Materials:
2 yards of fabric for each window
4 – 3″ x 40″ strip in a coordinating fabric
pins
sewing machine
coordinating thread
quilting ruler
cutting mat
rotary cutter
1. Cut 4 coordinating stripes of 3″ x 40″ fabric for the ties. Iron each side about 1/4″ under and then iron the strip in half.
2. Sew it together around the edged. I sewed it as close to the edge as possible.
It looks like this when done.
3. I have a 35″ wide window so I cut my fabric 47″ x 63″ because i wanted it to be hung on the outside of my window.
4. Turn the fabric over to the wrong side and then tuck under your fabric 1/2″ and pin on all four sides and then sew fabric down.
5. Pin the top of the shade 2 1/2″ down and pin in place. This will be the pocket for your curtain rod so make sure you leave enough room for the rod to fit in. Sew in place. I actually used the sewing line as my guide and tried to sew on top of that.
6. Now measure 16″ from the top of the shade and cut your shade.
7. Measure 9″ from the side edge and lay the tie down. The edge of the tie should be at 9″ from each side of the shade. With right sides together pin the top of the shade and then one of the ties, then the bottom half of the shade, then the other tie. Pin in place.
Close up view
8. Now pin the rest of the shade with right sides together. It was pretty easy to do with this pattern because I just matched up the stripes. Sew about 3/8″ from the edge.
9. Press the seam flat so it will lay all nice when you hang it.
10. Then I sewed the two edges of the fabric down so it layed flat.
To make one it probably took me about an hour. I do not claim to be a seamstress, but this really is an easy project.
They are nice and bright and perfect for a playroom!
Cost: $35 for the fabric for three windows. I used some leftover blue fabric for the ties that I had laying around. I also already had the thread.