Tag: curtains

Curtains at Last

Marie HaighLeave a comment

Winter came before Christmas. With the Winter came the cold. Yet, our living room was still sporting its summertime curtains, sheer drapes. It not only looked cold outside, but it felt cold when you got close to the windows.

So, after Christmas passed, I made it my utmost priority to finish the curtains.

Finally, the cold can’t sneak into our living room. As an added bonus, our neighbors can no longer peak in our windows at night.

The outer fabric is a linen and cotton blend called Embroidered Rico Rosewood by Suburban Home. The lining is a heavy flannel fabric in white for nothing keeps the cold out better. Though I ordered drapery weights, there was no need for them. The curtains could smother a small animal with its weight.

The first panel was sewn on my newer sewing machine, Babylock Decorator’s Choice. The second panel was sewn on the sewing machine that me neighbor gifted to me, a Singer Slant-o-Matic. Hands down, the Singer was much nicer to sew with even if it lacked the fancy buttons, such as automatic needle threader and automatic thread cutter. It went through the thick layers of linen and flannel without a hiccup whereas the Babylock struggled to get through just two of the layers stacked together.

There are two smaller windows that flank our fireplace in the living room that could use matching curtains, but once again more pressing matters are coming up, such as Elly’s big 3rd birthday party. For her birthday, I plan to repair the vintage quilt, hem the shawl and make just a few party decorations. It pains that there are not enough hours in the day to make her a homemade dress for her birthday, but alas there just are not.

And lastly, for those who love before and after shots, this is just for you:

Before

After

I kept with the red theme for the original owner had the right idea. Red looks amazing with the red and blue bricks in our fireplace. My main complaint was always that the all over red was simply too dark for the size of the room. The first thing you saw were the curtains. Perhaps it is still the first thing you see for the windows are quite large and the amount of fabric needed is substantial, but at least they no longer feel overbearing and melancholy.

Next Sewing Project: Curtains

Marie HaighLeave a comment

Winter is coming.

The lovely sheer curtains I made for the living room windows were great for the summer. They let in so much light.

They also let in a ton of warmth thanks to the southern exposure, but the AC worked hard to keep us cool.

Although the boiler could keep us warm in the winter, money could be saved if I added another layer or two to the windows. Plus, more curtains will keep me from uncontrollably shivering every time I glanced at the windows and saw only a thin layer of organza separating me from the ice and snow.

The fabric chosen for the living room coordinates with the red in my beloved fireplace.

Yet, the white background color keeps the curtains from being too dark, my main complaint of the original draperies.

The curtains will be lined with warm, heavy flannel. I’ve used flannel in all the previous window dressings made and it does a great job in blocking the bitter cold air that seeps in through the window panes.

Red grommets will be used to hang the curtains. I wanted something that would allow the curtains to be pulled aside easily and still look casual.

Now to go pick up my machine from the shop. After all the dress sewing, it was in need of a tune up.

The Last of the Red Curtains

Marie Haigh2 Comments

Goodbye red floral curtains. You will not be missed.

I still have 2 more panels to sew of the sheer curtains, but I couldn’t wait a moment longer. It was with glee that I took the old red curtains down and cut into them with my sewing sheers. I hope to reuse the fabric when I make Noodlehead’s Go Anywhere bag. Perhaps I’ll make some pillows too just to remember the curtains by.

With Dan’s help and perhaps Elly’s help too, the new sheer curtains were hung.

Now as much as I love the new sheer curtains and I especially adore all the light they let in, I am on the hunt for new home decorator fabric that can layer overtop. Our front room faces south and gets blasted by the sun all day long. By noon, it’s like an inferno in the living room. The old shades provided much needed protection from the sun by blocking it out. The sooner I can find new fabric and line such fabric with flannel – for that is the key to weather protecting curtains – the less often we will have to run our AC.

This post was added to TDC’s June Before and After Party.

TDC Before and After

Yard Sale Find

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Check out my find at the local yard sale!

Curtains for the guest bedroom.

Long have I hated the old curtains, especially after I repainted the room in a cream color a few years ago. The old curtains were just too dark and too formal and so not me.

These curtains are a touch fancy what with all the embroidery, but for $2 I’m not complaining. They save me from having to sew yet more curtains for this house at a time when I want to focus on our party dresses.

I bought 3 panels, but have only hung 2; 1 per window. I figure I can use the 3rd panel to make pillows or to make a valance. In the meantime, I’ll add it to my stash. It’ll come in handy eventually.