DIY French Curtains: Sewing them is much easier than you think! (22 photos). French curtains for the kitchen: a master class on sewing "Marquis How to cut French curtains

To decorate a window with such an "awning" it is not necessary to go to a specialized store or atelier. Its tailoring is quite simple, therefore, with due attention and observance of simple rules, it is easy to do it yourself. In order for the finished product to be light, fit in beautiful waves, not slide down under its own weight and not taper to the bottom, you need to read the tips below.

Fabric choice

In the description of the do-it-yourself French curtains master class below, one of the varieties of organza, crystal, is used. For such a model of the product, it is best to use similar types of fabrics:

1. The material should be light, rather thin than dense, should be folded into soft folds without much effort. These requirements are met by the characteristics of such materials: the above-mentioned organza, muslin and satin, guipure and silk, and others.

Due to their characteristics, these materials can lie in neat and soft folds. Translucent fabrics will reliably protect the interior of the room from prying eyes, but at the same time they will continue to let in a sufficient amount of daylight.

2. Absolutely not suitable for the manufacture of such a product plan are heavy and dense materials: velvet and toile, taffeta and moire, damask and chintz, canvas and brocade and others.

It is extremely difficult to fold folds beautifully on such matters. In addition, their weight is quite impressive, and if you use them in this form (many folds are collected), then it will increase at least three times. The cornice simply cannot withstand such a load.

types of curtains
cutting diagram

cut the fabric to the required length
sew on the braid

preliminary calculations

The description below of sewing French curtains with your own hands (master class) began with calculating the size of the canvas for purchase. A window 1.4 m high and 2 m wide was taken as an example. The finished product should have a height of 20 cm (height from the cornice to the window sill) and a width of 50 cm more (25 cm on each side of the slopes). The calculation of the required dimensions of the canvas is carried out as follows:

1. We multiply the desired final width by 1.5 (maximum 1.6, otherwise the product will sag along the bottom edge). In our case: 2 m 50 cm x 1.5 \u003d 3 m 75 cm (we will round up to 4 meters, since folds and folds will be made along the vertical line).

2. We multiply the desired final length by 2 (this is done if a special braid is sewn in the process for a similar cut of the product, otherwise you will have to take more due to the fabric sliding down under its own weight). In our case: 1 m 60 cm x 2 = 3 m 20 cm.

3. A special braid will be stitched on the canvas every half a meter, for the described option you will need to buy 9 segments, the length of which is equal to the length of the product (total - 27 m). Additionally, a segment will be sewn along the top of the canvas. If it is sewn with the expectation of tightening the cord (folds are formed from tightening), then you will need to purchase 4 m. If the folds along the upper edge are made independently during work, then a cut 2.6 m long is taken.

do-it-yourself french curtains steps 1-3
steps 4-6

steps 6-9

Classics never go out of fashion, and French curtains on the windows are another confirmation of this. They will effectively decorate an apartment or house, giving the room charm, aristocracy, elegance. “The eyes of the house”, as it is customary to poetically call windows in Russia and France, will really be transformed in this way. Making French curtains with your own hands is not so difficult if you follow the steps step by step.

There are several types of these decor items, but it is better to start with those that require a minimum investment of time and skills. Beginning masters are usually advised to choose simple models and gradually move on to more complex ones. The first thing you need to figure out is the calculation of the fabric for the curtain, because it will be very disappointing if ten centimeters of fabric are not enough to make a thing.

From lightweight fabric using the most simple calculations

Sometimes French curtains are confused with Austrian ones. There is a significant difference between things. The first can be combined with lambrequins and curtains. French curtains can be of any length, but the most relevant is the one to the floor. And French products have scallops all over the surface of the canvas. Exist various methods calculating the amount of fabric needed for sewing. You can use a special table for curtain cutters (Fig. 1).

Figure 1. Table for curtain cutters.

Using it, it is quite easy to calculate the number of scallops and the distance between them, guided by the width of the curtain fabric. But there is another option: measure the length and height of the window opening, multiply each value by 2. This is how the width and height of the canvas required for the curtains are determined by a simple calculation. It is better not to sew the first curtains with your own hands from expensive materials. Moreover, one of the advantages of things performed for interior decoration at home in french style, is their sophistication. Even if the product is made of inexpensive material, it will look presentable.

