How to hem curtains DIY rubber back rod pocket drapes in any length

[@janetsheehan6983]

Very good clear instructions Christine. I'm with you I don't like curtains either. I remember years ago watching a famous Craft lady??? on the TV hemming curtains. She took the machine to the floor where the curtains were still hung knelt down on all fours and moved the machine along as she just sewed up the hem..umm I was gob smacked! She was supposed to be a professional. Really it was terrible if it wasn't so funny to watch. I am so glad you explained the right way to do the job. Thanks!! 😊

[@ChristinesHomeAffairs]

Oh wow, that's crazy, and sadly so many people would think it would be perfectly OK 😅

[@GloriaHasberry]

Thanks for the step by step tutorial. I know what you mean when you say you do not advertise that you do them. Just because you can do it, does not mean you really want to do it!

[@ChristinesHomeAffairs]

Exactly! There are lots of alterations that I don't like doing Gloria, but I find that reverse sewing has been the best way to learn construction methods😄

[@pamelataylor3537]

Thanks for this, I’ve made lots of curtains but mine aren’t professional looking they are Pam looking lol, there was never anything wrong them cos I used to watch what my sister did and as much as she thought I couldn’t make half decent ones the last ones that I made she asked me who’d made them as she thought I couldn’t possibly have made them looking like they did. I was quite pleased when she thought that as it was usually criticism I received so I took it as a compliment. As a matter of fact she never criticised me again after that. It was good to watch how you measured them and cut them cos I’m not crash hot at cutting very straight.

[@ChristinesHomeAffairs]

It's funny what you remember Pamela. I remember a younger sister telling me as a 15 year old that I have no colour sense and that I dressed stupidly (I was wearing a striped sailor type top in the 70's, playing totem tennis and still think I looked good in it). Decades later, when I had my fabric store, customers always asked my advice when it came to colour matching, and each time when they'd commented on my ability to "colour match", it always reminded me of what my sister said all those years ago. 🤣

[@pamelataylor3537]

@@ChristinesHomeAffairs true Christine, I can’t recall what I ate for breakfast but I remember horrible crap people have said to me years before. Guess our minds are so strange.

[@elayned6147]

Being a tailor, I never advertise that I do curtains either, but I get roped into it myself sometimes. I did notice the black marking on light colored curtains I did (it wasn’t bad) and had no idea that the rubber caused that. Anyway great tutorial, thanks!👍😁

[@ChristinesHomeAffairs]

Thanks Elayne. It was a new experience for me too. A few weeks ago, I had accidentally melted synthetic furnishing fabric by sewing too fast. The needle got so hot it went black, snapped, then my machine crashed. This time my machine was ok, but I was surprised when the rubber backing showed the scorch marks. 🙂

[@nellieolguin-davis1519]

Wow that is some good money for Hemingway curtains thank you for sharing this!!!❤️

[@ChristinesHomeAffairs]

You are so welcome Nellie. As much as I dislike doing them, curtains can certainly provide a good income😀

[@jmjcc5]

Would you explain how you come up with your price per hour please. If you could break down the factors involved. Thank you. I have an alterations business that I’ve started and can’t seem to get my pricing down. Thanks again for your practical videos.

[@ChristinesHomeAffairs]

Yes, I'll do a video soon. Let me know if there are any other questions to answer for you🙂

[@ShadowMoonFarms]

Thank you

[@ChristinesHomeAffairs]

You're welcome Cynthia. Thank you😀

[@lorraineclarke2233]

Thanks for the video. I would like to know what size needle you are using for the drapes?

[@ChristinesHomeAffairs]

Lorraine, I would have used a universal 90/14 needle😁

[@lorraineclarke2233]

@@ChristinesHomeAffairs thank you so much!

[@tinkymagic]

How do you stop the folded hem from pushing off the curtain as you reach the end? My sewing foot tends to push the hem off as I sew along and the hem and curtain don’t line up neatly on both sides. Hope that makes sense!

[@ChristinesHomeAffairs]

This happens all the time Maria. You can reduce the amount of pressure your foot puts on the fabric, and that helps a little. Double sided tape is also great, but can be costly. When I come close to the end of the hem, I will line up the end of the hemmed fabric so it sits behind the main section, and then create a little pleat on the wrong side. It isn't seen, and doesn't affect the hem😄 Also, as you're sewing, lift the foot regularly, and push the fabric back toward the needle.

[@tinkymagic]

@@ChristinesHomeAffairs Thanks so much! Love all your tutorials!

[@michelewilson9383]

How do you stop the rubber backed lining from gripping the machine plate?

[@ChristinesHomeAffairs]

Michele, you can sew fabric side down on plate with rubber faced up. Also use a Teflon foot 😀

[@annemaguire657]

Maybe the store didn’t have a shorter drop……..an awful waste of fabric, guess your customer really loved the fabric 🤣🤣, a great demonstration, thank you

[@ChristinesHomeAffairs]

I wondered the same thing Anne. Hopefully they don't just throw the rest away😀

[@annemaguire657]

I think I might have suggested to the customer in how to utilise the surplus fabric for accessories/soft furnishings????

[@ChristinesHomeAffairs]

@@annemaguire657 she'll most likely send it back to me to use up😁

[@joyfuljoy5711]

🪡🪡🪡🪡🖇🖇🖇🖇🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂 thank you great idea for measuring and boy did i ever under charge for the drapes i have done 😋🙂🙂💞💞💞💞💞

[@ChristinesHomeAffairs]

Thanks Joy. Curtains can be so time consuming as you'd know, and I'm getting so much better at charging out what I think my time is worth. It always surprises me when someone accepts my price😁

[@lucilledaub5991]

I wish you’d use only regular measurements instead of centimeters.

[@suegeedee]

Centimetres ARE regular measurements!

[@ChristinesHomeAffairs]

haha, just what I was going to say Sue.... Lucille, in Australia, regular measurements are centimetres. I did mention in the video that I'd use what the customer gave me, but the hemming of the curtains is the same proceedure in inches as well as centimetres.

[@sheilasantiago3715]

Are there any types of sewing jobs that you definitely will NOT do?

[@ChristinesHomeAffairs]

Most definitely Sheila. I won't do bridal or formal. I don't need the stress 😀