'No Sew' Curtains

Curtains sewn together in the traditional way are sturdier and last longer, but you can make serviceable unlined lightweight curtains with no sewing at all. A modern material that is used in fabric decoupage, is applied with a hot iron and a damp cloth takes the place of a needle and thread. This can bought at most good haberdashery shops. These illustrated instructions will enable you to make your own no sew curtains for window treatments.

There are a number of headings that can be made using the no-sew principle.

Cased heading: This is a channel at the top of the curtain though which a narrow pole can be threaded. Not suitable for curtains that are going to be opened and closed regularly (tie-backs can be used to hold the curtains open). Allow 10cm at top and 10cm at bottom for hems. See below

Traditional pencil pleat: Heading tape applied with no-sew instead of rows of stitching. Allow 5cm at top and 10cm at bottom for hem. See below

Curtain clips: The easiest way to hang curtains, the clips are applied to the top of the curtain and hung onto a pole or track. Allow 10cm at top and 10cm at bottom for hems. See below

Eyelets: A modern way to hang curtains where a wire is threaded through eyelets punched in the top hem. You can buy an eyelet kit which contains the eyelet tool together with eyelets and hemming tape. Allow 10cm at top and 10cm at bottom for hems. See below

Making the curtains:
1. Turn in and press 1.3cm at each side and then turn in another 2.5cm and press.
2. Place a strip of bonding web 1.3cm wide under the fold and press in place using a hot iron and damp cloth.
3. Turn up and press 2.5cm at lower edge and then turn up and press another 7.5cm at lower edge.
4. Place a strip of bonding web 2.5cm wide under the top fold of the hem and press with a hot iron and a damp cloth.

To make a slotted top heading:
Turn and press 2.5cm at top edge and then turn and press another 7.5cm. Check the finished length of the curtain and adjust if necessary. Place two strips of bonding web 2.5cm wide under the hem. The first strip place along the top of the fold and the second strip place along the bottom fold. Press in place with a hot iron and a damp cloth. This leaves a channel between the two strip of bonded web to thread a narrow pole.

To add pencil pleat heading:
Turn down and press 2.6cm at the top edge of the curtain. Check the finished length and adjust if necessary. Cut a 7.5cm strip of bonding web and place it over the seam allowance just below the fold. Secure the strings of the heading tape at one end by knotting them together on the wrong side. Turn in 2.5cm at the end of the tape and place a strip of bonding web between the turning and the tape. Carefully place the heading tape over the bonding web at the top of the curtain and press in place with a hot iron. Remember to free the strings of the heading tape and to turn under 2.5cm at the other end.

To make a top to use curtain clips:
Turn and press 2.5cm at the top edge of the curtain. Check the finished length and adjust if necessary. Turn down and press another 7.5cm. Cut 7.5cm strip of bonding web and place under hem. Press with a hot iron and a damp cloth.

To make a heading for eyelets:
Turn and press 2.5cm at the top edge of the curtain. Check the finished length and adjust if necessary. Turn down and press another 7.5cm. Cut 7.5cm strip of bonding web and place under hem. Press with a hot iron and a damp cloth. Mark where the eyelets are required, remember to space them equally along the width of the curtain with one at each end and place them halfway down the top hem. Punch them into place using the tool.

  source:wendy fleat - window alternatives