There is a simple technology for creating such a spectacular decor. You will need the following materials and tools:

  • wooden cornice;
  • dense material for its decoration;
  • textile;
  • braid;
  • ribbon;
  • nails for fastening the eaves;
  • hooks for fabric;
  • rings made of plastic or metal;
  • cord - best made of nylon;
  • fastener;
  • lifting handle;
  • paper;
  • scissors;
  • ruler;
  • simple pencil;
  • threads;
  • needle;
  • pins;
  • iron.

First of all, you need to prepare a curtain pattern, you can also make a sketch of it with preliminary marking of the canvas parameters on a scale. When calculating the length of the curtain, add approximately 10 cm for the side seams. Less fabric is required for the hem. The addition to it is usually 2-3 cm. If a dense fabric is chosen for the item, it makes sense to add another 1 cm to the hem. Pattern parameters are transferred to the material. It is being cut. If you have to make French curtains large in size, pins are used so that the fabric does not move out when cutting. After cutting, you can immediately begin to assemble things.

First of all, you need to iron the side edges. To do this, 3 cm retreat from the sides. The ironed edges are turned and the braid is cut. At first glance, the second task seems simple, because it is enough to measure the braid and divide it with scissors into equal segments. But immediately it must be taken into account: if the braid, like the fabric, is calculated incorrectly, it will not work to make high-quality French curtains with your own hands. The length of the braid directly depends on the parameters of the canvas, but it is best to measure it with a margin - add 5% of the required value and add another 3 cm to it for each segment (for the hem). For sewing work, it is better to purchase a three-cord braid. It is always attached to the wrong side of the canvas.

French curtains can have almost any number and size of scallops. In order to correctly calculate their number, it is necessary to take into account the texture of the fabric, its colors, the style of the interior of the room where it is planned to place French curtains. Novice craftswomen should not strive to immediately create things for the maximum number of festoons. The best option it will be if on the experimental model there are 5 scallops per 3 meters of the width of the canvas.

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How much to retreat, how to sew and where to pull?

The next step after attaching the cord is mounting the rings. Modern fittings are made of metal and plastic. The first material is considered more durable, but for light curtains it is better to choose plastic. The attachment points of the rings must be marked with chalk, a simple pencil or pins. Beginning masters have a common mistake: the rings that are at the bottom of the canvas are lowered very low. Correctly located lower rings of the French curtain will always be 5 cm higher than its edge. Another mistake is too large or small distances between the rings, more precisely, between their rows. The best option is a gap of 30 cm. It is also important to correctly measure the distance between the upper rings and the braid. The standard option is 12 cm - this is how much you need to step back from the top edge of the canvas before you start sewing on the top row of accessories.

French curtains are perfect for a classic interior with antique furniture.

The process of attaching the rings themselves to French curtains is also important. It is correct to fasten the rings with just a few stitches, only two knots are made on the thread. After sewing on all the rings, they proceed to pulling the cords from the braid. Be sure to monitor the uniformity of the folds during this operation and correct it. As soon as the French blinds become necessary for the length of the window, they need to be fixed. To perform this operation, the cords are fixed at the top edge and neatly tied together. The size of the border should be equal to the length of the cornice. So that the cord knots do not unfasten too much, it is necessary to take measures: the knots are tied as close as possible to the curtain canvas - and the problem is solved. It remains only to cut off the excess sections of the cords and proceed to the next stage of work - the installation of the product.

French curtains are flowing lush folds and draperies. They are divided into sections. Pleats run along the entire length and width of the curtains. A room decorated with such curtains immediately acquires a luxurious, majestic look.

French curtains will help to place accents in the room, make it much cozier and more comfortable, protect from sunlight.

Window openings, decorated with such curtains, look chic and luxurious.

Each thing has a history of creation, a country in which they began to produce goods. French curtains also have their own history of creation. It is believed that for the first time such curtains began to be produced in France during the reign of Louis XIV. XVII century - the era of classicism and baroque. Therefore, these curtains were common. French curtains hung on the windows in the houses of all the wealthy French kings, nobles, nobility, etc. But to this day they have not lost their popularity.

