Grommet Top Curtain Tutorial

Hello!

Today I am excited to show you the new curtains I’ve just made.  My eating area has been in need of some new curtains for a loooong time.  The old ones have been in place since we moved into our house (10 years ago!) and have been looking really shabby!

The curtains were for the eating area so I wanted them to look nice since we spend a lot of time in this space but they also cover the sliding glass door which leads to the backyard….which means the door gets used A LOT to…..so I needed something that would slide easily and be kid friendly.  What I decided on were some almost floor length curtains with grommets on the top to help them slide easily.  And for the fabric I chose one of Patty Young’s designs for Riley Blake in their Home Dec weight so they would be sturdy and have some body.

The grommets were easy to use and the curtains were a quick sew from start to finish.  It truly is project that can be done from start to finish in an afternoon and make a big difference in the feel of any room.

To make these curtains all you need is:

*5 yards of fabric (preferably Home Dec weight)

*2 packages of Dritz Home Curtain Grommets

*thread to match your fabric

*scissors

*your sewing machine

 

And then to make these curtains just follow these few easy steps!

#1.  Measure from the top of your curtain rod to the floor, or to where you want your curtains to stop.  (I wanted my curtains to end about 3 inches above the floor so my kids wouldn’t step or trip on them as they were going in and out of the doors.)

#2.  Add 6 inches to the measurement you just took.  This will give you the extra fabric you will need for the hems, grommets, etc.

#3.  Cut two pieces of fabric that are the width of the fabric (from selvage edge to selvage edge) by the measurement that you took plus the 6 inches.  These will be your two curtain panels.

#4.  Using one of your curtain panels turn the bottom edge under 1/2 inch and press.  Turn it under another 1/2 inch, press again then top stitch using thread that matches your curtain fabric.

This will give you a nice finished hem.

#5.  Repeat step #4 for the top of your curtain panel.

#6.  Repeat step #4 for the left and right sides of your curtain panel.

#7.  Repeat steps #4-#6 on your second curtain panel.

 

Now that two curtain panels with nice finished edges it’s time to add the grommets.

These grommets are awesome.  They are super user friendly and work like a charm.  They come with all the instructions on the back:

And a template to use:

So all I did was simply use the template to draw where I wanted my grommets to go.  I did this across the top of each curtain panel.  I started an inch in from the hem line and spaced them every 8 inches.

I placed them about 2 inches from the top.

Next I cut each circle out that I had made with the template.

Then I inserted the front of the grommet through the hole.

 

And snapped the the back of the grommet on to it.

(You don’t even need fancy tools…you just use the palm of your hand!)

That’s it!!!

All that is left is to thread your curtain rod through your grommets…

 

…and enjoy!

I’m so excited about these…I think I want to make a matching set for the family room!

-liZ

 

PS:  Today we are also over at The Ribbon Retreat sharing a quick tutorial on how to embellish a beach towel so click on over there to see that as well!