{No-Sew} Faux Roman Shade

Exactly one year ago today, I posted a Simple, No-Sew Valance from a Tablecloth. I'm finally getting around to using the rest of the tablecloth fabric to make another easy, no-sew window treatment.  

Total coincidence!

The window has been 'undressed' since we took down the scalloped piece of wood that connected the two sets of cabinets here (that was back in December 2011, boy I really take my time on these projects, don't I?)

I didn't want to lose much of the natural light that we get and I didn't need the treatment to close or go up and down so this faux Roman shade was perfect.  There are many tutorials on Pinterest for making these, I used this one as my guide.

{Materials needed:}

Fabric-1 yard or so depending on your window size (my piece was probably smaller)

Stitch Witchery (the stuff of sorcerers or lazy seamstresses like me)

3 small tension rods that fit your window

Fabric scissors

Pins (optional)

Tomato Stakes (or wooden dowels) What??? I'll get to them. (optional)

Iron

First I ironed the fabric then laid it out on the kitchen table (it was much longer than the window but I wanted to make sure I liked the look of the pleated shade.)

 I pinned pleats to see how they looked and held it up to the window.

I liked!

 After measuring the distance between the windows, I cut the fabric about an inch longer than the length(I would deal with that later).  I made a channel for the curtain rod by flipping the top of the fabric over and securing with Stitch Witchery.  For more information on using Stitch Witchery, you can read this post or this one.

I put the fabric up on the first tension rod that was pushed up as high as it would go toward the ceiling.

 I installed the other two tension rods below the first one and pulled the fabric through each one to make a pleat. I pinned it again to see how it looked.  I measured one more time then made a hem with Stitch Witchery on the right hand side (where the fabric was unfinished). 

*Since this used to be a table cloth, I had two sides that were already finished, otherwise you'd have to hem all sides).*

 If I'd had more fabric, it would have been a little easier and I could have made bigger pleats but I was ok with the smaller pleats because I didn't want the shade to be too long.  After a little adjusting of the rods and the fabric I was done.

To weigh down the pleats and help keep them in place, I added tomato stakes.  I thought they'd show through the fabric but the don't.  I already had them on hand so that saved me a trip (and money) to the store to buy wooden dowels.

Here are the two No-Sew window treatments side by side. I like that they're not exactly the same but are the same fabric.  

I only had to buy the tension rods for this project so it came in under $18.

Not bad for a former Target tablecloth bought on clearance!

Linking up with:

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Simple No-Sew Valance from a Tablecloth

The tablecloth didn't stand a chance.

{in it's previous life as a tablecloth}

I bought it last year (on clearance from Target) for my daughter's Grey & Yellow 18th Birthday Party with the intention of making it into a kitchen window treatment at some time.  

I finally worked up the nerve to cut it in half and draped it over a tension rod in our bay window.  This was around Thanksgiving when I was working on hemming the dining room curtains from Ikea and that was enough no-sew hemming for the time being. 

We lived with the straight(ish) valance and I loved the fabric against the kitchen paint color. 

I didn't like the rough edge of the fabric that I'd see whenever I was out in the hot tub looking into the kitchen so I knew I had to finish it off or I just wouldn't be able to relax (ha!).

I brought in my trusty friend.

The ironing board came downstairs and I got to work.  There's nothing like an ironing board in the kitchen to motivate you.

I made a smooth hem of the rough edge by ironing it down and then folding it over and hemming with the iron on tape.

I pinned down the edges to form a rod pocket with safety pins

and hung it back up on the rod (you can see it gaping a little on the edges, I'll get to that later).

This ribbon was from Joanne Fabrics.   It's not an exact match but it works.

I wrapped the ribbon around the fabric on the pole and pulled it up to a small gather then pinned it with a safety pin. I stepped back to see if this was the look I was going for, then trimmed the ribbon.

I did the same thing with the other side.  I didn't like how the edges of the valance were puckering so I took it down and ironed the 'rod pocket' down, then added a few hand stitches to hold it in place.  

(So I lied, there's a little sewing....)

I also tightened up the tension rod and repinned the ribbons. I will probably tack them with a few stitches eventually as well.  I still have the other half of the tablecloth and I'm thinking of doing another window treatment with it over the kitchen sink...that might take another year though.

Linking up with:

Catch a Glimpse

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Inspired Tuesday

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Lil' Luna 

Creative Corner

Spring Fling @ House of Smiths

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Say G'day Saturday

Create & Inspire

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No-Sew Hemming Ikea Curtains

Remember when we got these new curtains a few weeks ago from Ikea?

They started out looking like this (even after two hot washes and dryings).

Since they didn't shrink at all enough I had to hem them (darn).

Here's what I needed to hem them:

Iron & Ironing board

Measuring Tape

Straight Pins

Chalk

 Heavy Duty Fusible Tape

Yard Stick 

Courage

 I put the curtains on their rods and decided where I wanted them to hit the floor.  I put a few straight pins in the panel where I wanted the hem line to be and measured the distance to the bottom of the panel.

Then I popped it up onto the ironing board and flipped it over to the back side of the fabric. I transferred the measurement to the back of the fabric with chalk and the yard stick.

Instead of making one deep hem (or cutting any of the fabric in case I messed up), I ironed the fabric up to the line, making a straight edged fold.  Then I unfolded it and doubled it up so the hem was about 4 1/2 inches total (just doubled up in thickness).

I used the chalk and yard stick for measuring and marking on the back side of the fabric.

The fusible tape made it easy to hem the curtains. I made an initial hem with half of the fabric then folded it up again for the finished hem and closed off the ends. I think it looks neater when they are fused shut.

I repeated the process with the other panels.  There were a few tears and curses along the way but I'm fairly happy with how they turned out.

In fact, I love them!

Linking up with:
Thursday Favorite Things
Sunday Showcase
Tuesday To-Do
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
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Dining Room Curtains...Finally!

My naked windows finally are decent!

Meet the Lappljung's...

from Sweden.

We haven't had curtains in there since we took down the sheers last March.

We went from this...

(an old picture of the sheers)

To this...the valances were there from the previous owner's of the house and not my style.

I loved having more natural light in there after the sheers came down.

 I wasn't sure what kind of window treatments I wanted and most of the curtains that I did like were going to set me back at least $200 a window (ouch!)

Until I found these beauties at Ikea.

They were only $14.99/pair and the bold red print caught my eye.

I really like them against the chocolate brown walls.

I did have to hem them but I used iron on tape so no sewing was involved.

I found simple, inexpensive ORB (oil rubbed bronze) rods at Target, which is just what I wanted.

  Since I also wanted the curtains to stay as wide open as possible, I used drapery rings with clips on them (also from Target).

I think they freshen up the room and give it a more modern feel.

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