French curtains are fabrics decorated with many folds that are located along the entire length of the product and remain on it, both in the raised and lowered position.

Individual items you need to know

The main types of French curtains:

  • Lifting. The most common option. They can be easily raised and lowered using modern systems and mechanisms. This allows you to easily open and close the opening without spoiling the curtains. When raised, these curtains form beautiful and elegant lush folds. (Their length and width are strictly according to the size of the window opening!)
  • Fixed. Constantly close the window. They cannot be raised, lowered, moved left or right. These are curtains, the folds on which are fixed.

At the bottom of the curtains, cords pass through the loops, which, when pulled together, form scallops.

Cloths rising up, form waves and lush voluminous folds.

Types of French curtains by size:

  • Long. A fairly popular option for decorating the window and the room as a whole. Beautiful, lush draperies add a little chic and luxury to the room.

Classic and quite popular design option.

Important! This is a great option for rooms with a large area. Such curtains will emphasize the free space and become an exquisite component of the room.

  • Short. Basically, curtains of this length are chosen because of the sofa standing near the window or when the window sill goes directly into the countertop, etc. In these cases, short and comfortable French curtains are hung.

Beautifully draped fabrics give a special softness and sophistication to the space.

On a note! This is a great option for rooms with a small area. Visually, such curtains will expand already small space. Also, short French curtains are often hung in the kitchen. This emphasizes the comfort and elegance in the room.

Fabrics from which these curtains are sewn.

  • Linen. This is an environmentally friendly material. Linen curtains are completely hypoallergenic. They look beautiful and elegant. Pleasant to the touch. After washing, they do not settle and do not lose their original appearance. Only curtains made of this material are difficult to iron.
  • Velvet. This material is especially pleasant to the touch. Its color depth looks particularly luxurious. And because of the dense pile, such curtains have a beautiful play of chiaroscuro.

The material is chosen based on design features rooms.

  • Veil. The material from which the curtains give the room tenderness and romance. The veil looks great both on its own and in combination with thicker curtains. French veil curtains look light, airy and at ease. Therefore, such curtains will look great in the interior of the bedroom.
  • Silk. French silk curtains shimmer beautifully in the light. They have an excellent play of colors when the rays of the sun fall on them from different angles. This material is shiny, thin, but at the same time durable.

Awnings are sewn from well-draped materials in order to fully reveal their aesthetic possibilities.

  • Organza. Organza curtains of this type will complement any interior. They look easy, feminine, gentle, elegant, but at the same time simple and interesting. Easy to care for, like linen curtains.
  • Atlas. Satin awnings (as French curtains are called in another way) are very durable, with an incredibly smooth surface (sometimes this can turn against you. Because puffs often form on a smooth surface).

Due to the reflection of light, all the folds of the French curtains shimmer and shine beautifully.

French curtains in the living room

The living room is a reception room, so it is important to pay special attention to the choice of all parts of the interior in this room. French curtains add a touch of tenderness and sophistication to the living room. And with such curtains you can decorate both a simple room and a luxurious interior.

Curtains bring a touch of romance and sophistication to this room.

To date, French curtains are decorated with both artsy and simple interiors living rooms.

French curtains in the nursery

Awnings will be excellent, original and beautiful design children's room. These curtains are best suited for a girl's room. Especially if the entire interior of the room is in the style of classicism and baroque. But such curtains may not be the most the best option because they collect a lot of dust.

Awnings will become an original characteristic decoration and will set the tone for the whole room.

Awnings in the bedroom

Such curtains will add chic, tenderness, romance and splendor to the bedroom. With their simple and delicate design, the curtains will complement any style in the bedroom. You will be pleased to be in such a room. After all, French curtains set up your body for rest and sleep.

With their lyrical and delicate design, they create a special atmosphere and emphasize good taste.

French curtains in the kitchen

The kitchen is cozy place where you can talk with family and friends over a cup of hot tea. In this room, it is best to hang short awnings. French curtains in the kitchen will add pomposity and at the same time lightness.

