How to make -
Hand Pleated Interlined Curtains
Materials
  • - Fabric
  • - Lining
  • - Interlining
  • - Thread
  • - Buckram
  • - Weights
  • - Curtain Hooks
    • Tools
  • - Sewing Machine
  • - Needles
  • - Pins
  • - Clamps
  • - Scissors
  • - Set Square
  • - Straight Edge
  • - Invisible Marker

    • Watch the videos for full step by step tution of the instructions and expert tips from the workshop

    Video User Comments

    I love your videos they have given me the confidence to make my own curtains and blinds....Julie

    Your videos are so good, thank you…..Alex

    Once again, I should say that I think the video tutorials are extremely well done. Although I've been sewing for years I've learnt lots of techniques that are new to me and that give a much more professional finish........Heather

    Thank you for such brilliant tutorials and videos....... ....Barbara

    I have absolutely loved your videos for curtain making, I have learnt so much from you….Charlotte

    Step 7: Join Fabric Panel to Lining
    Printable Worksheet
    Printable Worksheet

    JOIN FABRIC TO LINING

    • Lay fabric panel out interlining facing up.
    • Clamp to the table along the bottom and side, or use weights to hold the curtain in place.
    • Lay the lining panel on top (wrong side down).
    • Position the lining aligned with the side of the fabric and 2cm up from the bottom of the fabric.
    • With a long single knotted thread lock stitch the lining to the interlining every half width across the fabric panel but not at the sides. (lock stitch up to just below where the buckram will be)
    • Pin the lining along the bottom (just above the hem) through all layers to hold in place.
    • Down the side fold the lining in (turning under) 2cm from the side and pin.
    • Starting just below where the bottom of the buckram will be in the heading, slip stitch the lining to the face fabric down the side and 15cm along the bottom of the lining at the corner. (Do not slip stitch up the side any higher than the herringbone stitching)
    • Move to the other side of the curtain and if necessary trim the lining so it is inline with the fabric edge.
    • Down the side fold the lining in (turning under) 2cm from the side and pin.
    • As before starting just below where the bottom of the buckram will be in the heading, slip stitch the lining to the face fabric down the side and 15cm along the bottom of the lining at the corner. (Do not slip stitch up the side any higher than the herringbone stitching)
    This video shows you
    • How to lock stitch the lining to the interlining
    • How to fold in your lining sides and pin

    Make sure you leave the pins in just above the hem so when you work on the heading in the next step the lining doesn't shift up.

    This video shows you
    • How to slip stitch in detail
    • Where and how to start/finish your stitches
    • How to tidy the lining corner
    • How to trim down your lining

    Your Questions & Comments

    Lynn Huntingford

    Once both sides of lining are slip stitched with the 15cm returns on bottom hem do you then complete the slip stitches and join lining to bottom hem all way across?

    SewHelpful:

    No

    Jane

    What thread do you use for the hand stitching

    SewHelpful:

    We use various brands of thread (quite often Guterman), we tend to focus more on the colour match rather than brand or type of thread.

    Mike

    Hi, can you use a herringbone stitch instead of a locking stitch to secure the interlining and then machine the raw edged and interlining to the lining, inside out. Then turn it right side out and press on shape. Like they done in the National trust website or is that website not correct? Sorry just trying to learn methods here.

    SewHelpful:

    There are different methods, thats not one we use or would use in our workshop. The way we make interlined curtains is in our tutorials.

    Joy

    Your concise instruction is amazing! I can’t tell how much it has helped me. I get frustrated as I’m working with 21/2 widths working on a 8 x 4 plywood over my dining table. Just wish I had a bigger table!! One thing that is very frustrating is the bump and lining a different widths to my fabric, so when i start with the lining attaching by the time i get to the other side it was too short, but fortunately with some wrangling and obviously the loose stitches every half width gives you some adjustment. I go from biting off more than I can chew to I can do this and will be thrilled if everything lines up when completed. Thank you!

    Jackie

    Hi, everything’s going really well so far and instructions are brilliant. However, when I came to interlocking the lining it was wider than my curtain (I’m using two complete widths so big curtain!). I thought it would look neater to get the join in the fabric and join in lining in line rather than laying the lining along the edge (hope that makes sense). So now when I come to slip stitch the lining down the sides would you advise I trim the lining on both sides to then turn it in 2cm Or not trim it and turn it in as it is. If I do this it’ll be about a 5 or 6cm turn in but the advantage is the edge is selvage so won’t fray. What would you do please. Many thanks Jackie

    SewHelpful:

    Trim both sides to give a 2cm side turn (turn under). Don't worry about fraying.

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