Kitchen Curtains

After a couple months of living in our new apartment, I finally had time to tackle making curtains for my bare kitchen window.  

Kitchen window before.

I had already purchased fabric months ago.  (And by purchase I mean had to use a gift certificate I had earned while working at Calico Corners before it expired, so I really didn't spend a dime.) 

Fabulous fabric.

The French/Eiffel Tower theme works well with a picture I have hanging in the dining room that my brother took while in Paris and had blown up for me.

24" x 36" photograph.

I had never made curtains before, and barely know how to use a sewing machine, but I dove in head first. First, I measured the length (48" from the curtain rod to the sill) and width (60" across both) of my window.  I figured I would make each panel the full width of the fabric (around 52"), which is pretty standard.  This made for less cutting, and also gave some fullness to the curtains.  If I ever want to close them, there's enough width to the fabric to cover the windows.

The length was more of a guessing game.  I decided to add five inches the length of the window to accommodate my header and hem.  After I cut both panels to length, I folded over each side about a half inch and ironed them down before sewing them up.  For the top, I folded down a half inch to create a clean edge, then folded down another 2.5 inches before sewing in place, which left plenty of room to slide the curtain rod through.  I hung up the unhemmed panel to double check my length.  I was left with a fairly consistent half inch to hem so the curtains would fall right below the sill, covering the entire window, but not dragging on the counter top.

I don't have any pictures of my process on this one because I completed it several weeks ago.  But here's the after...

Curtains!

Different angle.

It's amazing how much homier and personal the kitchen feels now.  And check out my new fruit bowl with a fleur de lis on top.  Perfect accent!