How to make unlined curtains

Calculate the fabric amount required for your curtains using our guide "how to calculate fabric amounts for curtain making".

Cut the fabric the correct size for each curtain. Join fabric panels together if necessary for awide window, or join a half width. See our guide "how to join fabric panels together".

Press and pin a 2cm hem down each side of your curtain towards the back of the fabric.

Turn over a 7.5cm hem at the bottom of your curtain. Press and pin in place.

To make a neat and smooth finish without fabric bulk, miter each corner of the hem as follows:

From the raw edge of the folded over hem, measure another 7.5cm up towards the top of the curtain.

From this point on the side hem, turn the side seam inwards creating a diagonal towards the bottom edge of the curtain. Press in place.

From the point of the raw edge of the folded over hem, turn the whole side hem inwards again.

It will be about 2cm wide. Press and pin in place.

Repeat for the other corner of the bottom of the fabric.

Fold over the remaining half of the bottom hem. That is, another 7.5cm to use your total hem allowance of 15cm.

Line up the two diagonals you have created. Slip stitch in place.

Remove all pins, and stitch the remaining side hems and along the bottom of the hem. Your stitching will not be seen on the right side of the fabric.

At the top of your fabric, turn over 1cm raw edge, towards the back of the fabric, then another 4cm*. Press in place. (*Before creating the heading, re-measure your curtain to ensure the you will achieve the correct finished length.

If using heading tape or buckram, pin and tack this across the top of the fabric about 3mm below the top edge of your curtain. Purchase enough heading tape to fit across the entire flat width of your curtains, allowing an extra 4cm per curtain for tucking under raw ends.

Turn the raw edges either side of the heading tape or buckram under before removing pins and sewing in place using two lines of stitching - one across the top and one across the bottom of the heading tape of buckram.

Always sew each line of stitching in the same direction to avoid puckering of the fabric.

Remember to machine stitch the sides of the heading tape as well. However if you are using a band whereby you need to pull up the cords to gather the curtain, remember to release some of the cords at one side of the curtain prior to stitching.

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