We moved around our bedroom (more on this later). This means that we can now see out our gloriously large windows from the bed. The advantage is that we get to better enjoy the lovely morning light that streams in. The disadvantage is that now, if they wanted to, the folks in the building across the way can look in and see us in snooze mode. They would have to have way too much free time on their hands and a good pair of binoculars but still, it could be done. Since I have an overactive imagination, (my husband might substitute paranoia for imagination) I was feeling exposed.
My hubby went off on a trip which left me time to do something about my curtain desires. I went off in search of simple curtains that would still allow light to enter but would block out the peering eyes I had concocted in my mind. I, like so many of us, am on a budget so I went to my favorite cheap haunts. I searched Target first and found, much to my pleasure, that they were having a sale on curtain hardware. I purchased some nice brushed steel-y rods with glass fillials for $12.99 each. I checked out their curtains next. They had some cute things but nothing that was long enough for the six-foot windows in the old carriage factory we inhabit.I tried Loews but it was the same story.I drove an hour to my nearest Pottery Barn and found things I liked, but they were way beyond what I could afford. Then, in an act of desperation, I hit Walmart. I found nothing in the curtain aisle but the home goods were near the fabrics, so I started to browse. I found a lovely, extra-wide muslin for just $4.97 a yard. The nice woman at the fabric counter cut me off four, three yard lengths. I looked for some ribbon to make tabs from and found three spools of a lovely sage satin for $1.97 each. I was thinking of embellishing the tabs with buttons, but then I discovered a big bag of pretty, glass beads for just $3.97. Some safety pins (2 boxes at $1.92 each), a new yardstick ($3.28), and three rolls of Stitch Witch ($1.97 each) and I was in business.
To begin, I said out one of the lengths of fabric. Using the ruler, I folded over the top to make a two inch hem.
I pinned it down and gave the hem a good crease with an iron.
Then I cut 7 inch lengths from the ribbon. I folded them in half and ironed them.
With the nice side of the fabric facing me, I sandwiched the fabric between the two halves of the ribbon. From the back, I poked a safety pin through ribbon, fabric, and ribbon.
I selected a bead and slipped it onto the safety pin.
I ran the safety, now front to back, back through ribbon, fabric, and ribbon. I closed the safety pin and moved on to the next tab. I spaced the tabs five inches apart. I hung them to get the length I wanted and finished the bottom hems with Stitch Witch.
Here is the finished product; simple and pretty.
Cost of Curtains – $82.55
Cost of Rods – $51.96
Total Projects – $134.51
[...] needed. I had to settle for buying two bright white bins that I tea-stained to match the others. I made the drapes. I purchased some pretty pots, some new plants, and a hamper. The whole thing cost less than [...]