DIY Closet Curtains: You Can Do This

We recently moved into a new house that had those terrible accordion closet doors. They don't stay on the tracks, and I live in fear that one of my children will lose a finger. We took them off the first night we moved in. Since then, my daughter has had an open closet in all its messy glory.

It was time to hide that mess.

Caroline is with her grandparents for the week, so I set to work on making some curtains for her closet. Y'ALL. It was so easy. So, so easy. If you have ever looked at a sewing machine, you can do this. I even timed it: 4.5 minutes total on the sewing machine. You will spend the majority of the time folding and ironing. This is what you have been training for!

Here's what you need:

• Sewing machine (or access to one)
• Fabric of your choice, any material will do
• Iron
• Tension shower rod

Shopping
Curtains are so simple and low maintenance that you can choose any fabric from any store. Don't worry about quality. They're curtains. Find a pattern that you love and go with it! I found this beautiful cotton fabric at Hobby Lobby: The Store of Dreams.

How much do you need?

You need to measure your closet's height and width. 

Add 10 inches to the height of your closet. That's the measurement you will give the fabric cutter. That will make one panel.

The width is important in deciding how many panels you need. My daughter's closet was 45" wide. Most fabric is also 45" inches wide. One piece of fabric would have filled the closet opening, but it would have been completely flat across. I like the ruffled look to my curtains, so I made two panels for the closet. 

Making the Curtains

Step 1

Step 1: Start with one of the long edges of your fabric. Flip your fabric over with the pattern-side down and fold the edge over about 1/2". Iron that down. Remember: it's curtains. They will drape and move so your seams don't have to be absolutely perfect. You won't notice once they're hanging.

Step 2

Step 2: Fold that same seam over one more time and iron it down again. This time, pin it down as you go.

Step 3

Step 3: Sewing machine time! Stitch a straight (or mostly straight-ish) line on the inside edge of the seam.

Step 4: Repeat on the other long edge of your fabric.

Step 5

Step 5: Now go to the bottom of your fabric. Just like with the other seams, flip your fabric over so the pattern is face down. Fold a 1/2" seam and iron. Fold again a 5" seam and iron. Starting to feel like your spending a lot of time folding and ironing?

Step 6: Stitch that seam just like the others. Remember to stitch at the top of seam, not the very bottom of the curtain. Not that I've ever done that..... Back-stitch at the beginning and end. Every sewing machine has the ability to do this, but if you've never used this function, HERE is a 1 minute video explaining how to do it. (We did not back-stitch the other seams because they got tucked into the top and bottom seams.)

Step 7

Step 7: You're almost done! Go to the top of your fabric. This is the piece that will hold the curtain rod. I bought a pretty thick shower rod, so this should definitely be enough room for anything you bought. Once again, fold a 1/2" seam and iron. Fold that over about 4"-4.5". I did 4.25". Iron and pin.

Step 8: Stitch that seam all the way across. Back-stitch at the beginning and end.

Optional but Probably Step 9: You just made one panel. Repeat the whole shebang for the other panel. It will probably take you half the time for the second one.

Two panels side-by-side on a 45" wide closet.

You're done!

Slide that curtain rod through the top opening and hang your masterpiece!

I can't wait for Caroline to see it. She may hate it...because she's 3. But it was so easy to whip these up, that I can always take her back to the store to pick out her own fabric. Now to work on little brother's! How many times do you think that curtain rod will have to fall on his head before he learns not to climb them?