How to Make Tie Up Shades With Rivets

Measure the window where you want to hang the completed tie-up shade. For the width, measure 1 inch in from the outer edge of the left-hand side of the frame to 1 inch in from the right-hand side of the frame. Measure from 1 inch below the curtain rod to the top of the windowsill. Add 1 inch to the width measurement to allow for a half-inch seam allowance. Add 5 inches to the length measurement to allow for half-inch seam allowance and 4 inches to create a curtain rod pocket.

Cut a piece of fabric for the curtain. Fold all four edges of the fabric over a half inch. Secure the folded edges in place using straight pins. Sew along the straight pins with your sewing machine using a straight stitch. Remove the pins.

Fold the top edge over toward the back to create the fold for the curtain rod pocket. Fold it so that 2 inches of fabric are folded over. Pin the fabric in place with straight pins. Sew across the width of the fabric with a straight stitch to secure it. Remove the straight pins.

Cut two pieces of 1-inch ribbon. Make the length two times the length of the fabric plus 18 inches. Divide the width of the fabric by three. Lay the fabric face up on your work surface. Place the two ribbons at the one-third and two-third points on the fabric orienting them along the length of the fabric. For example, if the fabric is 36 inches wide, lay the ribbon at the 12- and 24-inch points. Fold the ribbon in half over the top of the fabric so that half of it is on the front of the fabric and half is on the back.

Adjust the placement of both ribbons so that the cut ends are even with one another. Place straight pins every 3 inches to hold the ribbon in place.

Make a hole through the top layer of ribbon, into the fabric and out the bottom layer of ribbon. Use a craft knife to cut an "X" or cut a small hole with a pair of scissors. Make the hole one-eighth-inch in diameter. Position the hole 2 inches below the curtain rod pocket and centered on the ribbon.

Insert a quarter-inch rivet through the hole with your fingers. Push the rivet through the top ribbon out the back of the fabric and bottom ribbon. Place a rivet flange on the backside of the rivet. Place a pop rivet gun onto the rivet, following the manufacturer’s instructions. Once the rivet and the gun are flush to one another, squeeze the rivet gun’s handle firmly. If the rivet doesn’t make a popping sound, release the handle and squeeze again. Continue to release and squeeze until it pops and the rivet’s stem breaks free.

Place a second hole 2 inches below the first hole. Place another rivet in the hole using the pop rivet gun. Place a third hole and third rivet 2 inches below the second.

Repeat Steps 6, 7 and 8 with the second ribbon, additional holes and rivets. Remove all the straight pins.

Hang the completed curtain using the curtain rod pocket.