Here, both short curtains to the windowsill and long options will look appropriate.

Awnings, with their lush and luxurious folds, will perfectly complement any kitchen interior and give it charm, wealth and pomposity.

How to sew these curtains with your own hands

Necessary materials:

  • sewing machine;
  • pins;
  • scissors;
  • soap or chalk;
  • textile;
  • threads to match the color of the fabric.

Awnings with their exclusivity will add a picturesque image to the interior of a certain style.

But before you buy fabric, you need to measure the window. The resulting width must be multiplied by one and a half, and the length by two. This result indicates how much fabric is required. But you still need to make allowances for the seams (2-3 cm).

French curtains are the epitome of classics.

Operating procedure:


That's all! Do-it-yourself luxurious French curtains at home are ready!

The easiest option for sewing French curtains with your own hands

Step by step instructions.

  • You need to measure the window. The resulting width must be multiplied by one and a half, and the length by two. This result indicates how much fabric is required. But you still need to make allowances for the seams (2-3 cm).
  • The purchased fabric should be soaked in warm water, squeezed out, allowed to dry and ironed. All these procedures must be performed so that the fabric does not sit down in the future.
  • Then you need to make a double fold (1-1.5 cm) and stitch all the edges.

The elegant design of French curtains goes well with the simple and concise interior of Provence.

  • Mark the drawstrings so that there are equal gaps between them. Then, on the front side, you need to sew a special braid for French curtains (but if there is none, you can use a regular fabric 3 cm wide).
  • It is necessary to insert a decorative rope / cord, ribbon or braid into the side seams. Next, the drawstrings are formed. We fix the cords from above (you can sew), and the free ends remain below. With a cord, you can adjust the height of the curtains.
  • To keep the curtains vertical, you can sew in special weights.

Awnings will especially emphasize the freedom of style, create real comfort and add soft diffused lighting to the whole room.

And that's it! This is the easiest way to make DIY French Curtains!

French curtain care

Of course, sewing such curtains with your own hands is only half the battle. The main thing is to take good care of them. Then French curtains will serve you for a long time. Awnings are really beautiful curtains. They add luxury, wealth, tenderness, romance to the room. They have many advantages. But there are also downsides. The main and only disadvantage of such curtains is that a lot of dust often accumulates in numerous folds.

Curtains "French" have a fairly rich color scheme.

The presence of purple decor on the windows in the room stimulates inspiration and creative thinking.

  • Small stains on curtains can be removed with a damp cloth.
  • You can clean the folds of the curtains from dust with a vacuum cleaner. Just be very careful!
  • French curtains made of tulle, organza can be washed in the machine in the “delicate wash” mode.
  • Velvet curtains need to be dry-cleaned.
  • These curtains cannot be ironed. It is better to hang them a little damp and they will take on the desired shape.

A well-chosen design will make the window in each room original and interesting.

VIDEO: We sew French curtains with our own hands.

50 options for French curtains in the interior:

French curtains or marquise curtains are a decorative detail that will make the decoration of your room truly solemn, elegant and pompous. Their luxurious look will enrich any room, and soft flowing scallops (elements of the curtain composition, represented by arcuate fabric assemblies) will attract the attention of your guests with their smooth curves. Marquis curtains are a constant favorite in creating a classic interior. French curtains are cascade-lifting, not sliding; when assembled, they form beautiful volumetric folds. The length of the French curtains can be adjusted both manually and with the help of a special mechanism built into the cornice.

Preparing to sew curtains with your own hands

Marquis curtains are the most delicate curtains that will be a great addition to the design of the hall in classical style. In such a room, you will plunge into the atmosphere of the era of Louis XIV and feel all the luxury of court life. Making French curtains with your own hands is a rather responsible task, but not difficult. Today there are many video tutorials and master classes with which you can easily sew magnificent French curtains for your room.

Photo of French curtains, embodying the true richness of taste.

Fabric choice

When choosing a fabric, the main condition is its lightness, elasticity and softness of texture. Such material will help form flowing, airy folds. Lightweight thin materials with a smooth surface are perfect:

  • atlas;
  • organza;
  • silk;
  • batiste;
  • other tulle fabrics.

