Beautiful Things - February/March 2017

DIY Drop Cloth Curtains

Need some chic curtains?  Here's an inexpensive solution that whips together in a hurry - yet looks like a million bucks.
- story and photos by Holly Lemoine Raymond

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Hi everyone!

Thank you for choosing to read my Beautiful Things column. I am thankful you are here.

This month I would like to show you how you can add an elegant, but inexpensive look to your home by using canvas drop cloths for curtains. They are becoming increasingly popular due to their durability, they are washable, and so easy to transform from drop cloth to drapes!

​This project was so easy and inexpensive that I made some for my gas station getaway in approximately five minutes without sewing. 

What You'll Need

• One 4’x15’ drop cloth (This was enough to make 2 panels.)
• Material Scissors
• Drapery Clip Rings (A pack of 10 cost me under $10 or you can order a pack of 42 from Amazon.com)
• Curtain Rods (industrial piping will give more of an industrial and rustic look.)
• Fabric Tape (If you don’t want to sew)

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Holly Lemoine Raymond

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Let’s get started!

First you’ll need to determine how long/short you want your curtains to be. I always measure twice so I only cut once.  I needed my curtains to be 7’ long by 4’ wide.

I washed my cloths without detergent and dried them to loosen the fabric a bit before working on it. I like the feel and “worn” look this process gave. If you are a little more of a perfectionist than I am, you can always iron the fabric after you wash and dry it to get all the wrinkles out.
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Next I folded the fabric in half, lengthwise and made my cut as straight as I could. This gave me two curtains. I did not “hem” the edges. Again, I like the worn, rustic look these drop cloth curtains provide and, quite frankly, I don’t have the kind of time I would need to be a perfectionist. 

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​I have a great seamstress, Gretchen Fleming, (238-342-2743) who has hemmed a few more for my office where I needed a bit more of a professional look. Or, you can use the fabric tape as demonstrated below. 

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​Once you get the fabric tape in place, you will need to use a hot iron to “seal the deal.”

Let’s get these curtains hung.

To continue the rustic-industrial look, I used oil rubbed bronze drapery clip rings. I bought mine at Lowe’s for under $10 but you can get these almost anywhere, including Target, Amazon and WalMart… All the rings I have seen come in various colors and range from $6.99 to $15.99 depending on finish and/or number per set.

Space the clips evenly on your curtains and slide them on the curtain rod and you are ready to hang. Ta-da! That’s all there is to it! Now you’ve got an expensive look for an inexpensive price.

If you will be using piping as your curtain rod, hanging will be a little more complicated. You will need to put the clip rings on the piping before you affix the piping to the wall. But the look can’t be beat. Otherwise, this project was easy-peasy.

Note:  If you want to spice up your curtains a bit, you can color them with RIT Fabric Dye. Just follow the directions and you will have the perfect accent for your windows.