How to Make Pom Pom Drapes

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Ready to have the cutest drapes, ever? These Pom Pom Drapes are guaranteed to create a smile. They make our breakfast area so cheerful. They were made from four tablecloths and were super easy on the budget. Check out how to make your own set of pom pom drapes below.

I've been over in my parents' town a lot lately. Their Walmart seems to have a much better selection of Pioneer Woman goodies than ours. When I ran across these Pioneer Woman aqua buffalo check tablecloths, I went weak in the knees. I knew immediately I wanted to make them into drapery panels for our breakfast room. I loved the drop cloth ones that were in here previously, but the way they puddled on the floor, meant they attracted alllllll the dog hair. All. Of. It. 

So, we were ready for some ch-ch-ch-changes in this space. These bright and cheerful pom pom drapes were just the ticket. 

A couple of weeks ago, I shared my newly-refreshed chalk paint kitchen table and chairs. The day I did the photos for this table, I felt the table looked a bit sad against my previous dog-hair laden, drop cloth window treatments.  I already had everything on hand and had been planning to make these for a bit, it just suddenly became urgent. I'm really happy with how these pom pom drapes came out...that trim is probably my favorite part.

How to Make Pom Pom Drapes

The below tutorial will work for any drapery fabric or tablecloths, you don't have to stick to The Pioneer Woman's brand. I'm just a big fan of her patterns and prints (can she come out with a fabric line, already?). 

The tablecloths themselves were fairly thin for drapes, so I lined them with white tablecloths that were the same dimensions. My home has standard eight-foot ceilings, so I normally buy 96" drapes to have the floor-to-ceiling look. The 102" tablecloths are perfect since they allow for hemming. No matter what height your ceilings are at, there are probably tablecloth dimensions that will work for you.

Supplies for Pom Pom Drapes

This tutorial makes two panels.

• two printed tablecloths (for your main, "showing" side of your drapes)
• I grabbed the ones in today's post at Walmart. But, I found some super similar ones here on Amazon in a variety of colors.
• I purchased mine in 60"x102", based on my ceiling height.
• two white tablecloths to line your drapes 
• purchase these in the exact same dimensions as your printed tablecloths
• I grabbed these exact ones here on Amazon for my Pom Pom Drapes.
• pom pom trim (I used the larger 5/8" poms, be sure to watch your measurements on these if ordering online)
• The amount of trim you purchase will depend on the length of your drapes. Since I like 96" drapes, I made sure I had at least 192" of pom pom trim.
• You can grab the same red pom pom trim I did here on Amazon (they have several color options).
• sewing items:
• rotary cutter (you can certainly use fabric scissors, if you prefer, but a rotary cutter is so efficient)
• Grab the same Fiskars Rotary Cutter I use here on Amazon.
• straight pins (I prefer pins over clips on drapery sewing)
• coordinating thread for your drapes
• quilting ruler (optional, but helpful)
• cutting mat (optional, but helpful)
• sewing machine
• other items to hang your drapes:
• curtain rod (see how we make our own plumbing pipe curtain rods: we've made five of these for our home...they're the best for spanning larger areas and not having a bowing rod)
• clip-on drapery rings
• I use these for every set of drapes in our home. We don't have many blinds in our home and our drapes are actually functioning ones. We open them morning and night, so they get a workout. I space mine out every 5-6" on the tops of my curtains 
• You can grab the same style of drapery rings we use here on Amazon.

Sewing Your Pom Pom Drapes

Be sure to wash, dry, and iron all of your tablecloths before sewing. This is super important to avoid shrinkage after your pretty panels are already sewn.

• Trim the bottoms of all four tablecloths to achieve your desired lengths. As I mentioned above, I like traditional 96" panels (and again, my tablecloths were 60" x120" to begin with). I allowed for a 1/2" seam allowance. If you decide to make these, just trim according to your own ceiling height.
• Since the width of each of your tablecloths is equal, no trimming is needed there.
• I created the below diagram to show you the manner in which these pom pom drapes are sewn together.

I was chatting with my cousin-in-law, Mindy, about the best way to line these pom pom drapes. Mindy has a lot more sewing experience than I do, so I was super happy she could explain it to me. The trick here was to leave the bottom "open" or not sewn shut (unlike the other three sides that do get sewn shut). It allows the drapes to hang nicely and makes these easier to sew. I did this exact same sewing technique on my reversible drapes in our bedroom.

• Cut your pom pom trim to the length of each panel. I only used the trim on the inside "opening" of my curtain panels, so it would be seen well when the curtains are open. You can totally trim out both sides, if you prefer.
• You'll put your tablecloth's right sides together and have the pom pom trim in between the tablecloths on one of the long sides of the tablecloths. (facing inward...it will be bumpy and kind of a pain to hold/piece together, but you can do it!). 
• Pin everything in place (as pictured above). Make sure you catch your pom pom trim, as it can easily slide away from the edge. If I can see the edging of the trim, than I'm good to pin it.
• Be sure to pin your other two sides of your panels together, as well (remember, we're only sewing three sides of these drapery panels together).

• Sew the "sandwich" of tablecloth-pom pom trim-tablecloth together with just a basic stitch. I started with this side of each panel since it was the thickest and somewhat trickiest. 
• Then sew up the top and other side of the panel (it's still all inside out at this point). Remember to keep your bottom open with no sewing. 
• Then repeat everything on the other panel, moving your trim on to the opposite side. 
• Once you've sewn all three sides on each panel, turn it right side out and press. Try to get a crisp press on that pom pom side so those pom poms really "pop" out!

If you'd like to take your pom pom drapes a step further, you can add a blind hem stitch to the bottom hem. You'll need to add it to your front patterned piece on each of the panels before you sandwich and pin and sew the drapes. It's a more professional way to finish off the bottom of your drapery panels. See how I create a blind hem stitch in the video below.

The lining has truly made all the difference in the world here. Our bedroom is on the opposite end of the sunroom. Even with our bedroom drapes closed and the breakfast room drapes closed at night...I could still see shadows from the small lamp I leave on in the kitchen at night. Lining these drapes has prevented a multitude of issues, altogether. I feel like they keep the breakfast room cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, as well.

More Pom Pom Projects

• My DIY Vintage Pom Pom Pillow is one of my faves. It uses a vintage Joan Kessler fabric and the same red pom poms I used on my drapes.
• I also created an envelope-style pom pom pillow for my velvet blue couch. The bright orange pom poms are the perfect pop against the blue.
• And my No-Sew Pom Pom Pillow has the cutest jumbo-sized yarn pom poms attached to each corner. 
• These DIY Pom Pom Curtains from Oh Joy! have the pom poms all over the surface of the panels. They're seriously adorable.
• I also love this Pom Pom Shower Curtain created by Momtastic. It's so preppy and fun! 
• Take your bathroom hand towels over the top by sewing a cute pom pom trim on the bottom like Decor Hint did here. 

I think the drapes work really well with my table and chairs, too! Tablecloths for the win, y'all...in one hasty afternoon.