Supplies: Note: Fabric amounts will vary depending on the size of the curtains you are making. Please read through all instructions and take accurate measurements as suggested before determining yardage for your café curtains.

• Mediumweightfabric(Usedirectionstodetermineyardage.)

• Matchingall-purposethread

HowtoSewSimpleCaféCurtains

Directions:

1.Determinethewidthofcurtainsandvalancewithrodsmounted.• Measuretherodwidth.• Add8"torodwidthmeasure-

mentifthecurtainsorvalanceseparateinthecenter.(Add4"ifthecurtainsorvalancewillNOTseparateinthecenter.)

• Doublethemeasurement.(Ifyouareusingalightweightfab-ricorwouldlikelotsofgathersyoumaywanttomultiply2½–3timesthemeasurement.)

Handy Notions:• Tapemeasureoryardstick• Rotarycutter,mat,andruler• DraperyHemGauge• 5-in-1SlidingGauge• AdhesiveSeamGuide• Optional:BlindHemmerMachine

Change your décor with ease by creating quick café curtains. Café curtains consist of two parts. The bottom curtain is the traditional style curtain and the top is a short valance.

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Example:Rodmeasures42"+add8"=50"Doublethemeasurement=100"(If

youwantthecurtainstoseparateinthecentereachpanelwidthwouldbe50".)

2. Determinethefinishedlengthofthevalance.

• Determinethelengthofthecasing.- Measurethecircumferenceof

therod(distancearoundtherod)andadd¾".

- Dividethatmeasurementby2toequalthelengthofthecasing.

Example:Circumferenceoftherod=2¼",

add¾"=3"Divide3"by2=1½"casing

• Ifyouwouldlikeaheader(ruffle)ontopoftherodaddanaddi-tional3".Thisallowsfora1½"headeronthefrontofthevalanceanda1½"headeronthebackofthevalance.

Add8"torodwidthmeasurement

Addequalamountsoffabrictoeachfullpanel

If the curtain or valance needs to be wider than the fabric width, sew panels

or partial panels together to equal the needed width. For curtains with two panels that separate in the center, add equal amounts of fabric to each full panel.

Valance length may vary from 8"–18", depending on the size of the window.

You may choose to add a wider header if your rod is larger and you are working

with heavier fabric. Just make sure to double the finished header measurement to account for the front and back of the header.

-2-

• Addthelengthofthecasing,plusthelengthoftheheader,tothelengthofthevalance.Thenadd6"foradouble3"hem.

Example:Casing=3"plus3"forheader=6"Add10"forlengthofthevalance=

16"Add6"forthehem=22"(total

lengthtocutthevalance)

3. Determinethefinishedlengthofthecurtain.Measurefromthebottomoftherodtojustbelowthewindowsill.Addthecasing,header,andhemmeasurementsassuggestedinvalanceinstructions.

4. Cutcurtainandvalancepanelstomeasurementsdetermined.

5. Sergeorzigzagrawedgeofthetophem(s).

We have allowed for zigzagging or serging the raw edge at the top hem of

the valance. If you would like to turn under ½"–¾" you will need to add that amount to your measurement.

6. Hemthecurtainandvalancepanels.• Pressadouble3"heminthebot-

tomofeachcurtainandvalancepanel.- UseaDraperyHemGaugefor

easeandaccuracyofmeasure-ments.Bringtherawhemedgetothe3"markedlineonthegauge;press.

- Foldthehemasecondtimetothe3"markedlineonthegauge;press.

• Stitchthehemwithastraightstitchalongtheinnerfold,oruseaBlindHemmerforthefastestofhems.

7. Hemthesideedgesofeachcurtainandvalance.• Pressdouble1"sidehemstothe

wrongsideofeachcurtainandvalancepanel.Usethe5-in-1Gaugeforaccuratemeasuring,ifdesired.

1"

1"

1½"

2"

2½"

3"

3½"

4"

1½"

5"

5½"

6"

6½"

7"

7½"

8"

8½"

2" 3" 4" 5" 6" 7" 8" 9" 10" 11" 12" 13" 14" 15" 16" 17"

Drapery Hem Gauge

Dritz HOME

2½

3"

3½

Pressadouble3"hem

• Straightstitchalongtheinnerfold,oruseaBlindHemmer.

8. Createtheheaderandcasingforthevalanceandcurtain.• Pressunderthelengthofthecas-

ingplusthelengthofthebackheaderasdeterminedinstep2.

Example:Casing=1½"plus1½"backheader

=3"pressedtothewrongsideofthevalanceandcurtainpaneltops.

• Stitchtheheader1½"fromthetopfoldofthecurtainorvalancepanelwithastraightstitch.Toquicklyandaccuratelyguidestitching,positionanAdhesiveSeamGuide1½"fromtheneedleonthebedofthemachine.

• MovetheAdhesiveSeamGuide2¾"fromtheneedleandstitchagaintocatchthecasingheminplace.

9. Pressandhangcurtainsandvalancesontherods.

The Blind Hemmer uses a single chain stitch on the bottom of the hem

and catches fabric from the front of the curtain at even intervals. Choose thread to match the fabric to produce an invisible hem.

Straightstitch

Pressadouble1"hem

U(a98612*QKONNo(Y

PositionanAdhesive

SeamGuide1½"fromtheneedle

1½"Header1½"BackHeader1½"Casing1½"BackCasing

ValancelengthAdd6"foradouble3"hem