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DIY Curtains: How to Hem Curtains For Elegantly Tailored Window Dressings
Curtains are incredibly important to any room in your home. Depending on their material, they offer light-blocking or light-filtering benefits in addition to providing coverage for your windows to ensure privacy. Further to these practical benefits, curtains are also designed to elevate the styling of your space.
They can be used to reflect your personal style, contributing to your interior decor theme throughout your home. If you're making your own curtains, this is when hemming curtains comes into play. When you learn how to hem curtains, you're unlocking a world of stylish window dressings and creating a tailored look that effortlessly elevates your home styling. In this article, we'll take you through how to hem curtains with tape and by sewing, as well as how to create your own DIY curtains for a homemade furnishings project.
Quick Links
- How To Hem Curtains With Tape
- How To Hem Curtains With A Sewing Machine
- Easy to Install DIY Eyelet Curtains
- Elegant and Regal Rod DIY Pocket Curtains
- Create Timeless DIY Pinch Pleat Curtains
- How to Hem and Install S-Fold Curtains
- DIY Hemming Curtains With @thehstyled
How to Hem Curtains
Before starting your creative process, it's a good idea to first learn how to hem curtains. The two most common curtain hemming options are hemming with tape or by sewing. If you're not confident with your sewing skills, hemming tape will be best, however, if you've got some experience with a sewing machine, you can sew your hems into place instead.
How To Hem Curtains With Tape
Hemming tape enables you to hem curtains without the use of a sewing machine, perfect for those who aren't experienced sewists but still want to create their own DIY curtains.
Tape is a powerful tool in the hemming of curtains and can be used in the hemming of both the bottom hem and side hems of your curtains.
How to complete a bottom hem using hemming tape
While each brand of curtain hemming tape may have different instructions, the process below is a simple guide for how to complete a bottom hem with tape, regarding the bottom of your curtains:
- Assess how your curtain hangs on the existing rod or track
- Measure the amount of excess fabric that you want to remove
- Take the curtain down, and fold the bottom edge by half of this measurement and press with an iron
- Cut hemming tape to the width of the curtain and place it on your curtain, ironing it down
- Allow to cool before peeling off any backing paper
- Fold the fabric over the tape to the same measurement previously used, and press the fabric once again
Make sure to follow any specific ironing instructions that are listed
Handy Tip: Use a pressing cloth to stop the glue from sticking to the iron and to protect the ironing board
How to Hem Curtains With Tape: Hemming the Side seams of Your Curtain Panels
- Fold the vertical edge over by 3cm and press it in place with the iron
- Repeat step one for the second curtain panel
- Place your hemming tape between the folded face and the curtain front and iron it into position
- Allow it to cool before moving on to the next steps
Make sure to follow any provided ironing instructions
How to Hem Curtains Using a Sewing Machine
If you have experience with a sewing machine, you can use your sewing skills to help secure the hem of your curtains in place. To master how to hem curtains with a sewing machine, you can start with a similar process to how you would hem curtains with tape.
How to hem curtains using a Sewing Machine: The Bottom of Your Curtains
- Measure the excess of your curtain fabric leftover at the bottom, and fold the bottom edge by half of this measurement.
- Press with an iron.
- Once this has been completed, sew your hem in place, remembering to tuck the corners under. If working with a thicker fabric, use pins to secure your hem in place when sewing.
- Remove your pins once the hemming has been sewn and proceed to the next step of your curtains project.
How to hem curtains with a Sewing Machine: Hemming the Sides of Your Curtain Panels
- Fold the vertical edges over 3cm and press.
- Fold another 3cm and press again.
- If using a heavier weight fabric or fabric with a curtain lining, you can pin the fabric to secure the header while you sew your hem in place.
- Remove the pins once the hemming has been completed, and proceed to the next step of your curtains project.
Easy to Install DIY Eyelet Curtains
Eyelet curtains are categorised by their header type, consisting of eyelet rings.
The installation process of these curtains involves threading a curtain rod through the eyelet rings for a low-maintenance installation process. These curtains bring an effortless and stylish window dressing that will refresh your space.
In elevating your home styling, eyelet curtains can also act as a unique decorative feature when you put your DIY skills to the test and create your own eyelet curtains. Spotlight offers a great selection of eyelet curtains projects, but we'll take you through a generic guideline of the DIY process for you to follow.
