How to Lengthen Curtains - Professional Tips and Tutorial for Every Level

A client of mine wanted a pair of curtains lengthened. I was able to use this opportunity to make this video for you.
I have been in the upholstery and interior decorating business for over 25 years, as well as teaching these subjects both privately and at colleges. I have drawn on my years in teaching to put this video together and hope I have answered all your questions and have taught a number of classes in upholstery and interior decorating over the years.
Please feel free to ask questions and I shall see if I can put other videos together to answer them.
Have fun

[@sallyking37]

You are very thorough. I understand everything fully because I did a couple of sewing courses at high school. However I think this is one step up from a very beginner sewer. This is a most helpful tutorial for a project I have which is FOUR pairs to lengthen to do like this (3.4m x 3.8m each panel). Although this tutorial is very clear, I'm considering paying someone else as I don't think I'm as thorough as you are. ;-P

[@beinspired1487]

Thank you for the lovely compliment on the video. Just remember if you don't try you will never find out if you can succeed in something. With sewing just take your time, don't rush, but also know you can unpick things too - which I find most tedious, so if I mess up on the first I leave till I have completed the rest as a reminder of what not to do again. I also feel that I have made headway and don't feel so bad about redoing the one I messed up. At least you watched the video and will be making an informed decision on your curtain panels. Good Luck with future projects that you do.

[@scampsyorkshire5368]

Thank you for a very thorough video. Must have taken a long time to put together! I had decided to lengthen a pair of curtains with a different fabric so knew I could get help here and wasn't disappointed. Like one of the other correspondents, I would never have thought of hiding the join with trim, so am very grateful for that. Sadly, my armoury has all that I need except imagination and a good sized rectangular table!

[@beinspired1487]

Thank you for your comment. I try to show people how to create things in their homes, as I realize that is where most hobbyists and DIYers do their best work. When I first started out, I would make huge pairs of curtains on the living room floor with my toddler climbing on my back as she would be there right in the thick of my creativity. Really so long as you make the three measurements on either side and the center to keep everything level you really don't need a huge table. I have used ironing boards, countertops in the kitchen, and the tops of the washing machines to put things together. So long as the surface is big enough to put a folded towel down to press onto when ironing the folds anything will work. It might slow the process down a little, but I look at that as thought time. On the imagination side of things, I suggest to my clients to look on Pinterest and we can go from there. I am sure that the curtains with another fabric and trim were designed like that and not for the purpose of lengthening, it does however give you an idea of what can be done with curtains. Good luck with your project.

[@stitchinginthebarn8307]

This was a wonderful video. I'm making a pair of curtains from fabric I previously bought but its not quite enough. I like the use of trim to hide the seam line. I would have never thought of that but I've never done curtains before. I think I will buy some lining fabric for the back to make them look more professionally finished. Thank you so much for sharing!

[@beinspired1487]

Thank you for your feedback. I like to add trim to make more of a feature of the problem, then people think it was meant to be like that. I have been in the business for many years and feel that it is important to share my knowledge with others. Good luck with your project.

[@patriciabarry4011]

You are amazing! Thank you for sharing.

[@beinspired1487]

Thank you for your kind words. I hope your newly lengthened curtains look great in their new place.

[@nin9657]

Thank you Sally. You explain very well.

[@beinspired1487]

When I film projects, I try to think of the camera as a group of people who are asking questions. So try to answer those questions as I go. Glad you liked the tutorial.

[@marcelmarkus6969]

i realize I am kind of randomly asking but does anyone know of a good place to watch newly released series online ?

[@Dee-cg2fx]

Ty. Very professional.

[@beinspired1487]

I appreciate you comment. I have tried to keep the films short and to the point, but with as much information as I can.

[@frankjanvari8650]

ok I understand your very professional. I see you have a small space when sewing do you think you could place the video camera in front of the sewing machine to get a better view? please thank you very much.

[@beinspired1487]

I borrowed 2 extra macies for the project, so people can see that although there are differences there are also similarities. So I have learnt from my previous film where I need to improve. After all, if I do not learn something out of this, then how can I get my information across to others.

[@frankjanvari8650]

hello thank you very much for responding back so fast. iam still waiting for your sewing machine video sorry for being so inpatient I just whish it would come up soon thank you very much have a great day.

[@beinspired1487]

I am sorry for the wait. I went through it and was very disappointed with my effort. I realized that half of what I was trying to show just didn't show up very well. I have some solutions and will be re-filming this morning and will get the editing later today.

[@frankjanvari8650]

hello I see you like to sew curtains. what sewing machine do you use for your heavy tough sewing projects? do you have any other sewing machines you use to sew?

[@beinspired1487]

Hi Frank, I use a heavy duty, domestic Jenome for my work now. It is meant to go through 6-8 layers of denim in one go. When I had a workshop, I had an industrial Singer, a couple of industrial Juke machines, as well as a domestic Singer. The industrials were the workhorses as they did most of the work, whilst the singer did some light work and any decoration stitches that the client needed. I will be making a video on the traditional way to make curtains, later this month. Sally

[@frankjanvari8650]

hello would very much like to see how you put those curtain rings in how you sew them in place please thank you very much.

[@beinspired1487]

The curtains in the video were store bought and were already in place. I will put a video together in a few weeks that can cover the subject, just need to think of a project that I can use them in.

[@cathychats]

Thank you but it’s very hard to follow.

[@beinspired1487]

Thank you for your response. I am sorry that my video didn't explain how to lengthen curtains in a way that was easy to follow. If I get the chance to make another one on this subject I will endeavor to do a better video. This video was one of my early ones and I have, I hope improved my filming and editing techniques I do appreciate the comment and wish you the best with your project.