French doors can also be referred to as French windows. They are perfect for warm summer days that will give your home easy access to your patio. Give it an even more exciting look when you learn how to make French door curtains.
If you are a bit intimidated by the idea of stitching and sewing your own curtains, this is the perfect DIY project to hone those basic sewing skills. Give those French doors a touch of color and added privacy.
You will need to know a few things for this DIY project, including essential sewing machine operation or hand-stitching skills. All you have to do is the measure, cut, and sew the fabric together. You can easily hang your french door curtains using a simple rod pocket.
Step 1: Preparation
Let’s start by gathering our materials. You will need your fabric and thread of choice, some fabric shears, a measuring tape, a sewing machine or needle, an iron, your curtain hardware set, a cordless drill (or regular drill attached to a power extension), and some screws.
Tips when buying fabric: You might want to pre-measure your French doors to help you determine how much fabric you are going to need. The look you want to achieve also plays a significant role. Always consider how full you want your curtains to appear when learning how to make French door curtains or any curtain for that matter.
If you want a standard curtain fullness, simply multiply the window’s actual width by two. For deluxe fullness, multiply by two and a half, and three times for maximum curtain fullness.
The length is easier to determine. Simply measure the height of the rod to the floor and decide where you want the curtain to end. Don’t forget to add extra inches for the hems and rod pocket by measuring your curtain rod’s circumference.
Measuring your window before buying the curtain fabric is crucial since curtain fabric retailers typically sell them in yards. Obviously, fabric bought an inch or two too short won’t give you the result that you are going for.
Step 2: Cutting the fabric
Decide how many curtain panels you are going to use for the French door. For wider designs, you might want four or more panels. In this tutorial, we are going to do a standard double panel French door curtain.
Remember the curtain width measurement we computed for earlier? Divide that value by the number of panels. In this case, we are going to divide the curtain width by two. The result will give us the width of each panel.
Add the one-inch seam allowance on all sides and cut your fabric into two panels. Don’t be stingy with the seam allowances. You can add more if you like. After all, cutting off excess fabric is more manageable than realizing you are an inch too short of the required length.
Step 3: Sewing
Lay your fabric with the patterned side down and double-fold the side and bottom hems. Pin and iron the folds in place to mark the material. It will make the sewing process a lot easier. After pressing the curtain fabric, it’s time to run it under the machine.
Set your sewing machine to longer-length stitches. Start by sewing the side and bottom hems. Work on the top of the panel to make the rod pocket. Fold the raw edges over in a short fold for the short edge and stitch the sides. Fold it over again, creating the rod pocket.
Make sure to measure your rod’s circumference to ensure that you will form a pocket deep enough to let the rod slide through. Try not to make the hole too big or too small. Press over the rod pocket fold and stitch along the curtain width.
Step 4: Installing hardware
Using your drills, drill a hole on the side of the French door where you want your curtains to go. Use a screwdriver to bolt the brackets onto the holes. Hang the drapery rod and adjust your curtains until you achieve your desired look.
Why make French door curtains?
Although a lot of people may love their French doors to look open and inviting, you have to admit that it doesn’t really offer much privacy. Luckily, windows are a rather versatile solution to that small problem.
Curtains also give your wide panels a touch of color and texture while giving your home a sufficient amount of privacy. Keep the inside of your home invisible from public view. On beautiful sunny mornings, you can open your windows and use tiebacks to hold them in place.
For best results, try to invest in full-length curtains instead of shorter ones. Longer curtains that fall to the floor provide maximum coverage and look amazing on your French doors. You might also want to consider the grommet top or tab top curtains for fabric mobility.
Styling tips
There are dozens of ways to style and hang your French door curtains. You can use tiebacks to keep them neat and clean. This style will also expose you to gorgeous-looking French doors from visitors on the inside.
If you are going for an elegant touch, you might want to consider using sheer curtains or layering your draperies. You might need a double bracket and two rods to pull off a fantastic layered curtain look.
Regardless, learning how to make French door curtains is a fun and easy way to challenge your sewing skills. It is beginner-friendly, and you can easily make them even without a sewing machine and advanced stitching materials.