Breaking it down, curtains on the cheap

Via Centsational Girl

After a little research, I found that this patterned fabric also comes in other colors, namely gold.  I thought it was so beautiful and hip and the perfect fabric addition to the new dinning room.  The price tag for this perfect fabric though, not so perfect. I did the math and the fabric for two 94″ panels would be around $180. Ouch! While beautiful, I couldn’t swing that price tag.

I remembered seeing ready-made curtains that had been stenciled with great designs, but I couldn’t find the right length inexpensively and locally.  So I decided to use the cheapest, long length of fabric popular with blogging DIYers- drop cloths!

I copied the style of curtains I had hanging here previously, a back tab panel.  I used strips of leftover drop cloth material to sew on the tabs, spaced almost exactly like the old panels.

I lined them with white twin flat sheets, thanks to a fabulous tip by Miss Mustard Seed.  Flat sheets can be purchased at Wal-Mart for only $5.00 a piece!

The drop cloths were purchased at a newly opened Big Lots for $10 a piece.  I believe the size I used was 4 x 10. Unlike the wider size, there are no seams in the middle and fairly nice edges.  I even had plenty of extra material at the bottom to use for other projects.

I could have bleached them, but after hearing the horror stories from my friend Dana who ended up with blotchy unbleached spots, I decided against that idea. (An important side note here, Dana says the Wal-Mart drop cloths are inferior quality to the Big Lots versions.  Just today, she had to have a plumber come and dig out all the strings that were stuck in her washing machine drain! Yucky and expensive.)

I have also had good luck with ones from Home Depot.  I used those for outdoor curtains on our pergola this summer and they have held up well, even after several washings.

I ordered the stencil from Cutting Edge Stencils. They are a little expensive in my opinion, but the quality really warrants the price.  I could justify the cost as well because I plan on using the stencil again in the powder room just off the kitchen.

 

Here are the curtains again in the room.

It is with my sincerest gratitude that I dedicate this post to my dear friend Dana.  She is constantly fielding my “what if” questions and politely listens to all my “grand” ideas. This room would not be what it is today with out her support and encouragement. She’s the best!