The Tools You'll Need To Make DIY Eyelet Curtains
- Sewing machine or a needle and thread
- Iron on hemming tape
- Metal measuring tape
- Metal ruler
- Sewing scissors
- Stitch unpicker
- Pins
- Grey lead pencil
- Iron and ironing board
- Washing machine
- Eyelet tape
- Curtain fabric
- Thread that complements your fabric
Step-By-Step Guide
- Measure the height and width of your windows. For more information about measuring your windows, check out our helpful How To Measure Your Windows For Curtains & Blinds blog
- Measure your fabric:
- For the width of your curtains: Double the width of your window measurements and add 12cm to these measurements of each curtain panel
- For the height of your curtains: Add 30cm to the height of your window measurements, so there is space to create your top and bottom hems - Cut your fabric to these measurements using sewing scissors or a rotary cutter
- Press your fabric with an iron to remove any wrinkles
- Start the process of hemming the sides of your curtain panels and secure the hems in place, using hemming tape or by sewing, as previously mentioned
- To add the eyelets, start by folding the top edge of the curtain down around 10cm or to the width of your pleat tape and press. Fold the curtain again around 10cm and press
- Secure the top hem in place by sewing or with hemming tape
- Create the eyelet header:
- Cut your eyelet tape to the width of the curtain and pin it in place
- Using a fabric marker or grey lead pencil, trace around the inside of the eyelet rings
- Take the eyelet tape off and cut out your market circles, making sure to cut through both layers of fabric
- Line up the eyelet tape and clip the eyelet fronts in place - Hem the bottom of your curtains
- Once complete, your curtains will be ready to hang
If you're after a regal aesthetic in your home, consider installing rod pocket curtains. Rod pocket curtains are designed to be installed on curtain rods, with the top of the curtain header featuring a sewn-in "pocket" for the curtain to thread onto the curtain rod. If you've got some time on your hands or are looking for your next creative endeavour, try making your own rod pocket curtains. These curtains don't involve the application of an additional header and simply involve you creating a pocket for your curtain rod. Check out a basic outline of creating rod pocket curtains below, or explore our range of free rod pocket curtain projects.
What You Need For DIY Rod Pocket Curtains
- Sewing machine or a needle and thread
- Iron on hemming tape
- Metal measuring tape
- Metal ruler
- Sewing scissors
- Stitch unpicker
- Pins
- Grey lead pencil
- Iron and ironing board
- Washing machine
- Curtain fabric
- Thread that complements your fabric
Step-By-Step Guide
- Measure the height and width of your windows. For more information about measuring your windows, check out our helpful How To Measure Your Windows For Curtains & Blinds blog
- Measure your fabric:
- For the width of your curtains: Double the width of your window measurements and add 12cm to these measurements for each curtain panel
- For the height of your curtains: Add 30cm to the height of your window measurements, so there is space to create your top and bottom hems - Cut your fabric to these measurements using sewing scissors or a rotary cutter
- Press your fabric with an iron to remove any wrinkles
- Start the process of hemming the sides of your curtain panels and secure the hems in place using hemming tape or by sewing, as previously mentioned
- To create the rod pocket, you are simply creating the top hem:
- Fold the horizontal edge over 8cm and press
- Fold over another 8cm and press again
- Sew the bottom crease of the pocket in place. If using a thicker fabric, it's a good idea to pin it before sewing to help stabilise the process - Hem the bottom of your curtains.
Create Timeless Pinch Pleat Curtains
Whether you are breathing new life into your window furnishings or completing your moving-in process, pinch pleat curtains are an elegant and timeless window dressing that will elevate the ambience of any room. Featuring a gathered header, these curtains showcase permanent sewn-in pleats that bring a tailored and luxurious look to any living room, dining room or bedroom. Creating these curtains by yourself may seem daunting, but this helpful guide will outline the basic process you can follow to create your own DIY pinch pleat curtains.
What You Need For DIY Pinch Pleat Curtains
- Sewing machine or a needle and thread
- Iron on hemming tape
- Metal measuring tape
- Metal ruler
- Sewing scissors
- Stitch unpicker
- Pins
- Grey lead pencil
- Iron and ironing board
- Washing machine
- Curtain fabric
- Pinch pleat tape
- Pinch pleat hooks
- Thread that complements your fabric
Step-By-Step Guide
- Measure the height and width of your windows. For more information about measuring your windows, check out our helpful How To Measure Your Windows For Curtains & Blinds blog
- Cut your pleat tape to the same width as your curtain track or pole, and work out how many pleat hooks you need based on how many sliders or rings are on your track or pole
- Measure your fabric
- For the width of your curtains: Double the width of your window measurements and add 12cm to these measurements for each curtain panel
- For the height of your curtains: Add 30cm to the height of your window measurements, so there is space to create your top and bottom hems - Cut your fabric to these measurements using sewing scissors or a rotary cutter
- Press your fabric with an iron to remove any wrinkles
- Start the process of hemming the sides of your curtain panels and secure the hems in place using hemming tape or by sewing, as previously mentioned
- Measure your pleat tape:
- Starting about 6cm from one edge, insert your pleat hooks, making sure to insert each prong into separate pockets
- Measure the distance between each hook to ensure they are evenly spaced, and check that they will cover your window once hung - Add the curtain tape:
- Fold the top edge of the curtain down around 10cm or to the width of your pleat tape and press
- Fold it down again and press
- Hem the top in place using hemming tape or by sewing
- Lay the pleat tape on top of your hem. Ensure the pockets are on the bottom edge and facing out
- Attach the header with hemming tape or sew it in place - be careful not to sew the pockets shut - Finish your pleats:
- Insert the pleat hooks and secure
- Turn the curtain over and hand-sew the pleats together, starting and finishing inside one of the pleats to hide the knots - Hem the bottom of your curtains
Cut, Hem & Hang S-Fold Curtains - How to DIY and Hem Your S-Fold Curtains for a Modern Look
Also known as wave fold, S-Fold curtains are a type of window dressing that, when hung, create a consistent "S" shape wave. These curtains are installed on a special curtain track that enables the folds to maintain their shape. You can find out more about S-Fold curtains by reading through our informative S-Fold Curtains styling and buying guide.
