No Sew Drop Cloth Script Curtain Panel Tutorial
I wanted something different for our sitting room and the new DIY curtain rod. I love the idea of drop cloth curtains…affordable ($25 for a 9×12 drop cloth).
9×12 drop cloth for three 4′ panels
Sharpie Permanent Marker
I spread the drop cloth out on the dining room table.
I wanted 3 panels. My floor to ceiling height in the sitting room is 7 1/2 foot. I drew up a plan:
I made marks 18 inches (minus 1 1/2 feet) in from the bottom hem (laying out my drop cloth with 9 ft. being the height and 12 ft. being the length). The cut panels are the exact height from floor to ceiling (we’ll worry about exact correct length later…as long as they’re a little longer than needed, it’s all good.
*Tip: The drop cloth will be larger than table (if you have floor space to spread out – that’s great). Otherwise, working from one end, hold up fabric overlapping edge, measure and mark.
I cut from mark to mark. I heard using pinking sheers helps eliminate unraveling (myth as shown below).
*Tip: Large drop cloth is difficult to work with. Pull fabric towards you as you cut.
Next I cut 3 panels out of the 12 feet at 4 feet each. However: I don’t think the manufacturer thought anyone would actually measure a drop cloth, so I had two 48″ pieces and one 42″ piece. (Which is okay – these are decorative and it was okay for my middle curtain to be off a little…but take this into account if it matters for you!!!)
I did not hem cut edges – I like the frayed edge. Left curtain panel has an outer hem by manufacturer, inside is frayed. Middle has two frayed edges. Right panel is reverse of left with an outer hem, inner frayed. Top hem is sewn by the manufacturer.
I washed the panels on the hand wash cycle and dried on low.
As you can see, pinking sheers did not make a difference with fraying…
Unless this is decreased fraying?! |
I pulled or cut away the strings. I like the frayed look once the tangled mess was gone.
Next I ironed the panels, using a high temp and steam.
I laid each panel out on the floor and using a yard stick, I made LIGHT pencil lines every six inches starting from the top.
I chose Robert Frost poems. They’re mostly nature related and short. I selected poems that were around 12 lines long. (Panels have 14 pencil lines: Poem title, poem and author’s name = 14 lines too! Perfect!)
Using a Sharpie, I just started copying and writing out the poems…judging/eyeballing whether I needed to write smaller or bigger or insert a symbol to make the lines fit on a line. Sometimes I went over and darkened certain words by tracing again with my Sharpie.)
I didn’t like the “B” at the beginning of one of my poems, so I made a patch of left over drop cloth and this is the only part I sewed – but I patched right over the ugly “B”. You might call it imperfection but I call it character. 🙂
When finished, I hung the curtains using curtain clips.
For the bottom hem, with the curtain hanging, push the bottom fabric to where the floor meets the wall. Draw a pencil line in that corner. Cut along the line with pinking sheers.
All done. Custom. Affordable and I love the look!!! How about you?
Let’s see what you’ve been up to!
1. You must use the button above (ADD BUTTON HTML CODE FROM SIDE BAR TO YOUR POST) and link to this post to share the linky love. You post must be recent, shared at one DIY Project Parade only (not continuously) and be DIY related.
2.Include your name or blog name and project title. Add your permalink (not your blog url, but your DIY project post url). Feel free to link a Past Post, just invite your readers in a current post with a quick note.
3.Or email your link to thediyshowoff@gmail.com and I will add it for you.
4.If you notice your link has disappeared -please add the link back to The DIY Show Off to your post today, a button or a quick note to your readers about the party and try again! I love when everyone participates and readers check out everyone’s links, but I think the return favor of linking back is the nice thing to do so everyone plays fair and enjoys all of the projects and links. Also – this blog party is for DIY projects only. Links not related to DIY will be deleted. Please share your link one week only.
5. If reading this in an email, pop over to http://thediyshowoff.blogspot.com to see the inspiring DIY projects linked up!
6. If you have a Holiday link to share, feel free to link up to here too!
7. NOW you can “like” the links! What a fun idea! Most liked links may be included in a post of DIY Project Parade highlights later in the week.
8. Visit a few other links to make some new friends, get some creative ideas and feel free to leave me a comment. I’m likely sitting here on the computer and could use a happy distraction!
