DIY London curtains: step by step instructions

2024 Author: Sierra Becker | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-26 03:46

London curtains are considered one of the best curtains for interior decoration. Their undeniable advantages include the original laconic form, along with traditional English restraint. Such interior elements are undemanding to care and take up little space. In this material, you will learn all about what a London blind is: how to sew, choose a fabric and make a curtain rod, and much more.

Description of items

London-style curtains look like elegant pelmets attached to a sturdy cornice when assembled. In its normal state, such curtains look like a simple canvas, but everything changes when you decide to lift the curtain. After that, deep, but at the same time elegant bow folds open. They are the "highlight" of these decorative elements.

London curtains (photos are presented in the article) fit perfectly into any interior and will be an excellent window decoration in almost everyroom: bedroom, study, nursery or living room. As for the style of decorating rooms, such curtains should not be used in high-tech or loft interiors. In addition, London shades are not suitable for small rooms with narrow window openings, because these curtains cover part of the window. Also, these curtains do not look very good in rooms with a lot of windows, especially if they are made of colorful fabrics. In this case, the bright color of the curtains creates an uncomfortable feeling for the perception of the entire interior as a whole.

How to make a curtain with your own hands

Before you start sewing London curtains, here are a few tips:

• Stay away from sun-fading fabrics. Due to its design, the material will begin to look sloppy after a while, because the places of drapery will remain bright and untouched by the sun, while straight sections of the canvas will fade. This will give the curtains a messy look.
• London curtains look especially impressive with a vertical pattern, when one of the types of stripes goes inside the folds and opens when the structure is lifted. In addition, curtains made of a fabric that combines plain stripes with ornaments and patterns look great.
• Before cutting the fabric, it must be well moistened and ironed to avoid further shrinkage of the material after washing.

Material selection

When choosing a curtain material, it must be taken into account that itshould be sufficiently rigid and opaque. In this case, the curtains will have strict and flat folds. English London curtains made of the following materials look especially impressive:

• linen;
• artificial and natural silk;
• jacquard;
• reps;
• taffeta;
• wool;
• thick cotton.

You can choose any of these fabrics, but before you start cutting, you should consider your sewing skills and fabric features. If this is your first time trying to create something like this, then it is better to start with simple linen or cotton. These fabrics are fairly undemanding but wrinkle quickly and should be used on curtains that you plan to keep assembled. Otherwise, you will have to iron them daily. Wool and rep are too naughty, and it will be quite difficult for a beginner to sew curtains from them. Jacquard and taffeta are excellent options, the first fabric is very easy to work with, and the second material looks a little wrinkled in the original.

Recently, London curtains made of light and airy fabrics have been very popular. It will be very difficult to create the most similar curtain, this will require considerable experience in sewing curtains. So this job should not be taken on by a beginner. If you still want lightness, then it is better to choose crepe for curtains. This material perfectly fixes the folds and at the same time looks very airy.

If you want to give the finished product more charm, you can finishthe edges of the curtains with small tassels, fringe or glass beads. But in no case do not use decorations made of ribbons, ribbons or cords - in this version they look tasteless.

London curtains. Sewing workshop

To create curtains you will need the following tools and materials:

• special ring ribbon;
• sewing machine;
• fittings;
• nylon lacing;
• curtain ring;
• drape fabric.

The curtain itself is created in several stages. And each of them should be carried out in accordance with certain features and criteria.

Cutting fabric material

In order to calculate the size of the canvas, you need to measure the length of the cornice and add 60–80 cm to this value if 2 folds are expected in the curtain. If you want the curtain to have 3 folds, then add 90–120 cm. The width of the bow fold is 30–40 cm. In order to measure the length of the panel, you need to measure the height of the window opening and add 6 cm to this value for edging. If you will make a lining, then its dimensions should correspond to the parameters of the main curtain.

How to make a London blind with your own hands: step by step instructions

1. Fold the main fabric and lining facing each other and sew them along the side seams. Next, the resulting workpiece must be turned outward and carefully stitch the seams along the outer edge.
2. Now you need to work on the folds. For thisstep back from the edge of 20 cm and mark a vertical line with chalk or a bar of soap - this place will be the beginning of the fold. After 15 cm, mark the middle, and after another 15 cm - the end. Next, we form our fold: fold both ends to the middle and secure them with a regular stitch along the top and bottom edges of the fabric.
3. The next step in tailoring the London blind will be the processing of the edging. Sew a Velcro tape to the top edge of the curtain. Next, we frame the bottom of the curtain. To the central part of the folds, from the wrong side, we sew plastic rings, each of which should be located at a distance of 15 cm from each other. The first is located five centimeters from the bottom of the full curtain. If desired, in any sewing store you can buy a ready-made ribbon with rings.

How to make a lifting mechanism

Sewing London curtains is almost completed, it remains only to create a lifting mechanism. To do this, fold the nylon cords in half and tie them at the bottom ring of each created pleat. Now stretch them through the entire curtain tape to the very top of the curtain. Fasten the curtain to the cornice with Velcro, then thread each cord (from left to right) through special self-tapping rings that are fixed at the end of the plank. The cords should be pulled out from the right edge of the eaves, after which they are tied in one knot, braided into a pigtail and fixed at the end into a curtain ring. Tailoring is finished, you can enjoy the results of your work.

How to make a cornice

London curtainslook great only on cornices specially designed for them. And since such models are quite difficult to find in stores, we suggest that you create an interior detail yourself. This will require not so many materials and time, and almost any hostess will be able to cope with the task.

Required materials:

• wood plank (section 2.5 x 5 cm);
• trimming cloth or paint;
• glue gun;
• Velcro tape;
• self-tapping hooks;
• fixing fittings;
• stapler and staples.

First you need to measure the size of the window. Such curtains can be located directly above the window or protrude slightly along the outer edge. In this case, add 5 cm on both sides in order to cover the opening. A baguette bar can be decorated with a cloth or painted over with paint.

If you decide to paint a baguette, then first treat it with a primer on wood or a solution of water and PVA (2 to 1). Also for this purpose, you can use dissolved food gelatin, which will cover the product with a thin layer and reduce the consumption of the dye. After the primer dries, you can proceed directly to painting. In this case, acrylic quick-drying enamels will be the best option. After that, you need to attach the Velcro tape with a glue gun and in some places fasten the connection with a stapler for greater reliability.

Cornice trimmed with fabric

In order to decorate the cornice with a cloth,open a strip with the length of the strap plus 5-6 cm for the hem. The width of the workpiece should be 18 cm (2 x 2.5 + 2 x 5 + 3 cm per hem). Wrap the plank with fabric and secure the seams of the assembled side with a stapler, process the side joints in the same way. After that, attach the Velcro tape with a glue gun and staple it every 15-20 cm to secure it.

It remains only to attach the rings for the cord and the rest of the fasteners. If the curtain is located inside the window opening, then corners can act as fastening parts. If the curtain will hang outside, then it is worth using hinges. Next, attach the rings through which the cord will be pulled. Self-tapping hooks will also do an excellent job with this task, which must be compressed into a ring with the help of pliers, and then screwed into the lower end of the baguette approximately in those places where the rings are sewn on the curtain itself.