Things You Need for Stitching Curtains

Fabric and Thread

• To find out how much fabric you need, measure the distance from where the top of the curtain will reach to where the bottom of the curtain will reach. Add 8 inches to that measurement. The extra allows for a 2-inch top hem and a 6-inch bottom hem. Convert the measurement to feet, represented by a decimal. For example, if you want your curtains to be 70 inches long, you'll need 78 inches of fabric. Divide 78 by 12 to find the number of feet in 78 inches. The answer is 6 feet, with 6 inches left over. The decimal for 6 feet, 6 inches is 6.5 feet. Divide the number of feet by 3, since fabric is sold by the yard. A 6.5-foot panel is 2.17 yards, which you round to the nearest quarter. Each panel, then, requires 2.25 yards. You'll need more fabric if the pattern repeats, as you'll line up the pattern on each curtain panel. Purchase several spools of thread in the color that best matches the background of the fabric, in a weight that's appropriate for the type of fabric you're using.

Measuring Tools

• Your curtain project requires a lot of measuring. A metal measuring tape, such as those found in hardware stores, work well for measuring the windows to determine how much fabric you'll need. A quilting mat marked with measurements and angles helps you measure seams and hems as the fabric lies on your work surface. A straight edge quilting ruler serves the same purpose, and also acts as a cutting guide. A seamstress' tape measure can substitute for the quilting mat and ruler.

Cutting Tools

• A rotary cutter is the cleanest way to cut fabric. It looks and operates like a pizza cutter. You place the fabric on a cutting surface, lay a quilting rule or other straight edge along the cut line, and roll the cutter over the fabric to slice through it. Alternately, very sharp scissors--preferably a pair of fabric shears that you reserve exclusively for fabric--work well, too. Also have on hand a seam ripper to open your stitching if you make a mistake.

Iron

• You'll need an iron to press your seams and hems. They need to be pressed so the fabric lies flat, without adding bulk.

Sewing Machine

• Sewing machines run the gamut from basic stitchers to sophisticated computers that handle every sewing task, from hemming to custom embroidery. Choose a machine you can grow into, but that doesn't offer so many features that you feel overwhelmed.

Work Surface

• A too-small work surface can turn stitching curtains into a frustrating experience because you have to let the fabric hang off the side, where it's difficult to maneuver. A large surface, like a desk or dining table, allows you to keep the entire length of fabric within reach for easier pinning, ironing and sewing.

Miscellaneous Supplies

• Your sewing machine's mechanical mechanisms need regular oiling for lubrication. Keep sewing machine oil on hand. Also have extra needles in case you break the one currently in your machine, as well as extra bobbins for multiple thread colors. A fabric pencil or chalk also comes in handy for marking measurements on your curtains. Finally, straight pins are a necessity for any sewing project, especially curtains with long sections of stitching. You’ll use the pins to fasten the fabric temporarily, then remove them as you stitch.