Some prefer more massive and lush French curtains made of dense materials, which are decorated with bows, braid, frills and lace. Such curtains look very advantageous in combination with thick lambrequins framing the curtains.

However, the disadvantage of such curtains is their bulkiness, which will be extremely inappropriate in a small room, so it is better to opt for a light, translucent curtain made of thin, flying materials, possibly complemented by some elegant lambrequins. As a rule, lambrequins for French curtains are decorated with tassels, ruffles, fringe. The material for lambrequins and curtains framing the tulle part of the curtain composition is selected more dense. Lambrequins can be made of velvet, wool or velor.

Photo of luxurious French curtains with lambrequins.

Color selection

It is very important to decide on the color of the material that will help you sew incredibly beautiful curtains. Curtains of all colors of pastel colors look the most harmonious:

  • Pale pink;
  • Peach;
  • Vanilla;
  • pistachio;
  • Jasmine;
  • Tea rose;
  • Sand;
  • Creme brulee;
  • Milk chocolate;

Absolutely inappropriate in the design of French curtains are bright flashy tones, these curtains already look quite pretentious and attract everyone's attention with their lush assemblies. Therefore, in a rich design, they can look tasteless and clumsy, which can significantly spoil the overall design of the room.

Photo of the most delicate French curtains in pastel colors

Mounting types

In order to securely fasten your elegant French blinds, you can resort to one of two types of fasteners to choose from:

  1. Using standard window cornices, on which the curtain fabric is attached with hooks, clips or eyelets. Sometimes the curtain is mounted on a rod through a special braid sewn along the edge of the curtain.
  2. With the help of special cornices, equipped with a mechanism for adjusting the length of the curtains. The curtain is attached to such a cornice with a self-adhesive tape. The mechanism is usually controlled by a remote control. remote control. This type of fastener is great for window openings of various shapes and sizes.

The choice of fastening largely depends on the desired final look of the curtains.

Calculation of the number of scallops

In order for our curtains to have a three-dimensional look, and the folds to have an airy texture, it is necessary to spend quite a lot of material on the product. As a rule, when creating French curtains, their width is dictated by the width of the window space. It is also necessary to take into account the length of the cornice to which the future curtain will be attached. Do not forget to leave allowances at the edges of the product.

An important nuance in creating French curtains with your own hands is the final length of the curtain, multiplying which by two and adding allowances, we get the amount of material needed for tailoring.

The size of the scallops is largely determined by the width of the windows; wide folds are more appropriate on a large window opening.

The required number of scallops depends on the width of the finished product. An exact calculation can be carried out using the following table:

Accurate calculation of scallops for tailoring French curtains.

Sewing curtains

Today, you can easily make the necessary curtains that meet all your requirements on an individual order in specialized ateliers. However, what hostess does not dream of sewing a masterpiece of curtain art with her own hands, without resorting to the help of specialists, because a thing created by her own hands has a special warmth and energy. Moreover, today on the Internet there are a lot of training videos and master classes that reveal all the tricks of creating marquis curtains with your own hands. We bring to your attention a master class on sewing curtains using an unpretentious pattern that does not require remarkable preparation and outstanding sewing skills from you. First you need to process the material for curtains, for this, rinse the fabric well in water room temperature, trying not to crumple or deform its texture. After that, lightly wring out the fabric and let it dry, but do not overdry.

  1. Carefully finish the edges of the product. After spreading the fabric, make double folds 1 cm wide along its side edges and sew them.
  2. On the bottom edge, make a double fold 1.5 cm wide and hem the edge.
  3. Make markings for future festoons. Place them at an equal distance from each other across the entire width of the product. As mentioned above, the width of your scallops depends on the width of the curtain itself.
  4. Then, using pre-prepared fabrics, decorate the scallops (drawstrings) of your curtains. Sew these fabrics to the places of your preliminary marking, bending the material on the sides by 2.5 - 3 cm.
  5. Thread special cords into the finished scallops (it is advisable to choose a decorative rope, ribbon or beautiful braid that will harmoniously fit into the design of your curtain composition). With this cord, you can easily adjust the length of your curtain.
  6. You can also create scallops on your curtains using rings that are attached at a distance of 15 to 20 cm from each other along the entire length of the product, or using a gathering tape sewn in the markings.
  7. The cord should allow you to easily adjust the height of the curtain, forming soft rounded folds of fluffy fabric when pulled together. It is necessary to sew a dense braid to the upper edge of the curtain to fasten the canvas to the rod.
  8. Fixing the curtain on the cornice and on the sides window opening, adjust the length of the finished product. Voila, stylish French curtains are ready! We enjoy the result.

