Are you thinking about maybe getting some balloon curtains for your room? They are certainly a nice add on to your bedroom, but they can be quite hard to find if you are looking to buy them in a store. If you ever run into somebody that has the ability to sew, they might not really be up to the task of making a balloon curtain. Many people that sew have it in their minds that these types of curtains are very difficult to make. Although it can be done with a lot of hard work, this style of curtain is pretty easy to make if you are up for the task.
To begin making your balloon curtains you need to start off by taking a measurement of your window rod and the length of the window. Once you get the measurement of the window and write it down you need to add about 5 inches for rod pocket and hemming. If you want to make the curtains a little fuller you simply need to double or triple the width of the measurement.
Your next step is going to be to cut the panels that you are going to need to get the fullness that you want out of the curtains. Once you are done cutting out the panels, put them on the side and save them for later on. Make sure when cutting them out that you do it with even numbers. Now you are going to cut out a second set of panels, but this time you are cutting them about four and a half inches shorter then the length you originally had and keeping the width the same.
Now we are ready to create your rod pockets which is done by taking the fabric and folding it over the top edge about a half of an inch and then by making another fold which will be about 4 1/2 inches. Now stitch it. Complete this process by doing the same with your first set of panels that were cut previously. At this point we are not going to hem the bottom or the seams on the side.
Now we are going to get ready to hem by aligning the panels with the right sides. It is important that we check and make sure that each panel have one long and one short piece. When we align the hems it will make the panel appear shorter then the one that is at the top. Proceed to hem along the bottom and do this with each panel set.
Congratulations you should now have a set of curtains with your hems stitched. You can now take them and pin the long and short sides together and stitch again. Next take them and turn them over on the side where you can not see the stitch. The wrong side should be facing one another. Proceed to take the top edge of the short curtain to the top of the long one. When you do this it will make it balloon and give you the balloon curtain look that you are trying to achieve.
By doing it this way it will give you more options when making your curtains. You can make the curtain balloon out even more by scooting the short edge all the way up towards the top of the long edge. After this fold over about a 1/2 of an inch and stitch across the top about 1/4 inch below the fold.
The other alternative you have is to not have the curtain balloon out this much. If you are happy with the length of the curtain then you can take the top edge of the short one and pull it down to the stitches on the bottom on the rod pocket end. Next you will need to pin the end with the short curtain a 1/2inch and stitch it right next to the rod pocket. Their should be about a space of 1/4 to 1/2 an inch between these hems.
Now you can also create matching balloon valances by cutting out one valance piece which will be the width that the curtain panels were originally. You need to cut these valances about fifteen inches from the rod to the hem. The next piece you cut will be a little shorter in width around ten inches in width.
By taking the two pieces and placing the right sides of them together you can next stitch right across the hem. Make sure that you hem the valance on one side and that the other side of the valance is open. You can secure the open side by using some velcro type fastener.
Now take the edge found on the short curtain and move it up to the edge of the rod pocket. Stitch it while keeping an eye on it and being certain that the stitches are spaced evenly from the previous stitches that were done to make the rod pocket. Place the valance by using a second rod. You can stuff your valance with some cloth, paper or towels.
Are you thinking about maybe getting some balloon curtains for your room? They are certainly a nice add on to your bedroom, but they can be quite hard to find if you are looking to buy them in a store. If you ever run into somebody that has the ability to sew, they might not really be up to the task of making a balloon curtain. Many people that sew have it in their minds that these types of curtains are very difficult to make. Although it can be done with a lot of hard work, this style of curtain is pretty easy to make if you are up for the task.
To begin making your balloon curtains you need to start off by taking a measurement of your window rod and the length of the window. Once you get the measurement of the window and write it down you need to add about 5 inches for rod pocket and hemming. If you want to make the curtains a little fuller you simply need to double or triple the width of the measurement.
Your next step is going to be to cut the panels that you are going to need to get the fullness that you want out of the curtains. Once you are done cutting out the panels, put them on the side and save them for later on. Make sure when cutting them out that you do it with even numbers. Now you are going to cut out a second set of panels, but this time you are cutting them about four and a half inches shorter then the length you originally had and keeping the width the same.
Now we are ready to create your rod pockets which is done by taking the fabric and folding it over the top edge about a half of an inch and then by making another fold which will be about 4 1/2 inches. Now stitch it. Complete this process by doing the same with your first set of panels that were cut previously. At this point we are not going to hem the bottom or the seams on the side.
Now we are going to get ready to hem by aligning the panels with the right sides. It is important that we check and make sure that each panel have one long and one short piece. When we align the hems it will make the panel appear shorter then the one that is at the top. Proceed to hem along the bottom and do this with each panel set.
Congratulations you should now have a set of curtains with your hems stitched. You can now take them and pin the long and short sides together and stitch again. Next take them and turn them over on the side where you can not see the stitch. The wrong side should be facing one another. Proceed to take the top edge of the short curtain to the top of the long one. When you do this it will make it balloon and give you the balloon curtain look that you are trying to achieve.
By doing it this way it will give you more options when making your curtains. You can make the curtain balloon out even more by scooting the short edge all the way up towards the top of the long edge. After this fold over about a 1/2 of an inch and stitch across the top about 1/4 inch below the fold.
The other alternative you have is to not have the curtain balloon out this much. If you are happy with the length of the curtain then you can take the top edge of the short one and pull it down to the stitches on the bottom on the rod pocket end. Next you will need to pin the end with the short curtain a 1/2inch and stitch it right next to the rod pocket. Their should be about a space of 1/4 to 1/2 an inch between these hems.
Now you can also create matching balloon valances by cutting out one valance piece which will be the width that the curtain panels were originally. You need to cut these valances about fifteen inches from the rod to the hem. The next piece you cut will be a little shorter in width around ten inches in width.
By taking the two pieces and placing the right sides of them together you can next stitch right across the hem. Make sure that you hem the valance on one side and that the other side of the valance is open. You can secure the open side by using some velcro type fastener.
Now take the edge found on the short curtain and move it up to the edge of the rod pocket. Stitch it while keeping an eye on it and being certain that the stitches are spaced evenly from the previous stitches that were done to make the rod pocket. Place the valance by using a second rod. You can stuff your valance with some cloth, paper or towels.
