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How to Make your Curtains Longer

Thank you so much for your generous comments on the dining room reveal!  We are really enjoying this room.  Since I changed it, we've been having all our dinners there, so far we had use it more than we did all last year, it's like being in a different home!

One of the new things for this room were the curtains, I bought two sets of Ikea - Merete Curtains $24.99/pair.

Even though they are 98" long, they were still short by 3"!  I didn't like that :(  They had to be fixed.


This post is about how to make your curtains longer when they are a bit too short for your windows. Remember, my sewing skills are pretty lame, if a true seamstress sees my work he or she is going to cringe big time, but hey, it works for me and I think nobody is going to come and check up close how this looks.

So, in case you need to do the same, and don't have the curtain police around, this is what you have to do:  
Calculate how much material you need too add by first hanging the curtains. Then, measure from the very end of the curtains all the way to the floor, and that will be your number.

This next picture shows how the extra piece of fabric is going to be attached at the last ½" of the curtain, that will bring the total panel ½" up from the floor which is good anyways, you don't want your curtains touching the floor.




Find the fabric you want to use, the width should be the same as the one in your curtains plus 1"(for seams).
For it's height I doubled my measurement 3½" x 2 = 7"  and added 1"(seams) for a total of 8".


Here is why.  Each strip of fabric gets folded ½" on each side



Then the whole strip of fabric gets folded lengthwise.




The curtain panel is then placed, aligned with the ½" seam, placing it in the middle of the strip of fabric (sandwiching it).



Pin it in place and sew it. Close both ends too.



The front and back are going to look finished.  Do you see those lines?  They are far from straight, but well, you're the only one who knows!


That's it, ready to be hung up again.


In place.




Some more projects you might like:




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44 comments :

  1. It looks great, like the curtains were made that way. I think the past week I've said,"I'm going to learn how to sew" more times than I can count. I think it may be time!

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  2. Cristina,
    There will be so many of us that will benefit from this great tutorial. You always have such useful and practical guides for us to improve our homes-thank you so much! They look wonderful!
    Happy Mother's Day Weekend-
    jemma

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  3. Great way to add length. Did you buy another set of panels to get the fabric to make these? They look like the same fabric.

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  4. Draperies can be so expensive. What a great idea to just add the additional length. Love it! They look as if they were intended to have that fabric at the bottom.

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  5. This is a great tutorial! In my book your sewing lines look awesome!! Thanks so much for sharing! Pinning!

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  6. Thanks Ladies! :) Mel, I was lucky to have that piece of white fabric in my remnants pile, that was almost a perfect match!

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  7. No me lo puedo creer Cristina, el viernes pasado compre justo esas cortinas en IKEA para mi dormitorio que estoy arreglando. Son bonitas y creo que de buena calidad, increible.

    Marina

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  8. Beautifully done Cristina. I could look at pics of your dining room all day...you must so enjoy the time you spend there. Curtain projects are just around the corner for me... thanks for the lengthening tips. Lynaea @ EveryDayBloom.com

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  9. Beautiful job Cristina - ( sewing is not my " forte " either - wish I could) so this is a great tutorial!
    God your dining is room is simply stunning -
    Have a wonderful wknd
    Big hugs,
    Suzan

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  10. Such a great idea, Cristina. They look fantastic. :)

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  11. Ahhh, very clever! What a great way to get some extra length on your curtains. They look awesome!

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  12. Brilliant! You are one crafty girl! Half the world needs this tip! I always feel like I see more short curtains than anything else and it drives me crazy!

    Laura

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  13. Fabulous idea, Cristina! Your curtains look beautiful! You are the best! :)

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  14. That would've been more involved than sewing the extra fabric. Unscrewing the rod, drilling new holes, placing new anchors, patching the old holes, and the main reason is: I prefer my curtains to go all the way to the ceiling.

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  15. You are a genius!! Your curtains look so tailored and I think you would impress most seamstresses. Happy Mothers day Cristina.

