Making a number of curtain panels can be a daunting task if you are sewing them yourself. You can achieve a professional finish by measuring and cutting the fabric accurately and using header tape. Header tape is a stiff fabric band sewn on the back of the fabric along the top of the curtain panel. The tape is gathered into pleats evenly across the panel; it’s made with pleat pockets already in place so the gathering task is quick and precise.
Cut the fabric into panels the finished length you want the curtains to be plus 4 inches. Panel width depends on the type of header tape you use and the type of pleats you want to make. Follow the header tape manufacturer’s instructions for figuring width, and allow 3 inches for side hems.
Fold under 1/2 inch along both side edges of each panel, then fold under 1 inch along each side edge so the raw edge is concealed. Pin the folds in place, and straight-stitch the side hems by machine.
Turn under 1/2 inch along the top edge of the panel. Place the header tape on the back of the panel so the upper edge of the tape is 1/4 inch down from the fabric fold and the tape covers the raw edge of the fabric. Pin the tape in place across the width of the panel, allowing an extra inch of tape on each side.
Turn under the extra inch of tape at each end to conceal the raw edges. Pin the tape edges just inside the hemmed edges of the panel. Machine stitch the upper edge of the header tape, sewing through the tape and the folded panel fabric. The tape has a woven mark or a colored mark along the edges to indicate stitching lines. Sew across the width of the panel with the back of the panel and the tape facing up, simply stitching on the lines. Machine stitch the lower edge of the header tape to the curtain panel, then sew the folded-under ends of the tape along the sides of the panel.
Measure each panel from the top to make sure the panels are the same length, then fold under 1/2 inch along the lower hem edge. Fold under the lower edge 3 inches, pin and sew the lower hem in place. To gather the curtain into pleats, insert pleater pins into the pleat pockets that are woven in the header tape. The curtains are ready to hang.
Things You Will Need
- Measuring tape
- Header tape
- Sewing pins
- Sewing machine
- When sewing on the header tape, sew the top edge and the lower edge of the tape in the same direction beginning at the same side of the panel. This prevents puckers on the front of the fabric panel.
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