I made some curtains to go with the My Little Pony crib set I made. I didn't use any My Little Pony images on them because it was expensive to get material like that. So to same some money I went to JoAnn's to find some kind of fabric that could go with the theme and be fun. I found this cool magic/stars/smoky material. I thought it was pretty awesome and the ponies use magic and stuff. The problem was that there were a couple of color variants; blue, dark blue, purple, and red. I liked them all. I considered using the different colors in strips but I think it would have been a little too much. So then I had to figure out just one color to use. I thought the light blue would go the best but the dark blue was nice too. Then I thought why not both. I could make curtains that could be used facing either side.
First thing you need to do is measure the window you're making the curtain for. The window I did was 44" wide by 56" tall. For material length add desired overlap length, how much you want the curtain to hang below the window sill. I thought 10"should be good. If you want an overlap above the curtain rod add that, I went with one inch. Then add 1" for sewing seams.
So for a 44" x 56" window I needed material 68" in length. For width it depends on how much you want the fabric to fold on the curtain rod/ruffle. I made each panel 44" wide, lucky the width of a lot of fabrics, to make sure it ruffled. Two panels equal 88" wide, minus side seams.
For curtains I needed four pieces of 44" x 68" material for one window, 2 pieces of one color and 2 pieces of the other side color/pattern.
Once you have all four pieces done take one piece of each color/pattern and pin them right sides together on the top width. Sew together using a half inch seam. Do the same for the other two pieces.
I like to double stitch to protect against fraying, you don't have to. Next do the same thing to the bottom width.
Next on each side starting at the top sew one inch down the length using a 1/4" inch seam. This just closed the sides for the top.
Now open the two pieces. On each color fabric sew from the one inch line down the length 3 inches also using a 1/4" seam. Do the same on the other side.
Showing the 3" long seam on both fabrics.
Showing the 3" long seam matching with the 1" long seam on the right side of the curtains.
After that close the fabric pieces back together having the right side for the fabrics on the outside. Match up the length side edges and pin together. Starting at the bottom of the 3" length seam, using the same 1/4" seam, sew down the length of the curtain.
What is looks like when you're done. Do the same to both sides.
After both sides are sewn together go back to the top of the curtain. Measure 3" down from the 1" line you made at the top. Sew across the width 3" down from the 1" line. This just finished off where the curtain rod will go. I chose 3" because there are many different curtain rod widths and I figured 3" would cover most of them.
What the top corners should like when you're done. I left the bottom alone. There's no need to hem because you already made a seam hiding the raw edges. I thought it looked nice without the thread across the bottom so I just made sure the bottom seam was ironed flat and left it at that.
What they looked like all done. I used my daughter's window since it's close to the measurements for my friend's window. I put them up so you could see what each side would look like. They look good but I wish I would have made them a little wider so they ruffled more, maybe have done 88" wide per panel.
Showing the top and how it hangs on the curtain rod. This rod was only one inch thick. Another nice thing about making double sided curtains is that it helps block out more sunlight.
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