Burlap Curtains {DIY}

I am in the process of reorganizing every aspect of our life {that's what it feels like anyway}...It is hard to believe how you can be perfectly organized in one house, and in another house that same organization doesn't work!! {Can I get an amen?} 

In the meantime, I'm trying to put the finishing touches on our house. While I already have a pretty extensive collection of curtains, this house has very high ceilings and large windows...requiring curtain panels to measure at least 105"!! (cha-ching!) None of my old curtains work...and the new curtains I purchased at IKEA are too short! Yes, IKEA curtains are TOO SHORT! 

So I decided to use burlap for the master bedroom curtains. I purchased 7 1/2 yards...and then tried to get the stink out. 

This is what it took to get the stink out: 

I started by taking the burlap outside and shaking it vigorously. I brought it inside and put it in the bathtub with some warm water. I put it in the washing machine (I was worried because our machine is new!) with a small amount of dawn dish washing detergent---original blue--only about 1 tsp. The washing machine was totally fine, but did have some burlap fibers inside and I did clean out the trap as instructed. THEN, I put the burlap outside and let it sit outside for about 2 days. That's what it took to make the smell go away. Eeek. 

It was worth it!! 

1. To make the panels, I cut the 7 1/2 yards of fabric in half into two loooong pieces. (3 1/4 yards each.)
2. I carefully ironed each panel. 
3. Starting with the long sides, I ironed over a 1/2 inch hem, twice (so the raw edge is tucked in and hidden.)
4. I did not pin. I did not worry if the sides were perfectly straight. I was going for straight-ish. I did use a handy ruler to make sure I was close to 1/2" when I ironed. Once both sides were ironed, I sewed the long sides down with my sewing machine. 
5. I then hemmed the top portion of the curtain panel. I ironed down the top, twice...the same as the sides. Sew across the top. 
6. I hung the curtain panel from curtain clips (at this point only three sides were finished) I did pin across the bottoms of the panels to make sure I had the correct length. I had enough fabric to have approximately 5 inches at the bottom. I ironed down the bottom section and then tucked under the raw edge...then I sewed across the bottom. 

This took about an hour or two, once the fabric was cleaned and not stinky. I did notice some shedding on the blinds, not a huge deal, but might not be ideal if you hate lint or dusting or cleaning...

I had my husband help me hang the curtain rod before I made the curtain panels (so I knew what length I needed.) I had no idea that there are actual rules to hanging curtains. I used the instructions, and watched the video from Pottery Barn and oddly enough using the instructions every screw ended up in a stud! 

Here is the room before the curtains: 

{linked at Love Grows Wild}

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Easy Kitchen Curtain

I'd been looking over the blogs that I follow religiously and one fellow blogger mentioned that she has a stack of vintage napkins she'd been given. It reminded me of one of the easiest (and in my opinion) most genius craft projects I've done....

My mother in law was thinning out her collection, and gave me a huge stack of napkins and table cloths, I used 5 matching napkins to make a kitchen curtain. I simply folded over about 2" of fabric (but you can decide what will work for you) and sewed a simple casing for a tension rod to fit into.

Here is the napkin detail. Simple & sweet. 

So these napkins have new life and are enjoyed every day, as opposed to their previous life in a drawer...

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