This article was co-authored by Donna Serino. Donna Serino is a Dry Cleaning and Alterations Specialist and the Marketing Director for Hallak Cleaners, based in Manhattan, New York and Hackensack, New Jersey. She has expertise in tailoring and alterations, couture and casual wear, designer handbag cleaning, and suede, leather, and furs care. Donna and Hallak Cleaners are part of the National Cleaner’s Association, Drycleaning and Laundry Institute, and Leading Cleaners Internationale.
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You don’t need to go to the expense of buying new curtains when you move - save money by just shortening the ones you already own. Or, look for secondhand curtains in good condition, and shorten these to suit your windows.
Steps
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1Plan the length. With your curtains hung in place, measure the required drop. Mark the position where the curtains should fall using pins. Always double check your measurements before cutting and sewing.
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2Plan the hems. Take down the curtains and unpick the stitches that join the lining to the curtain, going sufficiently high to allow you to work on the two new hems.
- Make a note of the measurements of the existing curtain and lining hems, so that you can make the new hems the same size. These will often be double hems.
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3Remake the hem. Unpick the curtain hem, and trim excess fabric, allowing for the need to create a double hem if necessary. Turn it up to the marked length.
- Make sure that your hem is not too narrow. A wider hem looks nicer.
- Curtains made out of light materials have weights sewn into the hem sometimes, which makes them drape nicer. You can sew weights into your new hem as well.
- Check that it is level using the tape measure, then press.
- Slip stitch in place. Repeat with the lining hem.
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4Complete the curtains. Slip stitch the curtain and lining to re-join them.
Community Q&A
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QuestionWhat type of needle and thread do I use when sewing sheer curtains?
Community AnswerYou need a size 9/65 for sewing sheer fabrics, and silk thread would be best. -
QuestionI have taken the hem down of the curtains but I am left with a line where the original hem was and I can't seem to iron it out. Any ideas?
T. ChinsenTop AnswererFor a woven fabric, wet the fabric then pull it diagonally NE to SW then NW to SE just above and below the original hem line. Move the fabric until the stitch holes close up as much as possible. Switch between the two positions to maximize stretching of the fibers to close the holes. In addition, use a shampoo and conditioner combination to get the fibers to tighten up. This combination should reduce the line definition. -
QuestionWhat's the best way to shorten a cloth shower curtain to fit a window?T. ChinsenTop AnswererFollow the step outlined in the article to shorten the cloth shower curtain. You do not give the size of the window to which you will be placing the final curtain. If it is to be reduced width wise, treat the vertical side the same as making the hem on the bottom.
Things You'll Need
- Tape measure
- Pins
- Scissors
- An iron
- Needle and thread
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