape

At the leading edge of the curtain (where the curtains meet), pull out the ends of the cords from the wrong side of the tape and knot firmly. On the outer edge pull out the cords from the right side. Fold under each tape end so it sits just inside the neatened curtain edge. Pin in place. Machine stitch along the tape stitch lines and across each ends, keeping the ends of the cords out of the way.

Step 6

Pleat the curtain

Pull the loose cords until the curtain is the correct width. Know the cords together to hold the pleats. Do not cut the cord ends; loop them away or use a cord tidy. Insert the right number of curtain hooks to tally with the rings on the pole or the track runners and the fixed eye at the outer edge of the track.

Step 7

Hem the curtains

Turn up a 2 inch (5cm) then a 3 inch (7.5cm) hem on the curtain and press. Turn up a double 1 inch (2.5cm) hem on the ling and press. For a neat finish mitre the corners: fold the hem at an angle until the top edge touches the raw side edges. Hand the curtains at the window to check the length. Hand stitch the hems. Slip stitch across the mitred edges and down the loose edges of the lining.

Things Needed

• Calculator

• Retractable steel tape measure

• Curtain fabric

• Lining fabric

• Heading tape (allow for each fabric width plus 1 1/2 inches (4cm)

• Curtain hooks suitable for heading tape

• Scissors

• Matching thread

• Pins

• Sewing machine

Tips & Warnings

• If possible, use a retractable steel tape measure instead of a dressmaker’s tape measure as it will give more accurate measurements.

• Only work with full and half fabric widths. If your measurement falls a little over a width size, slightly loosen the gathering on the heading tape, rather than adding another half width of fabric.

• When adding a half width to a curtain, place the half width on the outer edge.

• For very cold exposed windows consider choosing a thermal lining. If there is a need to block out light, opt for a blackout lining, otherwise ordinary lining fabric serves most practical purposes.

• You can choose neutral or colored lining fabrics. For something that looks good from the outside, consider using a complementing curtain fabric.

• Using this method of making curtains the lining can’t be detached for washing. The curtains have to be drycleaned, or choose washable fabric and lining of a similar weight and laundering needs. This allows the curtains to be washed without danger of the fabrics shrinking at different rates.

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