It’s super duper freezing around where I live, and having really thin curtains doesn’t help in keeping the cold out – or any heat in. I’ve spent my day sewing and stitching bits and pieces together, and I’m pretty pleased with how my handiwork has turned out.
I’m sharing just how I’ve turned my really thin, almost see-through curtains into basically blackout curtains that really help keep the heat from escaping through the windows!
First of all, I’d like to thank my Grandma! It’s thanks to her that this project took place after I received a package in the mail FULL of fabric!
Now, let’s dive in!
What you’ll need
- Curtains to work on
- Fabric to line your curtains ( could even use blankets!)
- Needle & thread / sewing machine
I do most of my sewing by hand, unless I really have to use my machine, so I used a needle and thread.
Most curtains will have a lining already, but that doesn’t mean that it’s thick enough to use in winter or to stop people seeing inside in the right light! Leave that on there, as it’ll be an extra layer behind the fabric you’re going to be sewing on in just a second.
I chose a black jersey type material. Mainly because I had a huge amount of it, but also being a dark colour would help in keeping it a little more private instead of the neighbors seeing our shadows inside the house when we have the light on. Now it’s up, you can’t even tell if we have a light on or not! So choose your material based on what you want from it. Using old blankets or throws is a good bet too, that’s definitely going to bulk up your curtains and keep the warmth in!
Take a look at what a difference it makes, even with the sun on them! Sorry for the quality, I was using the room’s light.
As the fabric wasn’t that heavy, I was able to do a simple running stitch on three of the four sides, leaving the bottom open. One curtain took me about two hours to sew all the way around, but that includes bathroom breaks and watching Netflix while doing it!
Why you should line your curtains this Winter
Lining your curtains adds an extra layer to them, which in turn makes them thicker and heavier. Thick and heavy curtains are perfect for winter, as they keep the heat in and the cold out.
We lose most of the heat out of doorways and windows, either by the little cracks that let the draft in or purely by windows being where the outside air meats your warm air on either side of the window-pane. By having thicker curtains, you create a kind of “Double glazing” effect. You’ll have cold air on the outside, slightly warmer air between the window and the curtain, and then the warm air on the inside.
By lining your curtains yourself, you’re saving money too! No need to pay a seamstress – unless you’re not very good at sewing or simply don’t have the time – and no need to go out and spend a fortune on some really thick and heavy curtains!
Lining slip-on curtains
I thought I’d add a little about slip on curtains as I know many people make their on curtains that you just slip onto the pole rather than massing about with hooks and whatnot!
With the leftover material – I did say I had a lot! – I doubled it up and sewed multiple lines of about 3-4 inches across the top, and then one uninterrupted line about 3 inches down. I then cut down to the uninterrupted line (without cutting the line) to create slits. I did the same to the front curtain, and then put them both on the pole alternatively.
As you can see in this picture, I now have two curtains on one pole: the black lining, which is the doubled up fabric that was left over, and the white/cream curtain I had originally.
You could sew the fabric onto the back of the original slip on curtain, but as mine didn’t have any lining on the back and I didn’t want stitching to show through, I made a separate curtain.
It’s been about a week since I did this to our downstairs curtains, and I have to say it makes a HUGE difference. I’m started doing it to some of the upstairs curtains too, because it just works so incredibly well!
I hope this helps you keep your home warm this winter, or inspires you to do more DIY’s to help keep the heating bills down! If you do this DIY please send me a picture or tag me! You can tag me on Instagram and Twitter, both @lifewithbellan.
Thanks for dropping by!
Love,
Bella x
Life with Bella N 
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