You must have seen cafe curtains in your neighborhood bistro or diner. These types of curtains are cute and chic and are ideal window treatment for kitchens and bathrooms. Although cafe curtains can be bought from any home furnishing store, you can try making them at home too.
The right window treatment can help you create any interior décor look that you want in your home. Most people have a clear idea about the kind of window treatment they want in their living room and bedroom, but are stumped when it comes to kitchens and bathrooms. Leaving the kitchen window bare is not a desirable option, but regular floor length curtains are not functional.
As privacy is not an issue in a kitchen, you can opt for cafe curtains that cover the bottom half of the window. These type of window treatments are modern and give your kitchen décor some flair. Cafe curtains for kitchen can be found in any home furnishing store and they are available in different materials and styles. However, they can be a bit on the expensive side. So the best thing to do would be to make your own cafe curtains.
Making your own cafe curtains also helps you to customize them according to your will. Even if you are a novice at sewing, you can make them easily as they do not require advanced sewing skills. You can experiment with different styles of cafe curtains from the frilly floral ones to the light sheer ones. Light weight cotton, patterned silk, muslin and sheers are ideal fabrics for making cafe curtains.
How to Make Modern Cafe Curtains
Things required
- Linen fabric
- Pair of scissors
- Curtain rod
- Sewing machine
- Thread
- Curtain rings
Procedure
To make the cafe curtain, first you need to measure the height and width of the window. Once you have this measurements, decide, at which height on the window you want to hang the curtains. Most cafe curtains cover the bottom half of the window and the curtain rod is affixed approximately at the middle of the window. But you can go a few inches higher, if you think that it will enhance the look of the window treatment.
Once you have decided at what point you want to hang the curtains, write down the length of the window it needs to cover. Next calculate the amount of fabric that you are going to need for this project by adding 6 inches to the length and doubling the width of the window. The length and width that you arrive at are the dimensions of the fabric that you need to cut.
Cut two fabric panels according to the dimensions that you have calculated by using a pair of sharp scissors. Fold the bottom edges of the fabric panels by 2 inches and hem the edges neatly with a sewing machine. If you do not have a sewing machine, you can hem the edges by hand. When you are done hemming the bottom edges of the fabric, hem the side edges by tucking and folding the fabric edges by 1 inch. Make sure that all the folded edges of the side and the bottom face the same side.
Finally double fold along the top edges of the fabric and stitch the fabric edges. Insert curtain rings at regular intervals on the top edge of both the fabric panels. Attach the finished cafe curtain on the curtain rod by sliding the curtain rings through it.
How to Make No Sew Cafe Curtains
Things required
- Cotton fabric (in color and pattern of your choice)
- Iron-on fusing tape
- Curtain rod
Procedure
First measure the height and width of the curtain and ascertain at what height of the window you want to hang the curtains. Cut one single fabric panel with this dimension, making sure that you add 2 inches on each side for the hem. Place the fabric panel wrong side up on your workstation and then place the curtain rod over it. Fold the to edge of the fabric panel over the curtain rod and mark the point where the fabric edges meet. Remove curtain rod and attach the fusing tape on the top edge of the fabric panel.
Holding the fabric taut, fold the fabric over so that the top edge meets the point that you had marked on the fabric earlier. Iron the fabric so that the tape sticks seamlessly. Your channel for inserting the curtain rod is ready. Attach fusing tape to the side and bottom edges of the fabric panel, fold over and iron to have a neat edge. Your no sew cafe curtain is ready. All you need to do is insert the curtain rod through the channel that you have created at the top of the curtain and hang the curtain rod over the window.
As you can see cafe curtains are not hard to make and you can even make a no sew version if you want a quick project. You can decorate your kitchen or bathroom in the style with cafe curtains.
