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How to Make Curtains Longer

Walmart plaid, flat, twin sheet

Hey there!

I couldn't take them any longer.
Yup.
As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, these curtains were driving me crazy.
This is the room where we spend most of our time... reading, eating, watching tv, blogging...
You name it. It's done here in our family room.
So, it was hard to ignore those short, uneven curtains.
window sporting short curtains - grey wall color, black drapery rods

I brought them down even before finding the fabric that would make them longer.

double door with short beige curtains from Ikea.

However, before taking them down, I measured and marked how much I wanted to cut.
I randomly picked 12". As you can see in the picture below ---> 12" from the floor.
measuring tape, hardwood oak floors

Each one of my six curtains was marked on both ends -right and left.

markings on curtains before making them longer

Once down I made sure to mark them. Sometimes the height of the rod is different from curtain to curtain, you know, just in case.

numbers on curtains

Then, each curtain was folded and ironed on the 12" mark. That gave me a line to cut off the lower part.
ironing curtains and using scissors to cut thru

The fabric I chose to extend the curtains was a plaid, twin size, flat sheet I found at Walmart. It was a very economical solution. At first I looked at fabrics but the three yards - 60" wide fabrics were more expensive than what I wanted to pay for them.
This twin flat sheet was under five bucks. :)

plaid twin sheet red and caqui

So, in order to bring the curtains all the way down I needed the extensions to be 12" plus the amount for the hem and seam.
I gave the hem 3" and  ½" to the seam to connect it to the curtain. (I don't recommend giving the extra half inch for the seam, later on you'll see why).

After cutting each panel, making sure the lines were identical for each pair of curtains, the hem was ironed. Leaving the total end of each panel at 12½".

I ended up with four of my panels having the same design. Sadly, it wasn't enough to have all six of them identical. Two panels got a different line up.

plaid fabric to make curtains longer

With the extending panels ironed and ready, it was now time to sew them to the curtains. Zig zaging the seam to prevent fraying.

sewing machinge - zig zag stitch

The width of each extension panel is longer than the width of the curtain. At this point you can go ahead and trim the excess, iron and sew those side hems.

Making curtains longer

The last part is to stitch the lower hem close.

sewing machine. plaid fabric

After ironing them, this is how they look.  This pair of curtains in the picture below, were the first ones I made. They're a tinsy bit too long. That's why I don't recommend adding the ½" for the seam. What ever you use for the seam is going to bring the total length off the floor.
A pair of curtains gets extra length

Anyways, I'm gonna leave them like this.  ;)

window - door with french panels and windows on the side. EAT art

I'm loving the plaid, it gives them interest.


This is an easy project, it only takes time - measuring, ironing and sewing- I think I spent two/three hours doing this.
If you don't know how to sew, I think you can use the iron-on hemming tape to tackle this project.

How to make curtains longer using flat twin sheet - plaid


For more DIY sewing projects check these out:

gingham pillow case - fall mantel


dining room with white curtains, white parson chairs and pedestal table

how to black-out line curtains







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6 comments :

  1. Those are PERFECT now, Cristina...and just a hint of color/pattern to give them interest. I LOVE using sheets and have been doing that for years! So many companies have stopped packaging that way anymore-everything is a set.; Walmart is one of the few places that sells single flats now.
    You did a great job. Love it!!!! xo Diana

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  2. I love the sheet you chose. The color is so warm and comfy! Good job Cristina.

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  3. They look great now not too long at all but I don't like them tied.

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  4. Very clever. They drive me crazy too when they are too short. I did this to a pair of mine a few months ago because it had shunk after washing, and now it has loosened up so I have puddle curtains unintentionally.

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  5. They look just perfect now! Love that plaid.

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  6. I love them!! The exact sheet is what I used to make the shower curtain in our new home.

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