The reason I started Projectland blog was to chart the progress of all the various creative projects that get started and then remain half done around the house. The intention was I admit selfish: to hold me accountable for finishing what I start. It has turned into more of a food and travel journal since summer. I became "camp director" for my kids and home projects were put on hold.
Now that fall is here: I am happy to say that this blog has held me accountable for one of the bigger home decorating projects I have taken on: making living room curtains!
BEFORE
and....
AFTER!
These curtains have been in the works for over 6 months. It sure feels good to have them done and I'm sure you'll agree its a huge improvement!
It all started innocently enough: I fell in love with the fabric and decided to make curtains. I measured the windows, bought the fabric, came home and made classic mistake number one: I cut the fabric in the wrong place for the pattern to line up correctly, so I went back to the store to buy more yardage. I got the two main curtains done, then the project went on hold for a while when summer arrived. But they were always on my mind especially after one of the blinds broke and it stayed in one position all summer. The project got a bit bogged down after the initial excitement and momentum slowed, but I forced myself to sit at the sewing machine once in a while and chip away at the sewing of the linings and curtains themselves. One of the harder things was figuring out the spacing for the pleats. High school math came in handy! See kids? It WILL be useful one day!
After they were all sewed with a 4" heavy stabilizer band at the top, I used curtain pins that are sort of in an upside down "N" shape with one sharp point to push into the fold and stabilizer, and the other end a blunt hook. The hook ends went into eyes attached to the wooden curtain rings. After the curtains were on the rings, I strung them onto the curtain rods, and up they went.
Here is my work station with two sewing machines face to face. I use the bigger Singer for heavier fabric since it has a larger motor. I use the smaller one for my extremely part time business: scrappynation .
This is the 2" fold that when pressed open makes the box pleat at the top of the curtain.
Here are the wood finials and supports which I painted with a min-wax black stain and poly coating.
Lastly: thanks especially to Chief rail for spending the better part of a Saturday putting up the hardware. Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do!! I feel like Maria in The Sound of Music, only I don't want to take down the curtains and make clothes, I want to make more curtains around the house and then sing about them. OK. I made that last part up.
Recent Comments