Craftside

How to make swag curtain panels from the book The Complete Photo Guide to Window Treatments, 2nd Edition

I always thought you would need a pattern to make swag curtain panels, but you don't! Check out this great tutorial on how to sew swag curtains without a pattern from the book The Complete Photo Guide to Window Treatments, 2nd Edition.

Click on these pages from The Complete Photo Guide to Window Treatments, 2nd Edition to enlarge and read about fabric selection for making swag curtains.

I like how they used little hooks and overlapped the swags!

More about the book:

The Complete Photo Guide to Window Treatments, 2nd Edition

by

Linda Neubauer

This is the most comprehensive book on window treatments available, offering inspiring location photography along with step-by-step instructions for making 50 different projects. Window treatments include several curtain styles, formal draperies, swags, valances, cornices, various Roman shades, and roller shades. Designed for the DIY home sewer, this book is also valued by professional workrooms and trade schools because it teaches professional methods for measuring, sewing, and installing window treatments. Now updated with new photography and the latest window treatment styles, this second edition is a must-have for any DIY home sewer.

Linda Neubauer has edited several DIY and home decorating books, including The Complete Photo Guide to Window Top Treatments, The Complete Photo Guide to Curtains and Draperies, and Windows with Style. She lives in Minneapolis, MN. 

   

Easy Singer Style-Quick and Window Treatments, Just the Way I like them!

Are you itchin' to make some spring changes around your casa?

This new book from CPi:

Quick and Easy Window Treatments
15 Easy-Sew Projects that Build Skills, Too
By
Madlyn Easley

Is just the book you need to get in the redo groove!

It is an easy, get-started guide to creating your own curtains, drapes, and shades.

Easy SINGER Style Quick and Easy Window Treatments teaches readers how to create simple, stylish window treatments for every room in the house. The author provides her own shortcuts and secrets for saving time while achieving professional-quality results. The 15 projects include lined and unlined curtains and drapes; straight, balloon, and shaped valences; and Roman shades--in a variety of casual and elegant fabrics and styles suited to every type of room setting.

This is the fourth book in the Easy SINGER Style series, designed for beginning and brand-new sewers who are looking for quick and easy projects with a fresh, contemporary style. As with the other books in the series, the early chapters present all the basic information the reader needs to get started. Later chapters introduce specific construction techniques--and a choice of several projects showcasing those techniques. Readers gradually build skills as they apply and master what they learn, building confidence as they go.

This book features the same, step-by-step, accessible approach as the other books in the series, in keeping with Singer's reputation for reliable, practical instruction.

About the Author

Madlyn Easley has been professionally designing window treatments for twenty-five years. She and her company, Athena Trading Company, have created products for Country Curtains, Casual Curtains, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Linens & Things, Eddie Bauer, and others. Her work has been featured inside and on the covers of Spiegel, City Curtain, and many other home-furnishing catalogs.

This is my favorite valance in the book:

(Click on images to enlarge)

So grab some hot new (or vintage) fabric and get sewing a fresh new look for Spring!

And in other sewing news... check out what Tanja did inspired by this post about sewing a purse from squares of denim fabric.

Hmmm, denim, belt loops? I think I feel a recycled denim belt loop valance coming on. What do you think?