Add a touch of charm to your room with DIY French Curtains.

If you want to decorate the interior of the kitchen with luxurious, but at the same time light and practical curtains, pay attention to the models of French curtains. They are a single piece of fabric, the length of which can be adjusted at your discretion, turning the fabric with lush scalloped folds using a vertical braid. Having chosen French curtains for the kitchen, they can be used both independently and in an ensemble with other curtains. But in any case, they look elegant, stylish and give the atmosphere of the room a truly Parisian charm and a bit of palatial pomposity.

Curtains with lush scallops were invented to decorate the interiors of banquet halls and bedrooms of the French nobility (which is why their second name is “marquise”), then spectacular textiles began to be used to decorate theater scenes. And today, almost three centuries later, French curtains are still associated with wealth and success, and can decorate the windows of any room in our house - from the interior of a romantic bedroom to a cozy kitchen.

Light and airy French-style draperies

5 reasons to hang French curtains in the kitchen:

  1. Short draperies do not block access to the window and window sill, but thanks to spectacular scallops they look much more respectable than Roman or roll structures.
  2. They go well with other types of window textiles - curtains, lambrequins.

A short curtain in a duet with a luxurious lambrequin fits perfectly into the interior of the kitchen

  1. The number and splendor of the folds can be varied at will, so the "French" looks great both on a small narrow window and on a wide opening.
  2. Thanks to the lush folds, the French curtain closes the room well from prying eyes, so it can be used even in the kitchen on the ground floor without blinds or thick curtains.
  3. Such a curtain will be an ideal addition for both expensive historical interiors (classic, baroque, renaissance, empire), and for kitchens decorated in the spirit of a cozy country, romantic Provence or elegant English style.

Lush festoons in classic interior cuisine

On a note! Many people confuse Austrian and French curtains, because the models are really similar in the form of folds, the lifting principle and a solid canvas. The difference is that French curtains have scallops all the way down and do not fully unfurl even when the curtain is down. And the Austrian ones form folds only in the lower part of the canvas.

Varieties of lifting curtains

Choosing fabric for curtains

French curtains for the kitchen can be of any length - both practical short curtains to the windowsill, and lush drapery "to the floor". There are no special restrictions in the choice of textiles. The material can be airy or quite dense, the difference is in the form of folds (the heavier the canvas, the more clearly the arcs will be expressed). Dense soft tissues will fall in smooth "waves", and the lungs will help form lush "clouds".

Colored transparent textures perfectly scatter light

The most popular types of fabrics:

  • Translucent - veil, organza, muslin, silk, cambric, chiffon, tulle, polyester with various additives.
  • Opaque - satin, cotton, linen, jacquard.

Plain textile with multi-coloured braid

As for colors, curtains can be any color of the rainbow, although white and other neutral tones are usually preferred. But textiles with a pattern are used infrequently, because when the curtain is raised, the beauty of the pattern can be lost in the folds. But if you really want to revive the interior of the kitchen with a colorful print, use light-colored fabric with a repeating colorful ornament (peas, cage, flowers).

Floral motifs in the interior of the kitchen

For sewing, you can use plain fabrics different colors

On a note! To finish the lower edge of the curtains, you can use lush ruffles, a fringe of gilded threads or glass beads, a spectacular border bright color. The choice of decor depends on the density of the material and the style in which the interior of the kitchen is decorated.

Systems for scalloping

Distinctive feature French curtains - a cascade of even arched scallops. In the classic version, curtains are mounted on profile cornices, which allows you to form more lush and expressive folds. In the modern interpretation, the canvas is attached only to the upper holder with special Velcro, like other lifting models.

