Should I try out for Project Runway?

Yesterday morning, I checked sometehing else off the to-do list for the office/craft room! One step closer, baby! Using your context clues, try and guess what I did.

Sew I decided to buy this fabric from the appropriately named fabric.com. Sew after I bought the fabric, I anxiously awaited the arrival of said fabic. I got 5.5 yards for just over $60 (with a 15% off code from retailmenot.com and free shipping because I was spending more than $40). 60 bucks isn't too bad for home decor fabric. Most of the home decor fabric is at least $24.99 per yard at JoAnn Fabrics. This was $12.49 per yard. Sew once the fabric arrived, and after I did the happy dance, I tore open the package (really I carefully sliced it open with a knife) and out came this:

Sew I did the happy dance again. Are you seeing a pattern here? I sewed curtains!

Anywho, here's what I did:

First, I folded the fabric in half like a hamburger. I hope you get that reference, because if you don't, you're no longer my friend. Just kidding! If you don't know what folding like a hamburger is, just let me know and I'll explain using visual aids next time I see you. Essentially, I folded the fabric in half lengthwise. I bought enough fabric to reach from the curtain rod to the floor twice.

Next, I cut the fabric at the fold. Then, I ironed the fabrc...wah wah waaaaaahhhhhhhh...I hate ironing, but my sewing sensei -- I call her Mom -- insists that ironing is a part of sewing. Iron I did. In fact, I had a conversation with my cousin on the phone whilst ironing. It must have taken me at least 30 minutes. Moving on...

Next, I ironed some more. What? This part wasn't so bad. I ironed the hem for each side of the fabric. I just used the edge of the fabric (where they advertise -- I don't know what it's called) as a guide. 1 inch or so is fine for this step. I turned the fabric up once like this:

Then once more like this. According to Sensei Mom, it helps give the hems a more finished look. She's right. She's always right.

Before sewing, I pinned along the edges (about every 6-10 inches).

Then, I sewed along the edge of the inside of the fold like sew:

I repeated these steps for the top and bottom, except I created much wider hems. Although for these hems, you really only have to make the first fold about a half an inch. The second fold should be the length you want the hem to be. For the top, I went with nearly 3 inches. For the first panel, I just folded without measuring, but for the second panel, I had to match them up. Before creating the hem, though, I had to check what the circumference of my curtain rod was. The top hem should be big enough for your curtain rod plus at least 1/4 of an inch for clearance and moveability. Mine was only 3/4 of an inch, so my hem was plenty big enough. For the bottom, I went with a 3.5 inch hem. I like a nice wide hem at the bottom of curtain panels. Plus, I had plenty of room to spare since I bought enough fabric to account for these hems. Here's what they looked like finished:

Sew, they looked pretty much just like they looked before I started sewing.

I was finally finished sewing, but I still had to install the curtain rod!

Because Rich wasn't home, and because I'm impatient, I took out the power tools. Actually, only one power tool was involved. The one with the drill bits and the screw driver bit (I'm not sure what it's officially called). It took me a bit to figure it out, but I got the hang of it eventually. I just followed the directions in the curtain rod package and hung that baby up. I'm so self-sufficient. I can't stand it! Here they are, in all their glory:

What do you think?! I'm thinking of hanging them using drapery rings like this, but I'm not sure. Do you have an opinion one way or the other? I feel like it might give me more control over where the pleats land. One step closer to a finished office/craft room! Here's what's left on the to-do list:

1. Stain that round table in between those sweet chairs.

2. Stain the craigslisted 1940s library file cabinet.

3. Begin officing and crafting.

I don't think I'm ready for Project Runway yet, but maybe one day.

Pin It