15 Minute Project: Tablecloth Curtains

I needed some curtains for my dining room (in progress) but I couldn't find any that I loved without giving up my first born child in return.  Then I came across two of these tablecloths:

 

15 minutes later I had this:

I love quick and easy projects almost as much as I love repurposing and upcycling.  This is my favorite curtain tutorial so far, especially because it is only has 4 steps.

1. Find a great deal on 2 identical oblong fabric tablecloths (Target's Threshold brand comes in 84" length...the same as a basic curtain panel! Many tablecloth brands range up to 120" in length for the same price!)
2. Fold over the end of each of the tablecloths and pin to create a pocket on each for the rod.  The amount your fold depends on the size of the curtain rod.  Keep in mind that the more you fold over, the shorter the curtains will be. Make sure you fold them identically so that the panels hang evenly!
3. Stitch along the bottom of each fold.
4. Hang your new curtain panels!

What I love most is that tablecloths are already hemmed along all four sides, so you only have to sew one straight line across each!

Identical curtain panels at Target cost $24.99 each!  These tablecloths were $18.99 each (regular price). I saved 20% using my Cartwheel app, AND I had a Target coupon for $5 off a home purchase, so I ended up spending around $25 for both.  Another plus is that tablecloths are anywhere from 6" - 20" wider than curtain panels, so I only needed two for this large window, where I would've normally needed 4 traditional panels.

If you keep your eyes peeled, you will catch a great deal on some tablecloths.  I've seen some as low as $6 recently! 

A variation of this tutorial for more narrow windows:

• Use only one tablecloth.
• Cut the tablecloth in half lengthwise.
• Hem both newly cut sides
• Follow steps 2-7 above.
• Save EVEN MORE MONEY!

Tea Towels Turned Curtains (Take 2)

Over the summer, I turned some tea towels into kitchen curtains.  They turned out a little shorter than I had hoped, and so I added some eyelet trim, which made them a little more granny-fied than I had intended. 

A couple of months ago, I picked up three other tea towels on clearance at Target. I set one on the oven handle ("for pretty"), and sure enough, Hubs used it to wipe up a gunky mess. Why he would use a perfectly new tea towel when there are a million raggedy old dish towels two inches away is beyond me! ((sigh))

Anyway, there was no way I was letting my  other two tea towels be destroyed, so I decided I would use them to replace Granny Curtains.

This is how they came out:

I set these with the stripes vertically instead of horizontally like Granny.

I then trimmed off the excess fabric so they would be just the right length,
and sewed a pocket for the rod.

...and voila, a new set of curtains for about $4.

Click here to see where this and my other posts are linked!

Curtains Two Ways

Curtains are one of the easiest and fastest ways to warm up a room. Naked windows can be great when you have a fantabulous view, but for the most part, windows need a little dressing.



Sewing curtains is just 4 straight seams all the way around! You can do it in 1/2 and hour or less.



Four little seams go a long way (and save a lot of money!).
Or even easier...use something that is already made.



You all saw Yvette's tea towel curtains, this is my take on the same concept. An ode to my hometown (Tampa) makes its home in my Nashville powder room. I used some twisted sticks I found at JoAnn's to create a unique and inexpensive curtain rod.



These curtains meet all the criteria for a great DIY project: easy, affordable and fun. Plus they make me super happy when I look at them!

Affordable Sheets Become Dream Curtains

When we decided to move to Virginia, one of the things that I knew we would miss the most is the short drive to the beautiful Florida beaches.  As I set out to decorate my children's new bathroom, I found a sweet frame that summarized my personal feelings about the beach: Sand between your toes, waves crashing, sunsets...it doesn't get much better than this.

I was lucky enough to find matching towels and a bath rug, but what the bathroom really needed were curtains.  I scoured the fabric stores, but nothing stood out.  It wasn't until one afternoon perusing Ross that I found a sheet set with the perfect pattern and color to match the bathroom.

So this...

Became this...

A perfect compliment to my beachy bathroom-in-progress.

What makes this even sweeter?  These microfiber sheets cost just $12.99.  I only used the flat sheet for these curtains so I still have a fitted sheet and two pillow cases to use for future projects!