When curtains appear too long, try sewing a hem, which can allow you to shorten curtains without cutting curtains to length so you can retain the fabric if you want to. Another way of shortening curtains is to incorporate a folded design with buttons as fasteners. Folding the curtain hem up creates a double hem.
While the curtains are still hanging, fold the bottom of the curtains under to the desired length. Use the stick pins to hold, to keep it folded and in place. Bring the curtain bottom up to the ironing board and iron a crease on the new fold. Cut off excess curtain a couple of inches past the fold and remove the pins.
Shorten the Bottom
Avoid cutting by folding up the bottom to the desired curtain length and pressing it with a hot iron to create a crisp edge. Pin the fold in place with safety pins through the excess material and into the curtain liner, as you would with the top of a rod pocket curtain.
To trim your sheers, hang them up at the window to get the desired length. While the sheers are hanging, trim the excess fabric, leaving an extra inch for turning under. Alternately, hang them, mark the desired length with straight pins or chalk, and remove the curtains.
Cut Your Curtains
Once you have measured your new hem and pinned it out, cut off the excess curtain using fabric scissors by following the pinned line.
Place the tape at the bottom of the curtain with the glue side against the wrong side of the fabric. Iron, then remove the protective paper. Turn down the fabric at the desired hem length and iron again. Turn down the fabric at the desired hem length and iron.
If necessary, use sewing pins to hold the hem in place. Tuck the sides of the lining into the hem, if necessary. If your curtain has a lining, cut your lining down to the width of your curtain, then tuck the raw edges into the hem. Consider using iron-on hem tape to fuse the hem to the curtain.
Standard floor-length curtains should have a three to four-inch hem, plus another three to four inches for the double fold. Your curtains should then be six to eight inches longer than where you place your pins.
If your drapes have polyester content, don't turn your iron up too hot or you'll melt your fabric! And that's it! Your no-sew hem is complete. This is a simple way to hem your drapes without a sewing machine and in no time at all.
There are two great ways to attach fabric without sewing: fabric glue or a fusible bonding tape like Dritz Stitch Witchery. If you have a sewing machine, sewing is often still the fastest and most reliable method for many projects, but fabric glue or Stitch Witchery are great alternatives.
The Rolled Hem Foot, sometimes also known as the narrow hem foot, is used to sew a very narrow hem. The foot folds the raw edge of your fabric under before it passes under the needle. For garment, home decor or any type of sewing, the rolled hem foot provides a professional looking finish.
In my opinion, hemming curtains with a sewing machine is a fool-proof way to shorten curtains that are too long – it's just as easy as any of the no-sew methods! If you are going to shorten your curtains, you might as well hem them once and not have to bother with them again!
What is a pin hem for? Pin hems are used for garment hemming such as skirt hems and light scarves, which are made from delicate, thin, light fabrics. The pin hem is very thin and is a discreate hem, which is finished with one line of stitching a few mls from the edge of the fabric.