Line Curtains
Lining curtains is a great way to conserve energy and save on your heating bill. Some people suggest it may save you up to 25 percent if you line all of your curtains with thermal backing. If you make your own curtains, you can line them by cutting a length of fabric equal to your curtain fabric and hemming them in. However, if you have already bought curtains and they need to be lined, you can do it with a few craft-store materials, including thermal fabric. You can also line the curtain without a sewing machine. This article will tell you how to line your curtains.
Steps
- Take down the curtains you would like to line and lie them on a clean floor.
- Measure the length and width of the curtains, starting below the loops, rings or hangers at the top.
- Cut a lining out of thermal fabric that is about 1/2 inch (1.3 cm) less wide and 1/4 inch (0.6 cm) shorter so that your lining will not show at the sides and bottom.
- If you would like to hem your curtains, measure the lining so that it is twice the width of the hem on each side. For example, if you intend to have a 1/4 inch (0.6 cm) hem on each side, you should make sure it is 1 inch (2.54 cm) longer when you measure it.
- Plug in your iron and prop the top, back side of your curtain on a flat surface. Steady your curtain so it is not trying to pull.
- Lay a length of iron-on tape at the top and back of your original curtain.
- Align the lining and place it on top of the tape. Pin it into place at the ends and middle.
- Iron over the top of the thermal fabric for the length of time required by the tape's package instructions, to ensure good adhesion.
- If you want to sew in your lining, you will need to take a seam ripper and cut the hems on all sides of the curtain, including the top. Add about 4 inches (10 cm) of extra measurement into the lengthwise measurement to account for your hems. Fold the sides and bottom of the fabric up so that it aligns with the original hems of the fabric and pin them in place. Re-hem your curtains with a sewing machine and rehang.
- If your curtains are made with header tape, you will need to sew a length of header tape onto your curtain lining. Cut your liner so that it is a few inches wider at the top, so that you can gather it into the tape. Attach the header tape to the top of your curtain lining with pins, and then sew it on at both the top and the bottom.
- Sew across the ends a few times, instead of doing a back stitch and cut the end when you have sewed it. Sew across twice on each side. When you are finished, gather those threads and pull until the width of your lining equals the width of the curtain. Attach the curtain lining header tape to the curtain header tape with curtain hooks.
- Hang your lined curtains and begin saving on your energy bills.
Tips
- Choose curtains that touch the floor, for added heat and energy savings.
- If you do not have a sewing machine, do not worry about hemming the curtain fabric. Thermal curtain lining is thicker and more tightly woven than most fabric and will not fray easily.
- For optimum energy saving, close the curtains as soon as the sun sets.
- Wash the lining with a dust cloth and rag, if it is dirty. Do not wash it in a washing machine.
Warnings
- Never hang curtains in front of a radiator.
- Some curtains come with flannel lining. Although this does add some insulation, it does not provide the energy-saving benefit of thermal curtain lining.
Things You'll Need
- Fabric scissors
- Iron-on tape
- Thermal fabric
- Iron
- Ironing board
- Measuring tape
- Pins
- Sewing machine
- Thread
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