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I was one of the bloggers selected by True Value to work on the DIY Squad. I have been compensated for my time commitment to the program as well as my writing about my experience. I have also been compensated for the materials needed for my DIY project. However, my opinions are entirely my own and I have not been paid to publish positive comments.
Sharing here this week:
It looks great, I love it:-)
Thanks for hosting, hugs Biljana
First time here, thanks for hosting! 🙂
The final before and after is really great. When a I see a photo like that it really demonstrates how much fabric panels can add to a room. My husband thinks that a blind or a shade/shutter is sufficient, but that last photo shows how these (special) panels take everything up a notch. Great DIY.
Very pretty curtains. Thanks for all the inspiration throughout the year.
Great tute! I LOVE drop cloths made into anything and everything! When I read you "pinked" I was disappointed, cause I like frayed. 🙂 Happy that they did fray. lol
you did a fabulous job writing! Ohh how I would be scared to try that. I start out writing okay, but the more I write, the messier I get!
again, great tute, so happy you shared this with us!
gail
i love those curtains! they look gorgeous!
COOLEST idea! Love it – wouldn't it be cool is someone did it and made it look like the subway art on the curtain. Thanks for sharing!
Sista — you are amazing! This is such a great idea! I think I will make a script drop cloth table cloth for our annual home school Valentine's Day party. There will be six of the sweetest, smartest middle school girls and I know they will LOVE it. Thank you very much for sharing!
Hi, Roeshel
These are amazing! I can't believe you used dropped cloth and a sharpie and you wrote everything out free hand. I will have to give these a try. Thank you for sharing. Happy New Year's.
Vanessa
The drapery looks GREAT!
I am in love with those curtains but my handwriting is awful, I could never do it! Yours looks incredible, I really love the look. Thanks for hostessing the party too!
Mary
This is SUCH a smart, cute idea! You are awesome!
Hope you had a terrific holiday!!!
Erin
So beautiful! I have been curious about how to do this. Thank you for sharing!
I hate to admit that this scared me, but once I saw the pics, I completely changed my mind! Only you could make this work! It's lovely!
Your window treatments look amazing. Such a great idea! Thanks for hosting!
Nothing should surprise me with you, girl! That is so freaking awesome! Seriously!! I know I would not have the patience to write all of that out. I would love to have a pair myself. I’ve seen them and just sighed…sigh. lol I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and hope you don’t mind I linked up my Stunned Faces party. It’s technically DIY because I took the photos myself. 😉 I’m so excited you took the leap into wordpress! The site is beautiful! 🙂
Pingback: DIY Project Parade ~ DIY Pipe Curtain Rod Tutorial | DIY Show Off
These are beautiful, something right out of the pages of a PB catalog! Thank you for linking up, they will be featured tomorrow. Looking forward to all the projects you have in store for 2012. Thanks for being such an inspiration to us all!
Happy New year!
XO
Kristin
Great job, Roeshel! I love these! I have drop cloths on my list for the new year to use as panels in my sunroom {7 windows ~ stationery panels}. It seems the least expensive way to go. I wondered about using pinking shears, but you’ve saved me some time in that.
How did I miss this?? I’ve been waiting for it!! Really, beautiful work. Love everything about them. Can you make some for me now, please? I really hate my handwriting! 🙂
I can’t wait to share these with my daughter who just bought a house that needs some work!
Awesome! Sheet music on them would also be very decorative. Great idea!
Perfect idea for my bedroom and perfect timing. I’m making them ASAP…one question … did the panels shrink when you washed them? And did you fray the bottom after pinking? Wait, that’s two questions! Thanks so much.
Thank you so much for the turorial. I followed it and made curtains for my living room. I am totally in love with them. We bought our home two years ago and I had not made a decision about window treatments until I saw this. Instead of writing poems, I used our wedding vows. You are right–I don’t think any one really measures drop clothes. I ended up with one 4ft panel and two 3ft 7 in panels. Mine also have seams running through them, but I think it adds character. Thanks again!
That’s awesome, Angelia! Thank you for letting me know! (It feels so good to know I’ve helped someone!) I’d LOVE to see them – let me know if you blog about it. And I popped over to see you today. You have had a rough year. I admire your strength and faith (the little guy is precious!). Thoughts and prayers coming your way and wishing you an amazing 2012! 😉
http://ameliorationofang.blogspot.com/2012/03/projects-and-pictures.html 🙂
Great job, Angelia! I love that you used your wedding vows! What a sweet idea! Great post with so much to see! 🙂 Thank you so much for sharing!
