Sewing Patterns

Simple and Elegant Window Treatments Classes

Whether you are an experienced sewer or have little experience with a sewing machine, you can create a wide variety of beautiful window treatment options. Sewing window treatments is a fun way to express your creativity and add elegance to your home. Moreover, for those who don’t like to sew, you can even create no sewing window treatments!

Sewing window treatments

Before choosing a drape or curtain sewing patterns for window treatments, you need to find a look fits your design tastes and sewing abilities. The type of window you’ll be working with is also a primary factor. A sewing pattern for a traditional rectangular window will not work always work for an arched or sunburst window, for example. On the other hand, you can adapt sewing patterns for window treatments to fit a variety of window types.

Using an arched window example, if the window is tall, you could use a basic sewing pattern for rectangular drapes. Depending on the look you want, you could hang a treatment horizontally from the point where the arch begins, leaving the arch section untreated. This is an easy solution for those wanting simple sewing patterns for window treatments. It is also a nice option to allow additional daylight, or to display specialty glasswork used in the arch.

Another option is to use window treatments to hide the arch. If, for example, you have one or two arched windows and a variety of rectangular windows, you may prefer sewing window treatments to create continuity among all your windows. On the other hand, you may not like the arch design and wish to downplay it. Either way, you can move the treatment to the top of the arch, using side ties or a valance addition to mask the arch. Again, for those not as comfortable with their sewing skills, this allows you to easily dress the window using a simple sewing pattern.

Window treatments: no sewing

There are a number of options available to create no-sew window treatments as well, and these, too can be applied to specialty windows such as arched or sunburst.

Some of the easiest tools available for window treatments, no sewing involved, are drapery clips. These simple tools hang on a drapery rod and have clips with which you can easily attach your material. Drapery clips are available in a wide range of styles and colors, so it’s very likely you can find some to match your style.

When using no-sew techniques, consider taking the time to secure the edges of the treatment material with iron-on or stick-on edging. This can be found in the notions section of any material supplier, and just as it sounds, you simply open the edging, tuck the edge of the material inside, and fold the edging over the sides and iron or press. Simple! This eliminates the worry of your fabric unraveling. Choose an edging of a similar weight to your fabric.

Other options for no sewing window treatments include using strips of fabric or ribbons and tying the fabric to the curtain rod, or if you’re feeling more adventurous, using a hole-punching tool. Most craft stores carry tools to punch holes in fabric, after which you can add a grommet. Grommets are metal rings, which secure the edges of the cut fabric in place. All you need are the grommets, and a rubber mallet.

You then use a tabletop holder to keep the grommet in place while you pound the pieces together with the mallet. (Hand operated machines are also available at a higher cost.) Be sure to practice on some scraps of the material you’ll be using to get the feel for the process before working on the actual window treatment.

How to Dress an Arch Window

Arched windows are beautiful additions to any home, but may leave you wondering the best way to add design. The window’s height, location, and your decorating taste are all factors in how you decide to treat the window. As mentioned, a simple and effective way to decorate these windows is to use a sewing pattern for arched window treatments designed for traditional, rectangular windows. This is an easy, elegant way to approach an arched window.

Make drapes for arched window

Sewing patterns for arched window treatments are also available for use on arched curtain or drapery rods, so you may want to consider this option. Keep in mind that these designs are often stationary, meaning that, because of the angle, you need to use side ties to open the curtains for arched windows, rather than opening them along the rod. Experiment with different fabrics and colors. This option creates a nice decorative effect alone or in addition to the options mentioned above.

Similarly, consider using the wide range of sconces, scarf, and tieback holders available to add decorative flair. A few holders placed around the window offer simple and easy tools from which to hang a number of draper options, whether you opt for a draped valance effect, or hang separate pieces of fabric from each holder for a linear effect. The options are many!

Sunburst and Palladium Windows

Sunbursts, or palladium windows, are attractive ways to allow additional light into a room. (These are the half-arched windows you often see over doorways or above another window.) However, there may be times when you want to reduce the light or simply dress up the room a bit.

Palladium window treatment patterns can vary from treatments that work within the window frame to a more traditional hanging approach. As with arched windows, a straight hanging option can work, although this hides the beauty of the sunburst window, particularly when the window incorporated etched or other decorative glass set-ins. Get creative with your window treatment pattern and hanging methods.

As with arched windows, using a variety of scarf and tieback holders is a simple way to hang a sunburst window treatment. You can create a fanned look using fabric for sewing palladium window treatments, for example. This also provides you much more flexibility in color and texture options than if you purchase a specialty-made blinds for arched or palladium windows . If you dislike sewing, consider using a no-sew pattern, or experiment with different materials, such as branches, fake flowers, vines, and other nature-inspired materials. Smaller windows, such as sunburst windows, are a great way to use alternative decorating materials.

Taking a class

If you’re shy about sewing, or simply want additional ideas, consider taking a sewing class or one specifically designed for window treatments. An Iowa sewing window treatments class, or something similar, is a wonderful way to meet like-minded people, learn new tricks, and find inspiration. Classes are also great ways to find new sewing window treatment patterns.