{burlap curtains}

When we finished the basement, we also finished under the stairs to make the girls a playhouse. We framed in a couple of windows to match the rest of the windows in our house, which means I needed curtains!
What could be cuter than curtains made out of burlap? I added a thick black & white polka dot ribbon at the bottom to add some oomph, and match the color scheme. Despite my lack of sewing skills (truly–this is not a forte of mine, although I keep trying), I am really pleased with the way they turned out.

So…for all you seamstresses out there, please do not look too closely at the stitches. I am a work in progress. :)

ITEMS YOU NEED:

• burlap
• heavy duty needle…it will be going through several layers of burlap
• thread ( I used black, because I wanted the contrast.)
• thick ribbon
• heat ‘n bond, or wonder under
• iron

DIRECTIONS:

• Cut your burlap to the size needed. Make sure you add in at least 1 1/2 inch on either side for the hem, plus as many inches extra as you want for gathering. I added another 10 inches for gathering for the window with 2 panels, so a total of 11 1/2-12 inches for each panel. For the one panel I was doing for the smaller window, I added on about 20 extra inches, plus the hem amount. For the top hem, allow enough for the hem (another 1 1/2 inches), PLUS some to fold over to make your rod pocket. Look at your rod first, so you know exactly how much you need for it to fit through. You will not be hemming the bottom.

 

• Proceed as you normally would to make curtains…doing the side hems, THEN the top hem and rod pocket. Make sure you don’t do the rod pocket before the side hems, or you will sew it closed. And yes, I have done that before. Live and learn, lol. DON’T do a bottom hem. I used a longer stitch length, and a heavy duty needle.
• To leave a finished edge on the ribbon, fold over each end and iron. Then you will be able to apply the heat ‘n bond over the top of the folded edge. Measure each end to make sure it fits the width first.
• Peel off the paper. You will then be able to position your ribbon along the bottom of the burlap, before you iron it on. Don’t worry if your burlap isn’t totally even on the bottom, you will trim it off later. Measure from the top of your curtain, to the bottom edge of the ribbon, to make sure it is as many inches long as you need it to be. Make sure it is even all the way across.
• Iron on the ribbon.
• With your scissors, trim along the bottom edge of the ribbon to remove any excess burlap, where it was uneven.
  

 

You’re done! Hang those adorable curtains, and enjoy! My girls are already loving theirs. I was debating whether or not to do tiebacks, but so far they have been insisting on keeping them shut. I guess they like to cook in secret. :)