MAIN Home Life Shopping Drapes & Window Treatments Guide

Making your own window treatments is not as hard as you might think. If you can read and pin a pattern, cut the material and stitch the pieces together, you can create new shades, curtains, swags and valances for your windows.

Even if you are fairly new to sewing, there is help available from friends who can sew or new friends in sewing circles on the Internet. You can even find no sew patterns to avoid needles and threads entirely.

If you're experienced with sewing clothes or crafts, a window treatment project is even easier.

Most of the major pattern manufacturers have draperies, curtains, valances, swags and all of the other components of a well dressed window. Simple shades are fairly easy to make

Plan before you begin.

The first step in creating your new window treatments is deciding what you want and how much of a project you can take on. You can do window treatments in steps... starting with the easiest parts and moving to the more complicated sections as you gain experience. Some fabrics are easier to work with... more forgiving of beginners mistakes. If this is your first major sewing project try to stick to cottons or other less stretchy or temperamental fabrics.

Design in stages.

If you already have window coverings, you may want to add a simple valance to the top to add height, elegance and life to the window. If your windows are bare, it may be best to start with simple curtains that are easy even for beginners!

After you've gained a bit of confidence and have time and the budget to get ambitious, you can layer luxurious panels, sheers and draperies, add architectural details like cornices and sconces or add pillows and accents to the room to complement your windows..

Window Treatment Pattern Resources around the Web...

Denver Fabrics - Curtain patterns, window treatment patterns, valances, no sew curtains, calculating yardage plus instructions, tips and more...

Simplicity Window Treatments - The pattern maker that made sewing simple has a collection of drapes, curtains, valances, swags and more for home decorating projects.

Pate Meadows Window Treatment Patterns - All curtain & drapery patterns come with a valence pattern and plenty of detailed drawings for step by step sewing. Check their photo gallery for successful projects.

Sewing Patterns.com Window Treatments - A good selection of window treatment patterns from the major - Burda, Butterick, McCalls... with a few none related pattern mixed in. Still enough variety to pay a visit and tons of other patterns if your sewing extends beyond your windows...

Home Dec In A Sec Window Treatments - Custom Home DEC In A Sec window treatment sewing patterns from the McCall’s Pattern Company.

Alternative Windows No Sew Curtain Instructions - Just one of many pages with free instructions - NOT PATTERNS - for "Soft Furnishings Made Sew Simple." E-books on sale for £10.00 offer even more window treatment options...

Window Valance Patterns - Plenty of patterns for valances as well as Jabot curtains and swags to choose from.

Grandma's House Sewing Patterns for Window Treatments - New or gently used patterns - generally out of print or one-of-a kind. You can try here if there's an older pattern you've been trying to find and friendly grandma will take a look to see if she has it, but may take a while.

Vogue Sewing Patterns for Window Treatments - Only a few, but worth taking a look at...

also see -> Baby Nursery Decorating

Do It Yourself Window Treatments | Tips for Planning 'Professional' Window Treatments

Design Window Treatments Like a Pro | Window Treatment Online Design Tools