I just LOVE these! Saw them on your tomato cage tree post and had to pop over to see how you made these. I am so making these – will they go in my bedroom or living room? Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Pingback: DIY Tomato Cage Christmas Tree tutorialDIY Show Off ™ – DIY Decorating and Home Improvement Blog
Pingback: DIY Show Off Holiday Home Tour 2012DIY Show Off ™ – DIY Decorating and Home Improvement Blog
This is brilliant. I love the script on the drop cloth my only problem is I am was too critical of my own handwriting but if I can figure out a way to use someone elses writing I will do this. I have drop cloth panels on my bedroom french doors and I am adding them to the other windows later this month. Ironing them was a bugger because of their size.
I have never understood the pinking shears either, it just frays little pieces.
Traci
Just wanted to make everyone that would like to tackle this project aware that you can get 4ft x 15ft canvas drop cloths from Big Lots for $10. They have a bigger size there as well for $20, but I don’t remember the exact measurement. Super cute idea, by the way! 🙂
Thanks for the info, Les!
No problem! 🙂
This is exactly what I needed: affordable, natural fabric with inspiring words for new living room curtains. Thanks for sharing!
Very cool! I love the idea of cutting these in half…I used them in my dining room and was planning to buy more but now I don’t have too! I am going to play copy cat and do this for my office. Great job!
Super cute! I think I will add this one to my list!
I LOVE these curtains! I made a set for one of my windows but my writing was unevenly spaced due to my own impatience haha. I will be making four more of these panels so I will get lots of practice- thank you for the great idea!!
I love them too, Kristin – so easy, so inexpensive compared to buying curtain panels. I’ve had them a couple of years now and I don’t think I’ll ever grow tired of them!
great job!
Awesome tutorial! I was wondering about the drop cloths- were there seams running down the middle of them? We got the same size from Home Depot and there was a seam running horizontal which was undesirable for our planned 10ft curtains lol.
Hi Ruth! Yes! There was a seam running down one of mine. I just worked with it, it added to the character. But you could probably return it for another. Also – be sure to measure. It seemed to me that measurements were not exact…probably because who would really question an inch off here or there? Wash first to shrink too before cutting/measuring since they’ll shrink a little. Good luck!
Is that your handwriting or did you get your font inspiration elsewhere? I love it!
Thanks Crystal! That’s just my handwriting. 🙂
LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS! Oh my goodness, I just used a dropcloth to make a sunshade over my patio and I love the material, it never occurred to me to use it indoors for curtains! The poem looks beautiful. Pinking sheers are amazing, even if the fraying was still a thing.
Thank you for sharing <3
This is a great idea! I’m closing on a home soon and can’t wait to try this with one of my own poems. Thanks for this diy!!
I love these DIY curtians! Can you tell me where you got the rods? Thanks!
Thanks, Mel! The curtain rods are a DIY project too! Here’s the link to what I did: https://diyshowoff.com/2011/12/31/diy-project-parade-diy-pipe-curtain-rod-tutorial/
Did the cloth stay in place while you wrote on it? I tried writing in fabric once to make a grandmother’s apron and it kept bunching up, etc. I needed lots of weights to hold it down and hands to hold it still.
I may have had a few heavy books on hand to help but since drop cloth is a bit thicker, I don’t really recall sliding around being an issue. Hope that helps, Polly!
I know this is an old post but I love this! Your curtains look so elegant! Great idea!
Thank you so much, Susan! That makes my day! xo
Thank you, Susan!!! xo
Beautiful curtains! I was wondering if you can wash them as usual though?
Yes. I washed them beforehand too. Heat will cause shrinking! Hang to dry. <--- my experience. Good luck!
Just curious if you have washed these curtains and if the writing stayed without bleeding?
Hi Suzanne, Yes. (Hand wash, cold, hang to dry) and no bleeding.
What a wonderful idea! I’m thinking about using this idea to cover the windows in my storage house/she shed. It used to be an auto mechanic’s shop and has former sky lights as windows in the side and back of it. Goodbye canvas shower curtain and rod!