There is something so cozy and nostalgic about a country kitchen. In this project you can add just the right touch to your country kitchen windows.
The amount of fabric needed will be based on the size and quantity of the the windows covered. For a sample we will make one panel. You will need two for each window.
Materials Needed:
- 3/4 Yard of ticking
- 2 Yards of medium to heavy weight muslin
- 1/4 Yard of navy cotton
- Scissors
- Sewing machine
- Thread
- Stitch witchery
- Iron
- Tea or coffee
- Scrap paper
- Pencil
Preparation
- The first thing to do is measure your window. You are going to have a six inch hem on the bottom, a pocket for the rod on top, gathering and hemmed sides to allow for. Take your window width and double it. This will give the curtain some gather. If you are measuring a double window, don't double the fabric. The width measure of a double window is the correct measure of one of the two panels needed. Now add to that measurement two inches. This will take care of the side hems. Next take your curtain length and add one foot. This will be the length of the curtain before the hem and rod pocket. Make sure to write down these numbers. For a window 24" X 36", your assembled curtain prior to hemming will measure 50" X 46".
- Prewash the ticking. It tends to be stiff until it has been washed. It makes it easier to work with. Do not use dryer sheets or fabric softener if you dry the fabric.
- Next you will need to cut the muslin the width of your panel X the original measure of the length of your window. In the example that would be 50" X 36"
- Cut the ticking into two strips 1' wide by 26" long. You want the strips to be the short direction.
- Sew the ends of the two strips of ticking together to make one piece 1' x 50" long. If it isn't exact, you can always trim the edges.
- Tea dye the muslin and the ticking.
- On the scrap paper draw an 8-8 1/2 inch star. Cut out the star and use it as a pattern for the navy cotton. Cut out three stars per pattern.
- Attach the stitch witchery to each star as per the manufacturers instructions.
Assembly
- Iron the stars onto the ticking spacing them evenly across the strip of fabric as per the manufacturers instructions. Add stitching on the right side to tack down the stars.
- Stitch the ticking to the muslin right sides together.
- Cut the side edges even.
- Iron the sides by folding the fabric over 1/4" with wrong sides together and then fold them over again another 1/4" and press again. Stitch.
- Fold the bottom of the curtain back 1/2" and press. Fold over again 4" and press. Stitch bottom hem.
- Fold the top edge over with wrong sides facing six inches and press. Run a stitch across the top approx. 1/2"-3/4" from the top fold.
- Measure down two inches from the stitch you just made and again stitch all the way across the top. This creates a pocket for a rod.
- Hem the salvage edge and press.
To add even more of a rustic feel, use a branch instead of rod to hold your panels.
The copyright of the article Country Curtains in Sewing/Needlework is owned by Mary Welling-Bonney. Permission to republish Country Curtains in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