Types of lifting mechanisms for French curtains:

  1. Manual - curtains are raised using a system of several cords and rings.

  1. Automatic - just flip a switch or press a button on the remote control to activate the roller, which will rotate and adjust the curtain to the desired height on its own.

The working principle of the automatic lift

On a note! The simplest design"French" can also be static - that is, the folds will be fixed in one position without a lifting mechanism. For short curtains for the kitchen, this can be a good and very economical solution. .

We sew French curtains with our own hands

Ready-made models with lush scallops are quite expensive, but if you have a sewing machine and a desire to create a unique window decor in the kitchen, you can sew French curtains yourself. Despite the apparent complexity of the design, such work is quite feasible even for a novice seamstress. Therefore, we will consider in detail all the nuances of the upcoming work - from window measurements to the manufacture of the product itself.

Material calculation

The key to success in tailoring any curtains is the correct measurements. Therefore, we arm ourselves with a tape measure and go to the kitchen window.

We are interested in four main parameters:

  1. The length of the cornice, to which a margin of 1.3-1.5 should be added, in order to beautifully drape the opening with fabric and leave an allowance for the seams.
  2. The height of the future curtain, which is measured from the cornice to the window sill or the middle of the window (however, if we are talking about a kitchen-dining room with a large opening, you can sew a curtain up to the floor).
  3. Assembly coefficient - depends on the type of textile, splendor and bending of the folds. For dense material, you need to multiply the length of the curtain by 1.8-2, for light tulle, chiffon or veil - at least 2.5.
  4. The number of stripes with scallops - the length of the cornice should be divided into 4-5 equal segments (or more - depending on the size of the window).

An example of calculating the fabric for a French curtain in the kitchen:

Given: a standard window with a two-meter cornice, the length of the curtain is up to the window sill (175 cm).

Determine the width: multiply the length of the cornice by 1.5. Total: 2 m * 1.5 = 3 meters.

We determine the height: we multiply the length to the window sill by 2.5 (assembly factor for lush scallops). Total: 1.75 m * 2.5 = 4.375 m (including allowances - 4.4 m).

To form 8 rows of scallops on the curtain, the fabric will have to be cut into canvases. But if you can find desired material in a narrow roll, 80 cm wide, it will be ideal for a beginner seamstress. According to our calculations, such matter will need 17.6 meters (4.4 m * 4 canvases) with a width of each row of folds of 35-40 cm.

Material calculation scheme depending on the number of scallops

In addition to the fabric, you will need a curtain rod for attaching curtains, rings and a skein of nylon cord - all this can be bought at a sewing accessories store. And, of course, you can’t do without a set of home craftswomen - sewing machine, scissors, thread, needles / pins and a measuring ruler with chalk for marking.

Tailoring technology

To get a spectacular curtain with lush folds, it is important not only to correctly calculate the amount of material, but also to provide tucks in the right places of the drapery, and even correctly fix the rings for the lifting mechanism. In order not to miss any of the upcoming stages of work, we suggest using our hint.

Step-by-step instruction for sewing French curtains with your own hands:

  1. Sew the pieces of fabric together to obtain the desired width of the curtain.
  2. Lay the resulting whole canvas on a table or other flat surface.
  3. Make a markup, indicating with chalk the location of the center lines of the scallops, taking into account the allowances for the seams (at the bottom and on the side - 5 cm each, and on top - along the width of the curtain tape or Velcro).
  4. Finish the bottom and sides by folding the fabric twice and secure the fold with a straight stitch.

Advice! For convenience, you can first baste the seams by hand or pin them with pins, and then iron them with an iron.

  1. Now it remains to form the scallops. To do this, from the sides, along the seams that fastened the strips and along the markings of the center of the scallops, it is necessary to lay a French (or linen) seam, with large stitches through which you can pass the gathering cord. "marquise" tape) and attach to the wrong side of the product with a regular stitch.

On a note! For a curtain under a two-meter cornice from our example, consisting of four sheets of fabric, you will need 9 seams and 9 cord cuts of 175 cm each.