S-Fold, Cut, Hem & Hang fabrics usually feature the S-Fold tape attached to the header of the curtain, making it easy for you to DIY and install your curtains. Spotlight's range of S-Fold Cut, Hem and Hang Fabric allows you to shop from a range of sheer and block fabrics as well as a variety of colours and textures to create your very own S-fold curtains. In creating your own S-Fold curtains, we've put together a brief outline to help guide you through the DIY process.
What You Need For DIY S-Fold Curtains
- S-Fold Cut, Hem & Hang Fabric
- Sewing machine or a needle and thread
- Iron on hemming tape
- Metal measuring tape
- Metal ruler
- Sewing scissors
- Stitch unpicker
- Pins
- Grey lead pencil
- Iron and ironing board
- S-Fold Curtain track and new S-Fold Gliders if required
Step-By-Step Guide
- Measure the height and width of your windows. For more information about measuring your windows, check out our helpful How To Measure Your Windows For Curtains & Blinds blog
- When selecting your S-Fold, Cut, Hem & Hang fabric, remember to cut the fabric so it is twice the width of your track or window width. This ensures there's enough gather in the fabric to create the S-Fold
- Once the fabric has been cut to size, you can then begin by hemming the width and length of the fabric to your desired size
- Start by folding the raw edges of the fabric in towards the underside of the curtain
- Fold the edge again to hide any uneven edges and iron to create a straight edge.
- Secure the edges by adopting your chosen hemming method - sewing or with curtain tape.
- If you want to hem curtains by sewing, hold the hem in place neatly with pins prior to sewing. Sew a straight line down the pressed edges of the curtains to create the hem
- If you want to learn how to hem curtains with tape, follow the instructions below:
- Firstly, mark a line of pins along the base of the fabric for where you want your curtain to finish, leaving around 7- 10cm of fabric below this line and trim away any excess fabric
- Turn the fabric to the underside of the curtain along the line of pins
- Press with an iron to create a straight edge. This will become the edge of them
- Cut your hemming tape to length and place it glue-side down on your curtain fabric with the paper backing facing up
- Press the hemming tape with dry heat and no steam
- Once the hemming tape has cooled, remove the paper backing
- Fold the remainder of the hem fabric up over the glue webbing and tuck in any raw edges
- Press down with an iron, continuing until the glue has bonded - Once hemmed, your curtain is ready to install on an S-Fold curtain track
- Insert S-Fold hooks into the curtain tape, starting by leaving the first pocket empty and inserting the first hook into the second pocket. Then insert the second hook into the eighth pocket
- Ensure there are 7 empty pockets between each hook
- The last 4-6 hooks may require eight empty pockets between each hook to ensure an even number of hooks are installed in your curtain. Adjust accordingly for your curtain width
- Insert each hook into the S-Fold gliders, alternating between a backwards and forward curving motion to create the S-Fold shape. Continue along the entire curtain until fully installed.
DIY Hemming Curtains With @thehstyled
Creative DIYer Brooke, also known by her Instagram handle as @thehstyled, demonstrated how to hem curtains for a perfect, neat finish. Using the Warwick Home Salina Sheer S-Fold Curtains, Brooke was able to refresh her window furnishings with an elegant charm. As the curtains were slightly too long for her display, Brooke used hemming tape to shorten them.
Starting out by measuring the excess, Brooke cut the fabric to the ideal length for hemming the curtains, then pressed with an iron to create a distinct fold. She then applied the hemming tape, ironing it in place. Once cooled, Brooke removed the backing, folded over the hem and pressed to secure the hem in place. With this process, Brooke created the perfect length for her window furnishings with no sewing required.
Check out Brooke's helpful Instagram reel for a visual on how she hemmed her curtains to perfection.
Discover How to Hem Curtains and Create Homemade Window Dressings
Hemming curtains helps you to create a neat, tailored finish and perfectly completes your window dressings. Once you learn how to hem curtains with a sewing machine or even how to hem curtains without sewing, you can create a wide range of different curtains for your home, including eyelet, rod pocket and pinch pleat curtains. For more inspiration for your next creative endeavour, explore our curtain projects and shop our range of curtain fabrics and sewing supplies for everything you need to create your very own DIY window dressings.
