Quick & Easy, No-Sew Cafe Curtains

WARNING: If you're an avid sewer, do not read this post. You'll shriek in horror at the things I do to fabric. And you'll shake your finger at my flippant measuring, cutting and method for creating a window treatment. And you'll probably go away thinking I really need a clue. So, if you're of the needles, bobbins, threading sort...I still want you to like me, so don't read this. Okay? Okay.

Where we began...I had these valances that I attached with my granny's old door knobs. I liked it for about a month. And then I just thought it looked kind of sloppy and was constantly apologizing for it.

And I'm pleased to say that it now looks like this! 

{I still need something up top...maybe a cornice, or just a piece of art or something.}

The closed version. 

I started by hanging my hardware (I was actually kind of proud of myself...I didn't need the hub's help!)

One tip we always end up needing...always close your drains when working with hardware around your sink...you can see why! ;)

I determined from the size of my window that I wanted a little less than 24 inches in length. To cut my fabric, I laid it out on my tile floor (my tiles are 12", so this works for me). I can let my scissors stay in the grout groove to stay on track. This is how I always measure fabric. It's weird, but it works for me. 

After the large piece was cut, I simply folded it in half and cut it in two. 

These will be your two panels.

Use one of the panels and decide where you want to "hem" your fabric to give you the size you're after. 

(It's all super technical... not.)

Grab your trusty hot glue gun. And throw down the glue that will hold your "hem" together. And try not to think too terribly of me for treating fabric this way. A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do. 

--

My mom is probably reading this and gathering up her sewing machine to head my way...in complete horror. God bless her...it's not for her lack of trying that I don't sew. She sent me to sewing classes and camps when I was growing up. The best thing I turned out was a heinous bathrobe and about three dozen scrunchies to match every outfit I owned (it was the eighties...and scrunchies were about all I cared about fabric wise). I did buy a sewing machine when I graduated from college. I had high hopes of becoming an amazing seamstress. I never even turned the thing on before trading it with a friend for a Pack N Play, five years later during my first pregnancy.

 The trick is to make it look like you didn't just hot glue your curtains (I mean really, what proper woman would take hot glue to curtains?) One way to fake this is to get a crisp, clean corner. Watch for overlaps and thoroughly glue it down under each fold.

 

Once you've "hemmed" three sides, stop.

Go ahead and hang it on your clips to see where you'd like the bottom to be hemmed. You won't need all the clips right now...just enough to get a good idea of where you're at.

Pin a few pins to mark the length. Remove the piece from the clips.

Cut off your excess fabric and create the hem with your hot glue. 

Duplicate this panel with the other piece of fabric. (I lay mine on top of each other to create a template).

Once you're done, hang them up! 

Be sure to look for stray glue strings...those are a dead give-away of your folly, friend.  

I went ahead and removed my blinds (much to my husband's dismay). I loathe cleaning them and now the windows were sufficiently covered for privacy.

Again, I'm still looking for the perfect thing for the top of the window...but it will get there! I'm just glad to finally be working on the kitchen again. Now if Ikea could just get in their butcher block countertops, I could start on my island revision!  

Partying Here: A Crafty Soiree, Catch a Glimpse Thursday, Commercial Break Thursday, Get Your Brag On!, Haute Stuff Thursday, Hookin’ Up With House of Hepworths, Show Off Your Stuff Party, Frogs & Snails & Puppy Dog Tails, Pin’Inspirational Thursdays, Show-It-Off Thursdays, Strut-Your-Stuff, Sweet Treats Link Party, Taking a Timeout, Thematic Thursday, Thingamajig Thursday, Thrifty Thursday, Thrilling Thursday, Transformation Thursday, Polkadots On Parade, Lollipop Cards, JAQS Studio, Let Birdz Fly, My Girlish Whims, thethriftyhome, Transformation Thursdays, Somewhat simple, Show off your stuff, House of Hepworths, Delightful Order, My Simple Home Life, The Frugal Girls, Thrifty Thursday, Dare to Share (Pam’s Party Planning & Practical Tips), Dwell on Fridays (Dwell on Joy), Fancy This Fridays (Truly Lovely), Fantabulous Friday (Katie@Little Becky Homecky), Fantabulous Friday (Momma’s Kinda Crafty), Fat Camp Friday (Miranda@Mangoes and Chutney), Feature Yourself Friday (Rachelle@Fingerprints on the Fridge), Flaunt it Friday (Kate@Chic On A Shoestring), For the Kids Friday (Rachel@Sun Scholars), 4 Real Friday (Jessica@Mom 4 Real), Free For All (Hannah@Young & Crafty), Free For All Party (Marni@Sassy Sites), Friday Favorites (Jerri@Simply Sweet Home), Friday Favorites with Inspiring Creations (Lindsey@Inspiring Creations), Friday Favs (Amy@Naptime Crafters), Friday Flair (WhipperBerry), Friday Frolic (Karen@Pocket Full of Pink), Friday Fun Finds (kojoDesigns), Friday Link Party (Tasha@Creation Corner), Friday Potluck (Erin@EKat’s Kitchen), Frugal Friday (Wendy@The Shabby Nest), Frugalicious Friday (Jane@Finding Fabulous), Fun for Kids Friday (Local Fun for Kids & Smile Monsters), Fun Stuff Fridays (Toys In The Dryer), Funky Fresh Friday (April@Kool Beenz), Home and Family Friday (Becca@Home is Where My Story Begins), I’m Lovin’ It (Cheryl@Tidy Mom), Inspiration Friday (At the Picket Fence), It’s a Hodgepodge Friday (It’s a Hodgepodge Life), Kitchen Fun & Crafty Friday (Jill@Kitchen Fun With My 3 Sons), Linky Party (Beth@Living Life Intentionally), Look at Me, I’m So Crafty! (Stacey@Fun to Craft), My Favorite Things (Stay At Home Nation), Pity Party (Mique@Thirty Handmade Days), Refresh Your Nest Friday (Carrie@Making Lemonade), Shine On Fridays (One Artsy Mama), Show and Share Day (Chris@Just a Girl), Show and Tell (Chrissy@For Mamas), Show and Tell Friday (Cindy@My Romantic Home),T.G.I.F. Linky Party (Tracy@Craft Junkie Too), Tickled Pink (Holly@504 Main), VIP Party (Sommer@Designer Garden)Freckled Laundry, Tatertots & Jello, Serenity Now, Lolly Jane, One Artsy Mama, Six Sisters, CRAFT, The Southern Institute, The Sweet Talk Shop, More Bang for your Bucks, Lady Behind the Curtain, Answer is Chocolate, The Sweet Talk Shop (with Lisa), Dwell on Joy, Creative Me at the Southern Institute