EASY SEW Curtain Panels under $50

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I debated on whether or not this was a good post because seriously, there are a million katrillion tutorials on how to sew panels but then I remembered, not on my site there isn’t ! So this is the “dining room” not much going on here!

Don’t laugh at my tutorial because I am sure there is a much more “professional” way to make panels but for me, being a beginner sewer, this works! I purchased “home décor fabric” that was 57” wide.  I needed panels to be 88” long so I purchased 96” to allow for a hem & mess ups! These are “dummy” panels, I don’t plan on opening & closing them so 57” wide fit perfectly for the look I wanted.  I bought 3 yards for each panel but really only needed a little more than 2 1/2 yards per panel. The best part, it was on sale for $5 / yard!
1. Start by laying your fabric face up

2. I purchased 2 twin size flat sheets at Walmart for $4.99 each for the liner. You need to line your panels with something! Lay the sheet/liner on top of the fabric & pin the sheet & fabric together about an inch in from the end. Do this all the way around so it doesn’t get messed up while you are sewing!

3. Ok….get going on sewing! Don’t ask me how to operate the machine….I learned 20 years ago when I was living with my gram in Florida going to school. She taught me the basics & we even made a dress that I loved! I haven’t sewed since & operating my machine (which is very old) was a DISASTER as I couldn’t for the life of me figure out how to loop the thread from under the needle plate (?is that what you call it?) I suggest finding a good YouTube video if you don’t know how to run your machine. I really could have used my gram’s help with that part!

4. Sew all 4 sides together leaving about 2 feet open (not sewed). Now turn the fabric & sheet right side out. Remember you basically sewed it inside out so you can’t see the stitch. You just need to carefully sew the remainder once you turn it right side out.

5. Now lay the panel flat with the sheet side up. I used a level (you could use a ruler) and drew a line all the way across where I needed to sew across to make a pocket for my rod. I did this 2x once at the top as shown below & then once again underneath b/c I wanted the curtains to looked bunched at the top. I’m sure there is a name for that ……I just can’t think of it right now!!!

6. Ooops, I see I spelled stitch wrong in the picture . Now you need to rip open (with scissors or knife) the stiches where you will slide your rod through. Now, if you are really good at sewing, you could have stopped & made space for the rod….BUT……chances are, if you are good at sewing you are NOT reading this post! he he.

and there you have it! Two panels easy peasy for under $50. This room is on the list of makeovers but for now, curtains will do! Now I just need to learn how to make slipcovers! That little primitive upholstered chair is from my early American Primitive décor days. Way to much money spent on that little lady to part with so I’m seeing a slipcover in the future for her !

I love the pattern! Do you like?

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About The Author

What started as a hobby, Jessica’s blog now has millions of people visit yearly and while many of the projects and posts look and sound perfect, life hasn’t always been easy. Read Jessica’s story and how overcoming death, divorce and dementia was one of her biggest life lessons to date.