  1. Then we take a pin, pass the cords through the seam loops and collect the curtain with beautiful folds. After that, you need to tighten each end and sew to the bottom of the curtain. To get beautiful folds, you can make small tucks in the center of each row of scallops or limit yourself to only the first row from the top, allowing the rest to form arbitrary “waves”.

Pattern for sewing French curtains with your own hands

  1. On the upper edge we make a bend, then we attach a mount to it - a curtain tape or one of the sides of the pile. After that, we adjust the width of the product according to the size of the eaves.

At this stage, you can finish the assembly - the curtain is ready. It remains to smooth the fabric, attach it to the hooks of the eaves or combine the sides of the fluff tape on the mounting plate. But if you want a movable rather than a static curtain, you will have to work a little more.

Installation of the lifting mechanism

In order for the curtain to be adjustable in height, you will need small rings that are sewn at the bottom of the curtain along each edge of the French seam. So that the fasteners are not visible from the front side, it is necessary to make indents - at least 5 cm from the bottom, and 12-15 cm from the top. Also, the rings must be attached on the sides and the seam of the towel in steps of 15-30 cm.

Important! The step depends on the size of the scallops. For small and narrow “waves”, smaller indents are needed, for deep or wide ones, larger ones.

At the bottom of each gathering tape, it is recommended to hang small weights that will evenly hold the fabric in vertical position(for light curtains, you can use heavy brushes, bead fringe, decorative stones or glass beads). After that, it remains to thread the cuts of the nylon cord through all the rings.

It is done like this:

  • The first segment is wound into a ring located in the lower left edge of the curtain, passed through all the rings sewn along the side seam, passes through the cornice and is displayed on the right side.

On a note! The length of the cord will consist of the sum of the two lengths of the curtain and the length of the cornice (in our example (175 * 2) + 200 = 550 cm).

  • The second cord is tied to the next lower ring, also runs vertically, then along the cornice and leads out to the right.

  • All other cords are drawn in the same way, after which their free ends on the right side of the curtain are woven into a beautiful pigtail and fixed on a hook. This will be the control system that will allow you to raise and lower the curtain to the desired height.

Advice! The lengthy process of sewing on rings can be simplified and accelerated if you buy a ready-made "marquise" tape with rings already sewn on.

Ready-made braid for lifting French curtains

Video: step by step master class

Methods for fastening French curtains

Like any curtains, French models can be mounted directly on window frame using adhesive tape, hang on the eaves by hooks and even immediately on the bar (if the loops of the curtain tape are wide enough). But, unlike roll and Roman designs, lush scallops require free space. Therefore, you should not fasten French curtains immediately to plastic windows, and as shown in the photo - on the bar along the edge of the window opening or on the cornice.

Types of holders for French curtains:

  1. A strip equipped with adhesive tape is an excellent budget option for static curtains. Models may differ in the type of fasteners for wall and ceiling mounting.

Ready-made cornice with Velcro and wall fixing system

  1. Special cornice for lifting curtains - has small loops, hooks, a recess or a cavity for lacing, which adjusts the height of the curtain. Such a holder is very convenient for DIY models - you don’t have to invent a way to mask and evenly place the cords on top of the curtain.
  2. Cornice with lifting mechanismturnkey solution for French blinds, already equipped with a system of cords that you just need to pass through the rings and an adjustment chain.

Fastening for French curtains on the eaves with a chain system:

Fastening for French curtains on the eaves

On a note! You can replace the finished cornice with a cut of a metal profile or wooden beam, on which one of the strips of fluff tape should be glued or nailed with small studs (the second part is sewn to the curtain). Additionally, such homemade holder wrapped in fabric or painted in the color of the walls or curtains.

French curtains in the interior of the kitchen are a great alternative to ordinary tulle and a real decoration for kitchen window. And what is important - despite all the sophistication and visual complexity of the design, they are quite easy to sew with your own hands from any suitable material. But if you are not fond of needlework or simply did not have time to acquire sewing machine- no problem. Such a model can be sewn in any studio, providing professional seamstresses with measurements of your window and the fabric you like.

Photo selection of kitchen interiors with French curtains

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