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  16. It looks fabulous and gives the drapes a little cuff. I love this idea. I would love for you to share it at my Inspire Me party this afternoon. Hugs, Marty

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  17. Great job! Curtains seem to always be too short!!
    Hugs,
    Jamie @ somuchbetterwithage.com

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  18. Great idea Cristina.

    I have several curtains that are dump in the cellar due to same reason you had, but reading your idea make my head spin now. I am not sure if my sewing will pass the test but I will try.

    TY a mill for sharing.

    Greetings from BoX,
    /CC girl

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  19. Christina ~
    Great job! They look great.
    I'm visiting you today from a Stroll Thru Life. I co-host a Linky Party Tuesday (open thru Sat). I hope you get a chance to stop by my blog, leave a comment and Link Up, too!
    ~ Megin of VMG206
    Join me each Tuesday for Brag About It Link Up Party

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  20. Fabulous tutorial! My family room curtains are just a tad too short. This is a great idea!!! Hope you will share at TUTORIALS TIPS AND TIDBITS!
    Your dining room is awesome!!!

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  21. Very tricky! Thank you for the idea....though now I seem to have the opposite problem, It helps in other areas....
    Nancy
    http://wildoakdesigns.blogspot.com

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  22. Perfect! It just looks like a wide hem. And I need to remind you that you made over a pottery barn chair from craigs list for your daughters room by replacing the cover and it turned out so fabulous that I still remember those details!!! You've got mad sewing skills:)

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  23. Oh wow...fabulous idea! I would love it if you linked up to my Create It Thursday post...it's live now! http://www.lambertslately.com/2013/05/create-it-thursday-2-plus-features.html

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  24. Awesome tip!! Thanks for sharing!
    Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof

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  25. Great idea, they look like they were made like that from the beginning. And Im going to do that with mine. Thanks

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  26. Talk about designer drapes... you have them! I love the fact that you made them what you wanted and beautiful too. (shooh don't tell, but I am an ex seamstress that loves your idea).

    I found you via Roeshel @ DIYShowoff.

    Just Beautiful.

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  27. Okay, I would have been stumped on this one. I never would have thought to encase the original hem to make it longer. You are so clever Cristina! And I think it looks perfectly fine! :) Well done!

    Debbie

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  28. Great tip! Thanks!
    *hugs*deb

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  29. Wow, what a great idea and you executed it so well. They look amazing!

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  30. Great idea! They are so pretty! Thanks for sharing this at my Pin Me Linky Party.

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  31. Brilliant! And so simple too! I popped over from Tatertots and Jello--thanks for sharing!

    ~Abby =)

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  32. GREAT tutorial! Your room is beautiful.
    We have a huge IKEA down the road and I haven't made it there yet, hmmm...maybe this weekend!
    Thanks so much for sharing at Amaze Me Monday...
    Blessings,
    Cindy

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  33. Your dining room and curtains look fabulous! My sewing skills are pretty lame too so it's nice to see a project that's easy enough for me to do! Stopping by from Tatertots and Jello. Have a great weekend!
    CarrieThisHome.com

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  34. Great tip Christina! The thick hem looks fabulous too, not just to lengthen them but adds weight and interest.
    Krista

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  35. It's relatively easy, it works, and looks great! Kudos to you for coming up with this ingenious solution. Now you 've got me wondering what the added-on bottom border would possibly look like in a contrasting fabric, or a coordinating print...

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  36. Ah, you make is seem so easy! Thanks for the great tip, Cristina!

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  37. What a clever tip, it looks like a nice hem on the bottom! So glad I saw this featured at Home Stories A to Z. I'll have to pin to remember this! Sharon

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  38. How tall are your ceilings if I may ask? I like to hang my curtains high as well, and I am trying to see if I should get 98" or 108" curtains for my just-under-9-foot ceilings.

    Thanks!
    Paige@ Camp Ave

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  39. Paige, they are 9-foot ceilings, I guess you should get the 108" curtains, they are easy to hem.

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  40. I need an extra 10 inches. Do you think this would work for another 10 inches? I need 134" and don't want to pay for custom

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    Replies
    1. Hi Betty, I have another tutorial for what you need, it's right here: http://www.remodelandolacasa.com/2015/10/jshwipl.html

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