Tab Curtains • Window Treatments • Sewing Tab Curtains
Tab Curtains
Instructions:
From Windows with Ease from Creative Publishing International
Tab Curtains
Tab Curtain Materials
- Decorator fabric
- Carpenter’s square
- Rotary cutter, mat, and quilting ruler helpful for cutting tab strips
- Threa
- Iron and pressing surface
- Paper-backed fusible adhesive, 3/4" wide
- Drapery weights for floor-length curtains
- Decorative curtain rod
- 1. Measure for the finished length of the curtain; add the total bottom hem allowance and 3" upper hem allowance to find the cut length of each panel. Multiply the cut length by the number of fabric widths needed to determine the total amount required for the curtains. For the tabs, add 12" for every two fabric widths needed to determine the total length to buy.
- Preshrink the fabric, if you intend to launder the finished curtains occasionally. Mark the cut lengths for the curtains along the selvage, and cut the pieces, using a carpenter's square to ensure the straight cuts. Trim away the selvages unless you are working with a loosely woven or sheer fabric.
- Cut a full-width 12" strip for the tabs. Cut it into 3" strips on the lengthwise grain, using a rotary cutter, mat, and quilting ruler, if available.
- Fuse a strip of paper-backed fusible adhesive down the center of each strip, following the manufacturer’s directions. Remove the paper backing. Fold the edges into the center and fuse in place.
- Seam fabric widths and half widths together as necessary for each curtain panel. Press under and stitch the lower double-fold hem.
- Press under 1/2" on the upper edge. Then press 2" to the right side, forming a facing. At the outer corners, stitch the facing to the curtain 3" from the edges (arrow). Trim the facing to within 1/4" of the stitching; trim off the top 1" of the side hem allowance.
- Mark the placement for the tabs, evenly spaced along the upper hem of the curtain, with the first and last tabs even with the outer edges. Fold the tabs in half and slide them under the facing with the raw edges in the fold; pin. Stitch across the curtain top, 1/2" from the fold.
- Press under 1-1/2" double-fold side hems. Turn the facing to the curtain back; press. Stitch the side hems, encasing a drapery weight in the hem layers at the lower corners of floor-length curtains. At upper corners, the hem will disappear under the facing. Stitch along the lower fold of the facing.