# I need to have some custom curtains made. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 17, 2017, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-have-some-custom-curtains-made/786836 "2017-05-17T13:48:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2017, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-have-some-custom-curtains-made/786836/1 "2017-05-17T13:48:51Z")
I need to have some custom curtains made. It doesn’t have to be fancy. Basically just a huge piece of fabric with a flap folded over and sewn shut so I can stick a rod through it. Can I just take a piece of fabric to a tailor and tell them what I want? Seems like it would be a super easy job on their part. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2017, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-have-some-custom-curtains-made/786836/2 "2017-05-17T14:00:16Z")
Anytime you have something done that custom, it’s going to cost you. Go to a place that specializes in window coverings, and they’ll be able to do it cheaper. A taylor isn’t set up to mass produce window coverings. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2017, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-have-some-custom-curtains-made/786836/3 "2017-05-17T14:42:57Z")
Do you have an iron? You can do it yourself with fabric and Stitch Witchery: > **[Amazon.com: Dritz 222 STITCH WITCHERY FUSIBLE BONDING WEB WHITE REG WGHT 20YD,...](https://www.amazon.com/Dritz-222-WITCHERY-FUSIBLE-20-Yards/dp/B0001DSIHI)** > > Dritz Stitch Witchery is a fusible bonding web that is used to bond fabric pieces together. This handy item is great for quick fixes and easy no-sew projects. Use for hems, trims, belts and many other regular weight items. Washable and dry cleanable.... Dritz Stitch Witchery - Great for Sewers and Non-Sewers Stitch Witchery is a fusible bonding web that permanently bonds two layers of fabric together with the heat of an iron. Great for creating or repairing hems in garments and no-sew home decor projects. Use to apply ribbon, trims, appliques and more. Stitch Witchery is machine washable and dry cleanable and comes in various weights and sizes. Fold the hem, insert strip of Stitch Witchery, press, and viola all set. [https://www.youtube.com/results?search\_query=curtain+hem+stitch+witchery](https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=curtain+hem+stitch+witchery) ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2017, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-have-some-custom-curtains-made/786836/4 "2017-05-17T15:05:26Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > Do you have an iron? You can do it yourself with fabric and Stitch Witchery: > > [Amazon.com: Dritz 222 STITCH WITCHERY FUSIBLE BONDING WEB WHITE REG WGHT 20YD, 5/8-Inch X 20-Yards : Arts, Crafts & Sewing](https://www.amazon.com/Dritz-222-20-Yard-Witchery-Regular/dp/B0001DSIHI) > > Dritz Stitch Witchery - Great for Sewers and Non-Sewers > > Stitch Witchery is a fusible bonding web that permanently bonds two layers of fabric together with the heat of an iron. Great for creating or repairing hems in garments and no-sew home decor projects. Use to apply ribbon, trims, appliques and more. Stitch Witchery is machine washable and dry cleanable and comes in various weights and sizes. > Fold the hem, insert strip of Stitch Witchery, press, and viola all set. > > [https://www.youtube.com/results?search\_query=curtain+hem+stitch+witchery](https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=curtain+hem+stitch+witchery) I did a 2000 square foot home this way. The hard part was choosing the fabrics, spent 4 hours in a fabric store making my choices. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2017, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-have-some-custom-curtains-made/786836/5 "2017-05-17T16:53:46Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > …viola… [viola](https://www.musikalessons.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/iStock_000012684999Small.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2017, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-have-some-custom-curtains-made/786836/6 "2017-05-17T17:12:18Z")
I thought I needed custom curtains. I have huge, floor to ceiling windows and had trouble finding big enough ones. In the end, I found perfect ones at Ikea. Cheap, too. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2017, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-have-some-custom-curtains-made/786836/7 "2017-05-17T17:18:39Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > Do you have an iron? You can do it yourself with fabric and Stitch Witchery: > > [Amazon.com: Dritz 222 STITCH WITCHERY FUSIBLE BONDING WEB WHITE REG WGHT 20YD, 5/8-Inch X 20-Yards : Arts, Crafts & Sewing](https://www.amazon.com/Dritz-222-20-Yard-Witchery-Regular/dp/B0001DSIHI) > > Dritz Stitch Witchery - Great for Sewers and Non-Sewers > > Stitch Witchery is a fusible bonding web that permanently bonds two layers of fabric together with the heat of an iron. Great for creating or repairing hems in garments and no-sew home decor projects. Use to apply ribbon, trims, appliques and more. Stitch Witchery is machine washable and dry cleanable and comes in various weights and sizes. > Fold the hem, insert strip of Stitch Witchery, press, and viola all set. > > [https://www.youtube.com/results?search\_query=curtain+hem+stitch+witchery](https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=curtain+hem+stitch+witchery) And if you call in the next 20 minutes, do they DOUBLE YOUR ORDER??? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2017, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-have-some-custom-curtains-made/786836/8 "2017-05-17T17:42:21Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > Do you have an iron? You can do it yourself with fabric and Stitch Witchery: > > [Amazon.com: Dritz 222 STITCH WITCHERY FUSIBLE BONDING WEB WHITE REG WGHT 20YD, 5/8-Inch X 20-Yards : Arts, Crafts & Sewing](https://www.amazon.com/Dritz-222-20-Yard-Witchery-Regular/dp/B0001DSIHI) > > Dritz Stitch Witchery - Great for Sewers and Non-Sewers > > Stitch Witchery is a fusible bonding web that permanently bonds two layers of fabric together with the heat of an iron. Great for creating or repairing hems in garments and no-sew home decor projects. Use to apply ribbon, trims, appliques and more. Stitch Witchery is machine washable and dry cleanable and comes in various weights and sizes. > Fold the hem, insert strip of Stitch Witchery, press, and viola all set. > > [https://www.youtube.com/results?search\_query=curtain+hem+stitch+witchery](https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=curtain+hem+stitch+witchery) This is perfect! I don’t have an iron though. Guess I could by one on the cheap. Thanks **gigi**! ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2017, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-have-some-custom-curtains-made/786836/9 "2017-05-18T21:46:42Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > [viola](https://www.musikalessons.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/iStock_000012684999Small.jpg) [For all intensive purposes, viola and voila are literally the same thing.](https://arstechnica.com/civis/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=118706&start=80) 😛 ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2017, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-have-some-custom-curtains-made/786836/10 "2017-05-18T21:47:43Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > And if you call in the next 20 minutes, do they DOUBLE YOUR ORDER??? 😃 Just pay additional shipping and handling!! iamnotashillforStitchWitchery ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2017, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-have-some-custom-curtains-made/786836/11 "2017-05-18T22:05:32Z")
My wife is so good at this. She’ll find something at the store, cloth, other curtains, tablecloths, and she’ll just turn them into curtains. It’s a shame I’ll end up ruining them somehow. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2017, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-have-some-custom-curtains-made/786836/12 "2017-05-18T22:13:51Z")
It sounds like you just need a rod pocket. Any seamstress can do that. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2017, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-have-some-custom-curtains-made/786836/13 "2017-05-18T22:23:54Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > It sounds like you just need a rod pocket. Any seamstress can do that. Hey, this is a family message board. There are 13-year-olds posting here!! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2017, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-have-some-custom-curtains-made/786836/14 "2017-05-18T22:57:46Z")
The sewing is the cheap and easy part. The complicated bit is knowing how much fabric to buy and where to put your rods so that when you close the curtains they cover the window, and when you open the curtains they’re not covering the window. This is tougher than it sounds, and I once had to send curtains back to the seamstress because she did not follow the measurements she’d been given. ---
**Author:** ![Whatever4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@Whatever4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whatever4)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2017, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-have-some-custom-curtains-made/786836/15 "2017-05-19T03:56:17Z")
Is the fabric thick enough for privacy, or will a lining be needed? It’s a bit tricky, but hem the lining fabric, a/k/a thrift store bed sheet, about an inch or two smaller all around than the curtain. I have opted for clip-on rings for all my curtains. Piece of cake to open and close the curtains. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2017, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-have-some-custom-curtains-made/786836/16 "2017-05-19T11:25:52Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > [viola](https://www.musikalessons.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/iStock_000012684999Small.jpg) I think “walla” was meant? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2017, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-have-some-custom-curtains-made/786836/17 "2017-05-19T15:22:30Z")
Just FTR, I intentionally misspelled “voilà” – I really do know how to spell it!! I need curtains to cover my insecurity. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2017, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-have-some-custom-curtains-made/786836/18 "2017-05-19T18:04:50Z")
> [@Barbarian](#): > > The sewing is the cheap and easy part. > The complicated bit is knowing how much fabric to buy and where to put your rods so that when you close the curtains they cover the window, and when you open the curtains they’re not covering the window. > > This is tougher than it sounds, and I once had to send curtains back to the seamstress because she did not follow the measurements she’d been given. This is mainly an issue on drapes, you have to specify the returns and overlap at center plus how far past the window you want the drapes to go. I spent many years in the drapery business. Normal width of the finished drapes is 2 1/2 times width up to about 3 1/2 times width. 3 times is considered custom.