Shortening the hem or adding a pole pocket on a curtain are some of the easiest sewing endeavors there are, but as many a Project Runway disaster proves, a wonky hem can make the whole project look like a mess. Here are a few simple tips to help get it right every time.
After many a disappointing result hemming an extra long set of curtains from Ikea, I've realized that the job can't be rushed, so when I converted these Alexander Girard for Urban Outfitters shower curtains into window curtains for my son's room, I made sure to do it carefully.
Sewing a hem or pocket simply involves folding the fabric twice — once to hide the raw edge and twice to finish and/or add the pocket — but cutting and folding in a straight line is essential to creating finished curtains that look polished, not wavy and off-kilter.
Measure Carefully: Before cutting the fabric, carefully measure the length you want to cut. Draw a line with pencil or chalk and make sure it is as straight as possible. Measure the length from the edge of the fabric and make reference points every 10-12 inches. When you draw the cutting line, make sure that it includes at least three of the reference points to insure you don't veer off diagonally.
Press Often: Fold the raw edge over about half an inch and press well. Make sure the fold line is straight as you press and the fold is the same length all the way across. Especially on a long piece of fabric, it's easy for the fold to start to curve or wobble. Pin the folds after pressing to make sure that everything stays in place when you get it to the sewing machine.
Take Your Time: Measuring, cutting and pressing take at least twice as much time as actually sewing, but checking and double checking the straightness of your folds will make the time you spend sitting at the sewing machine that much easier. Sew as close to the fold like away from the edge as possible — about 1/4-inch — and you're done!
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Comments (10)
Never posted here before, but this topic is so timely! I just had a hemming disaster with Ikea's Lenda drapes. The ones I purchased claimed they are 98" long and 55" wide. I wanted to drape two walls with 250% fullness so I purchased 8 sets (16 panels). I measured one right out of the package to ensure its length matched what was advertised--indeed it was 98" from top of the loop to the bottom of the panel. Great!
So I proceed to take 5" off each of the panels, as I want to end up with 93" panels. I carefully measure, pin, press, and sew over 400" worth of material. I get halfway through and realize something looks a little funny...so I start to measure from top of loop to bottom of hem: 98", 95", 93.5", 96", 95.5", 97"...WHAT?!? Turns out the drapes (right out of the package) vary in length anywhere from 98" to 103" (most are in the 100 to 101" range). The first one I measured that turned out to be 98" was a complete fluke.
NOTE OF CAUTION: Ikea has absolutely no quality control when it comes to manufacturing their drapes. I know the price is attractive, but if you must purchase them, measure from the TOP of EACH panel before hemming. Save yourself the time, energy, and frustration!
Their return policy is a nightmare, so don't expect much.
AnnArborChic? Maybe you should cut them all off even and add a band of contrasting color at the bottom to regain the length?
Here's how I do it:
Measure one panel carefully. Fold up and pin. (Just the one fold -- may have a lot of excess fabric which will be removed later. The pinning should be a couple of inches from the fold even if there is extra fabric. You can also pin the floppy part up if it's in your way). Press. Measure again to confirm accuracy.
Place the next panel face down on the first. (I do this on the floor.) Fold up the hem on panel 2 to match panel 1. Pin. Set aside. Repeat with all the remaining panels until done.
Press all the hems. Measure to make sure nothing slipped. Then trim excess fabric if necessary so the fabric above the fold for the hem is uniform, and ideally a few inches (four?) Fold down a half inch or so of fabric. Press if desired and sew hem (or use iron on tape.)
Thanks, Sherry. Both those suggestions would definitely work. Had I known the lengths varied so considerably, I would have approached the whole project differently. Once I had already hemmed half the bunch, I decided to scrap the whole thing (removing the stitches would have made noticeable holes in the fabric). I returned what I could to Ikea and started anew. I ended up using Full size flat bed sheets, which I hung with alligator clips from airplane cable. It turned out way better than the Ikea drapes would have (lighter, crisper, and a better color). Go figure!
1. Wash the panels.
2. Hang them on the curtain rod.
3. Pin them to desired length as they are hanging on the rod.
4. Take them down and iron the bottom crease.
5. Measure 8" up from bottom crease and cut off excess fabric. Fold over to achieve standard 4" hem. Iron and sew hem.
I absolutely agree to acaj08.
Washing is essential. You'll be surprised how much fabrics will shrink in either way.
A tip I learned from several costumers: most fabrics will rip in a perfectly straight line. So if you have a lot of fabric to remove just cut a small line at the length you want the fabric to rip at and then rip quickly. As with everything new test it on a small bit of the fabric to make sure it doesn't make the fabric do something weird like a gathering of the fabric that wont come out.
Measure from the top before cutting any IKEA fabric, and match patterns across each piece so that you get a uniform look when the curtains are closed.
The round snap together rings that are placed into the fabric are great. It works for shower curtains, too, if you don't want to hassle with buttonholes for hooks.
Thank you for this post! I have this problem often and it's great to get these kinds of tips. I have trouble sewing long lengths so this is quite helpful.
After sewing up curtains for an entire house last summer, I've decided that the key to really crisp looking hems is using the iron on tape before sewing. I don't trust that tape to last on its own, but it is the best way to make sure that your fabric is smooth and in place when sewing- especially when sewing very large lengths like you tend to do with curtains.