I adore these no-sew vintage curtains! They are upcycled from a vintage bed skirt for less than 10 bucks and the best part is you can complete this project in one afternoon. I love some instant gratification in a DIY! This tutorial makes it quick and easy for you, even if you have no sewing skills at all, to make your own handmade curtains!

Part of a Handmade Home

I love that I made these no-sew vintage curtains! I put love and the work of my hands into making these beautiful curtains for my home, just as my Great-Grandmother would have done all those years ago.

I love the old fashioned ways because it’s grounding somehow. Keeps me rooted in what mankind has done for generations before me. And in all the instant gratification and hustle of this day and age, I need that. I long for that.

A Great DIY for a Beginner

These vintage curtains did not take hours upon to hours to crotchet and hand sew as it would have been for my Great-Grandmothers. Because I began with a beautiful pre-made dust ruffle, they were a cinch to put together and required no sewing skills whatsoever. You are basically cutting a dust ruffle in half and then using sewing tape to create a hem. This is a very easy DIY project that can be done in one afternoon and the finished product carries a lot of impact, so it’s very satisfying. I’m a huge fan of any project that I can complete in a small amount of time and then feel very accomplished about my day!

How to Find a Dust Ruffle

I recommend looking at thrift shops or estate sales. Vintage linens are something I always keep an eye out for, especially items with pretty edging. When you are thrifting, I recommend always looking through the linens to see if somethings catches your eye.

For the most classic farmhouse vibes you want to be looking for white items with crotchet, lace, or fringe edging, in linen or cotton fabrics. There’s something about a simple white linen with just a hint of something special like embroidery or edging that is so farmhouse. If you see a dust ruffle that matches all that criteria, snatch it up!

It also couldn’t hurt to ask a family member or friend who might have a dust ruffle they are no longer using. Who knows? You could find a treasure!

What Size Dust Ruffle Will I Need?

The dust ruffle I used here is twin size. My curtains are purely decorative so it didn’t much matter to me if they didn’t cover the entire width of the window when they are closed. Although they do come very close! It’s worth noting that a twin sized sheet will likely not reach the floor as it is 75 inches long. You do get more length out of a kind size dust ruffle. King size is 80 inches long. For me, having floor length curtains was not much of a concern because I have a love seat in front of this window and it hides the fact that the curtains do not reach the floor.

If you are looking for floor length curtains, this DIY may not be for you. But measure your space to be sure! Bedroom windows are often set lower than living room windows, so it will just depend on where you want them.

You can also customize the length of these curtains using the steps outlined in steps 1-6 to create cafe curtains, a little curtain for a door window, or a curtain to cover a shelf. There are so many options!

What You Will Need:

A vintage or vintage-looking dust ruffle (aka- bed skirt). I found mine at a thrift store for $2. Estate sales are great places to look as well or ask a friend!

Iron on adhesive hem tape ( I used Heat n’ Bond Ultra Hold Hem Adhesive)

Sewing shears or really sharp scissors

A clothing iron

Curtain clip rings (recommended, but not required.)

How to Make No-Sew Vintage Curtains

Step 1:

Start by plugging in your clothing iron so it’s good and hot when you’re ready to use it.

Lay your dust ruffle out on a flat surface and using very sharp shears, cut it in half longways right down the middle. My dust ruffle had a seam that ran longways down the middle, which I do believe is common, and so I used the seam as my guide. Easy!

Step 2:

Next, along the line that you just cut, measure in towards the center of the fabric a width that is half an inch wider than your adhesive hem tape and mark it. This is where the edge of your hem tape will go.

Step 3:

Take your hem tape and peel off a few inches of the clear layer of film revealing the adhesive. Place the adhesive side down on the fabric following your marked measurement. Grab your iron and press this section for about 5-10 seconds to melt the adhesive and adhere the tape to the fabric.

Continue this, going a few inches at a time, gently peeling off the remaining clear film and pressing with your iron. Continue this process until you have hem tape along the entire length of the cut edge of your dust ruffle.

Tip:

Going a few inches at a time like this helped me to keep the line of the hem tape straight. If it’s not perfectly straight in some areas, try not to worry. When the curtain is hanging and bunched together, it’s very forgiving.

Step 4:

Now peel off the white paper that is covering the adhesive. Again, I did this in small sections, about 10 inches at a time to help that hem line be as straight as possible.

Step 5:

Fold the small section of fabric above your hem tape over the now revealed adhesive. Press the iron again, but this time on top of the fabric you just folded over with the adhesive sandwiched between the folded fabric. Repeat this process in small 10 inch sections until the entire cut edge of your dust ruffle is folded over and adhering to the other side.

Now you have your hem!

Step 6:

Now we are going to turn your dust ruffle and work with the short length. You should have one side with a finished hem and no trim and one side that has trim.

Simply space your clip rings equally along the finished hem (the side with no trim) and you’re done!

Hang them on your curtain rod and enjoy your handmade vintage curtain creation! You did it!

Want to Make the Project Even Cheaper?

Use the hem tape to create a pocket large enough for the curtain rod and then you don’t have to buy clip rings! With this method the curtains will not glide as easily along the rod to open and close, but it still results in beautiful vintage curtains!

You can follow the steps above for creating the hem, but just fold down more fabric so that you have an opening that the curtain rod can fit through. You can use the curtain rod itself as your guide.

Next, measure and mark how much fabric you have folded over, and then place the hem tape at that marking.

Iron on the tape as directed in steps 1-5 and you’re done! Complete the other half of your dust ruffle and you have two gorgeous curtain panels that likely costs you less than 5 bucks!

I’m so pleased with the finished look!

I still can’t believe how easy and quick this project was, and it had a big impact on the space. It’s such a pretty vintage touch and I love having them contrasted with my more modern gold toned curtain rod.

I’m curious, how do you feel about mixing vintage and modern style elements? I’d love to hear your thoughts about it in the comments below!

And if you decide to give this easy DIY a try, please let me know! I’d love to hear about your experience!

Have a beautiful day friends!

Love ,

Emma

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