bedsheet curtains

Curtains are super easy to make out of bedsheets you have lying around. I made these curtains for my first apartment after college...


They are constructed from two twin size floral Ralph Lauren sheets I picked up at a Ross or Marshalls. At the time, I did not have a sewing machine so I actually hand stitched them together! Luckily, I still like the print and they have come with me to two different residences since then. As you will see from the tutorial below, (with a sewing a machine. ha. ha.) you can whip up a pair of curtains within an hour or two from start to finish.

First, you need to do some measuring:
1) CURTAIN WIDTH
- Measure the length from one end of your curtain rod to the other.
- If you want a full curtain, multiply this number by 2-1/2. If you want them a little less full, only multiply this number by 1-1 /2 to 2.
- Now divide this number in half. This is your "curtain width."
2) CURTAIN LENGTH
- Measure from your curtain rod down to where you would like your curtains to fall (all the way to the floor, the sill of the window, or the apron of the window). I suggest floor length.
- Now we need to add a bit on to this length to accomodate for the fabric used to create a simple casing for your curtain rod to go through. Determine how wide you want your ruffle to be (the part above the rod)? (I made mine 2 inches wide). Determine how wide your want your casing to be (the part your rod slides into)? (I made mine 3 times as wide as my rod for a total of 2-1/2 inches).
- Add all three measurements above, plus a 1/4 inch for seam allowance. This is your "curtain length."

Taking your "curtain width" and "curtain length", you can now figure out what size sheets to buy. Standard sheet sizes are as follows:
Crib 42 x 72
Twin 66 x 96
Twin Xtra Long 66 x 102
Double (full) 81 x 96
Queen 90 x 102
King 108 x102
California King 102 x 110
See the first number in each sheet measurement above? Find the number that is closest to what you determined as your "curtain width." If the second number is at least as much as your "curtain length," buy two of this size sheet. If the second number is not as much as your "curtain length," go up to the next size sheet and see if its dimensions are close to your "curtain width" and "curtain length," and buy two of this size sheet. The two sheets you purchase will become the two panels of your curtains. Are you starting to see how easy and how little sewing this is going to involve? Good!

Here are my calculations as an example:
1) My guest room window is approximately 89 inches wide. I didn't want my curtains too full, so I multiplied the 89 inches by 2, which equals 178 inches. I then divided this by 2 to get 89 inches, which is my "curtain width." (It seems redundant to multiply by 2 then divide by 2, however, it would not be redundant if you wanted your curtains full and were therefore multiplying by 2-1/2 then dividing by 2, or if you wanted them less full and were therefore multiplying by 1-1/2 then dividing by 2).
3) The length from my curtain rod to the floor (since I want floor length curtains) is 81 inches. I wanted a 2 inch ruffle and a 2-1/2 inch casing. 81 inches + 2 inch ruffle + 2-1/2 inch casing + 1/4 inch seam allowance = 85-3/4 inches. This is my "curtain length."
4) Looking at the standard sheet sizes, I see that a queen size sheet is 90 inches wide. This is very close to my "curtain width" of 89 inches. I then look at the second number in the queen sheet size. Since 102 inches is more than the 85-1/2 inches I determined as my "curtain length," it seems queen size sheets are going to be perfect. So, I buy two queen size sheets (one for each panel) and head home.

Once home, I lay the sheets flat on the floor upside-down from how you would normally lay it on your bed (with the nice wide finished edge at the bottom by where your feet would be). This nice finished edge will be the bottom of your curtain (you won't have to hem a thing!)

Subtract your "curtain length" from the length of the sheet you chose (the second number in the sheet dimensions above). This is how much you need to lop off the top. For example, my "curtain length" was 85-1/2 inches so I subtract this from 102 inches, which is the length of a queen size sheet. Looks like I need to lop off 16-1/2 inches. Measure 16-1/2 inches from the top of the sheet and mark using a disappearing pen. Do this all the way across the sheet then cut along this line.

Now, lay the top of your sheet on the ironing board with the wrong side facing up (the "wrong side" is the one where you can see the folded over edges all along the sides of the sheet.) Fold the top over (towards you) 1/4 inch and press. Do this along the entire length of the top of the sheet.


Now, fold this edge over towards you again so it measures the total of your ruffle and casing (mine was 4-1/2 inches), and press, Do this along the entire length of the top of your sheet.


Sew along the bottom of your fold so you catch the 1/4 inch seam allowance.


Using your disappearing pen, draw a line where the bottom of your ruffle, which is also the top of your casing will be. Since my ruffle is 2 inches, I measured 2 inches from the top of my curtain. Do this along the entire length of the top of the sheet.


Now, sew along this line.


You're all done! Insert your curtain rod into the casing and hang.


There are so many options out there for your curtains - think of all the prints! Consider vintage sheets as well - head to your local thrift store and see all the bright, interesting sheets available. No one will ever figure out curtains are made from sheets. To make white sheets feel special, consider adding trim such as rickrack, lace, etc. I have been trying to finish this embroidered quilt for some time, but I'm still a ways from finishing. I thought I would use the same patterns and possibly embroider birds on the curtains taking cue from the full length article that was in the August 2003 issue of Martha Stewart Living.