measuring for curtains

[oldfashionSAHM]

 yes the other post reminded me i still have to do this or buy them.

if i go to make them how would i measure to find out how much material i need. i've been thinking about making them all they was to the floor if not that far then half way between the bottom of the window to the floor. 

i know the price depends on the material but would making black out curtains be cheaper them buying them. or would it be more of just getting more of what i want.

[fostermommyof3]

 Black out fabric is usually fairly inexpensive at the fabric store, however curtains made with a black out lining are generally pricey.  To measure, for a little bit of gather on the curtains, you measure the window, and buy fabric 1 1/2 times the width of the window, and for fuller, more gathering, you buy 2 times the width of the curtain.  for the length, you just make sure you buy them the length you want, making sure you allow for the bottom hem, and the top part, where the curtain rod goes, and the hem...I usually allow like 9-12 inches... you can always trim them up, but when they're too short theres not much you can do :)

[COGMOMJen]

also pay attention to the grain and pattern.  If you have stripes on the material make sure you measure so the stripes go up and down, if it's a print, it may need to go across and have seams (blech, not a good choice)...    If you don't want to buy blackout material, just look for a heavy material to line it with.  I just got some satin type material at a yard sale, REALLY cheap (like 15 yds for $3) and it would work for black out too. 

[oldfashionSAHM]

 yeah i need black out or extreamly heavy draps on the front window. the back windows don't have to be. but all the heat comes in the front windows. i would actually like a removable that would work on the front. because then i could take it off in the winter and the the sun warm the living room.

[fostermommyof3]

 You could just make the black out fabric totally seperate, and use 2 different cutrain rods for them.  Black out fabric is 5.99 a yard at my Joann's.  And it is DARK!  They also often have 40% off coupons to make them even more reasonable.  I think the fabric itself might be more expensive, but then you could just buy inexpensive, regular, curtain panels, then make the black out curtains.

[eema.gray]

"Cheap" depends on where you go.  :-)  You can buy a basic black out curtain at Wal Mart for about $10.  Speaking with the experience of someone who has made 8 sets of curtains in the past year, you'll spend about that much *A YARD* for black out material.

I measure the hight and width of the window in question, then add 12 inches to the height (for a pocket at the top and 8 or so inches length below the window) and about 4 inches to the width.  That gives me a size for the nice fabric.  The blackout fabric, I use the exact measurements of the window.

So then I lay out the nice fabric on the floor, right side down, and the blackout material over it (it comes in either black or white at the store I go to).  I fold the nice material over the blackout with the raw edges tucked under.  A pocket at the top to slide a curtain rod through - I do that last, after folding and stitching the other three sides - which for me is the easiest way to make curtains.  You can make loops and other types of tops but the pocket is very simple and quick so that's what I always do.

My windows are "double-wide's," 58 inches wide.  I use about four yards of 60 inch wide material to make two panals for one window.  Doing this kind of a curtain WILL cost a lot more than Wal Mart or Target.  The up side, though, is that you get fabric that's exactly what you want for that room.  I've made two sets of curtains for each of my windows because our summers are VERY hot and winters, while not terribly cold, are very windy.  So during the winter, I hang heavyweight fabrics with black blackout material that will soak up the sun and release it back into the room during the night.  Summertime, I put up lightweight, light colored curtains with white blackout material that helps reflect some of the sunlight away from our windows.

I don't have pics on this computer but I'll post some later of different sets I've made.  :-)

[domestichippie]

curtains are usally cheaper to make. I made the curtains for our whole house the livinroom took 13 yds for floor to ceiling curtas they are very dark but a lightweight material I got at walmart for a $1 a yard.