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Disguise clutter and dress up a simple cabinet with pretty, handmade cabinet curtains! Designed by Debbie von Grabler-Crozier, these retro cabinet curtains are a quick and easy home décor sewing project that will give your home a cozy cottage feel. Debbie walks readers through the design process, including customizing your curtains to fit your cabinet, so that your home will instantly look more organized while providing your living space with a dash of rustic charm.
Designer Notes: Please read all instructions and assembly requirements before beginning the pattern. Seam allowances are all 1/4” and have already been added.
Materials:
- Fabric: Pretty fabric of your choice. The actual amount will depend on the size of the curtains to be made. More information will be given in the Measure Up section. The designer chose Summer Roses from the Midsummer collection by Sharon Holland for Art Gallery Fabrics.
- Curtain wire (the stretchy sort with plastic coating, which can be cut to size and has hooks to screw in each end). The designer purchased hers on Amazon.
- Coordinating threads for all fabrics and trims
- Scissors
- Fabric marking tools
MEASURE UP:
How big your curtains are will depend on your cabinet. It will depend on the wire length to be cut, too. Let’s deal with the wire first. Cut each piece 3/4” longer than your window (the glass bit) is wide. If you want to make two curtains for a double cabinet, cut four pieces; if you only have a single door, cut two pieces.
TIP: This wire works best if there is a bit of tension on it, so it should be slightly hard to put over the screws, which hold it in place.
Now to the curtains. Measure the window. The curtains need to be about 1 1/2 times the width plus 1” for seams. So if your window is 12” wide, your measurement will be 19” (12” + 6” + 1”= 19”).
TIP: The designer says ‘about’ 1 1/2 times the width because this is a classic amount and gives a nice gathered look. But if you are using a precious piece of fabric and it doesn’t quite fit, play with what you have.
The length of the curtain must be the height of the window plus 3” (1 1/2” top and bottom).
Cutting Instructions:
From the fabric:
- 1- 2 panels (as required) using the measurement information above.
From the wire:
- 2- 4 pieces (as required)
Sewing Instructions:
MAKING:
- Begin with the side seams. Fold each to the wrong side by 1/4” and press, then fold again by 1/4” and press again.
- Sew the seams and repeat for the other curtain.
- Fold the top and bottom seams to the wrong side by 1/2”, press and then fold over by 1”. Press.
- Sew along to create the curtain wire pocket on the top edge and then repeat for the bottom edge wire pocket.
- Screw an eyelet into the ends of the curtain wire.
- Insert the wire into the pockets on the top and bottom of the curtain.
- Prepare the cupboard by attaching a screw to the door about 1” out from the window.
- TIP: You may need to play with this measurement if you are upcycling an old cupboard. Some have hardware in odd places.
- Hang the curtains and arrange the gathers so that they are even.
- Repeat for the other curtain and window if you need one.
