Once you hang up a pair of sheer curtains, it's easy to forget them. After all, their greatest virtue — they're nearly transparent and allow plenty of light in — renders them practically invisible. But dress them up a bit and they can enliven an entire room.
Inexpensive and easy to find, store-bought sheers will save you precious time and money by serving as the canvas for your creative additions. And what a relief: Starting with ready-made curtains means you don't have to be a whiz with a sewing machine.
Typically available in silk, linen or cotton, sheer curtains come in a variety of colors and lengths at virtually any home store. For these projects, you'll need sheers with hemmed channels instead of tab tops.
Select ones you like without a pattern (to let your decorations stand out), then browse through the notions aisle of a crafts or sewing store for inspiration. Pom-pon fringe, ribbon and more can be used to quickly transform the sheers you've selected. Look for colors and textures that complement or offset the furniture and artwork in a room.
Also consider using sheers in unexpected ways: to divide a room, say, or to add color behind a French door. Wherever you decide to give them a try, they will be beautiful — and memorable.
Linen trim
Create tone-on-tone sophistication by trimming silk-organza sheers with linen in a slightly deeper shade. You'll need sheers that measure the height of your windows, plus an extra 14 inches or more for the flounce. A band of linen at the bottom will extend your curtains to the floor.
TOOLS AND MATERIALS
silk-organza sheers
linen
measuring tape
scissors
iron
straight pins
needle and thread
hook rings
1. Start by adding the top linen trim: Cut a strip of linen equal to the width of the curtains plus 1 inch, and double the height of the top hemmed channel plus 1 inch. Fold in all edges 1/2 inch; iron. Fold in half lengthwise; iron. Sandwich the strip over the curtain's channel; pin in place, and stitch.
2. To create a flounce, fold down the top edge of the curtain about 14 inches; iron. Sew hook rings across the fold, about 6 inches apart.
3. Add the bottom linen panel: Cut linen to the width of the sheer plus 2 inches, and the height from the windowsill to the floor plus 4 inches. Fold 1/2 inch along top edge; iron. Pin the folded edge to the sheer, centering the linen panel to leave 1 inch on each side; stitch in place.
Fold side edges in 1/2 inch, then 1/2 inch again; iron, and stitch in place. Fold bottom edge up 1/2 inch, then 3 inches; iron, pin and stitch in place.
Pom-pon fringe
Use this trim down the long edge of linen curtains to add a touch of whimsy.
TOOLS AND MATERIALS
measuring tape
linen sheers
scissors
pom-pon fringe
straight pins
needle and thread (or fabric glue)
1. Measure the length of a curtain. Cut two strips of pom-pon fringe (one for each edge) to the same length.
2. Pin fringe to the back of each edge of the curtain.
3. Stitch the fringe to the curtain edges by sewing along the outer edge of the trim and then along the inner edge. Alternatively, affix the trim using fabric glue.
Ribbon stripes
Turn organza ribbon into soft stripes on cotton-voile sheers. The ribbon is cut longer than the curtains, so the overhang can be looped at the top to form tabs to hang your curtains.
TOOLS AND MATERIALS
cotton-voile sheers
iron
measuring tape
organza ribbon
scissors
straight pins
needle and thread
1. Fold curtain lengthwise in accordion pleats of equal widths (aim for about 8 inches); iron creases.
2. Measure the length of the curtain, and cut ribbon to the same length plus 10 inches.
3. Center ribbon over creases; pin, leaving 7 inches at the top for curtain tabs and 3 inches at the bottom for hem.
4. Fold 3 inches of ribbon over at bottom of curtain; iron. Fold 4 inches of ribbon over at top to create tabs; iron.
5. Stitch curtains along bottom and top to secure hem and tabs. Stitch along both sides of ribbon lengthwise.
Brennan Kearney frequently writes about decorating. © 2005 MSLO LLC. All rights reserved. Distributed by New York Times Special Features