How to sew tie-top curtains

These easy-to-make curtains are designed with tie tops for easy fitting to a curtain pole - simply tie in place.

You will need

• Main fabric (we used Urban, ref L8857-03, col Amethyst, £55 a metre, Larsen at Colefax and Fowler)
• Contrast fabric for ties
• Tacking thread
• Matching thread

1) For the length of your curtains,
measure from your curtain pole down to the point at which you want the
bottom of your curtains to hang and make a note of the measurement. For
the width of each curtain, decide how full you want the curtain to be:
usually around one to one-and-a-half times the length of the curtain
pole. Again, make a note of the measurement.

2) For each
curtain, add 10cm to the width measurement for hems; and 17cm to the
length for hems and seams. Cut out your two curtains to these
measurements, joining pieces and pattern matching if necessary.

3)Cut a 15cm facing in main fabric to fit the width of each cut curtain.
For the ties, cut 30cm by 7cm strips in contrast fabric. The ties will
be 2cm wide when finished and you will need to cut enough to fit across
the top of each curtain when spaced around 10cm apart.

4)Right sides facing and matching raw edges, fold the ties in half
lengthways. Stitch along one short end and along the long edge taking a
1.5cm seam, leaving the remaining short end open. Trim seam allowance,
clip corners and turn through. Press the tie, also pressing under the
raw edges. Slip stitch the opening closed and press. Fold each tie in
half, this time across the width, and press again (see illustration).

Illustration Michael A Hill

5) Turn under 2cm then 3cm along each side edge each curtain. Pin and press. Slip stitch or top stitch the hems in place. Remove pins. Repeat to hem the side edges of the facing strips.

6)Turn the top raw edge of the curtain under by 2cm and press. Lay the
curtain out, wrong side up. Place a folded tie flush with each side edge
of the curtain so that the folds of the ties lie 1cm below the top
folded edge and the ends of the ties hang free above the curtain. Place
the remaining ties, equally spaced between the two end ties (see
illustration). Pin then tack in place. Remove all pins.

7)On the facings turn under the top and bottom raw edges by 2cm and press.
Wrong sides facing and matching the folded top and hemmed side edges,
pin the facing in place on the back of the curtain. Tack all round,
working through the ties as you stitch. Remove pins.

8) Top
stitch the facing 5mm from the edges all round, tucking in any
protruding raw edges and securing the ties in place as you go. Remove
tacking and press.

9) Turn under 5cm then 10cm along the
bottom edges of the curtains and pin in place. Using the ties, hang the
curtains in place at your window. Check the hems and adjust if
necessary. Remove from window and slip stitch the hems and side edges of
the hems in place. Press and hang your curtains.

Illustration Michael A Hill