DIY Striped Curtains Tutorial

I really wanted striped curtains in Oldest's Star Wars room. Really, really.

In my head that is what went best with all the bedding, the gray, black, and navy blue color scheme, and of course our favorite villain Darth Vader.

However, with all the room redo-ing lately, I didn't want to spend a lot of money and time. So I came up with a cheap, creative way to make my own striped curtains for his room. These curtains took about a day to make and cost me less than $20. A-whoo-hoo.

Since they turned out so well, and because they were easy and affordable I decided to share with you guys how to make your own.

DIY Striped Curtains

What you need:

1 flat sheet-mine came from The Mart and were SUPER cheap

1 pkg of 84" length curtain panels-again they came from The Mart

coordinating thread

rotary cuter

The first thing that needs to be done is to prepare the curtains and the sheet to cut the strips from them. I laid out each lengthwise and folded them in half (hot dog style...yeah I am technical like that) and ironed.

First I cut out strips of the sheet. I cut out 5- 8 1/2"x 30" pieces for each panel. That made 10 total.

The bottom strip will need to be bigger since you will have to hem the bottom. So I cut out 2- 12 1/2" x 30" pieces out of the navy for the bottom strip.

Next I started with the curtain. Start with the top and cut off 7 1/2". Keep this strip. All of the curtains strips you will use will be cut at 7 1/2 ". I cut one strip at a time because the curtain material was a little temperamental.

Take the first cut curtain strip and lay right side up. Lay one of the 8 1/2" strips from the sheet with right sides facing. Pin at the raw edges. There will be excess on each outside edge.

Sew with 1/4" seam to attach the strips. Iron seam when done. Then open and press stripes again.

Here it gets a little tricky, but next you want to cut off a 8 1/2" strip of the curtain and just throw it out...you won't be using it. Then cut a another 7 1/2" strip. Pin that strip to the sheet strip, right sides facing. Sew again a 1/4" seam along the raw edges.

Repeat pressing.

Repeat this pattern until just after the last 8 1/2" sheet strip is sewn on.

When you get to the bottom of the curtain, you will forgo the last 8 1/2" discard cut of the curtain and just cut another 7 1/2" strip to use. Then discard the bit of the bottom of the curtain.

Sew on the last curtain strip like before. Then sew on the 12 1/2" strip of sheet to the last curtain strip.

All the strips should be sewn together. Whew...a lot of work. Almost done.

Hem the bottom by first ironing a 1/2" from the bottom. Then fold to 4" hem and stitch hem in place. Hemming the bottom should achieve the last 8 inch strip.

The last step is to fix the overhang of each sheet strip to match the side hem of the original curtain. Can you notice the extra special treat in the photo below???

Okay, back to finishing the curtain. Fold in the excess once and iron. Then fold again to match the curtains original seam.

Then sew the side hem in place. Repeat with both sides of each strip.

Then repeat the whole sewing process with the other panel.

After that you can hang those beauties up and admire your hard work.

I am super happy with how they look in the room. Nothing better than a DIY set of curtains...and these look super polished because of the pretty-precise ( I wouldn't dare say uber-precise) stripes.

Now I just need to add all the stuff on the walls. Imagine it with me.

Until I get all the pictures/posters up, I will just stand back and admire my DIY striped curtains. Woohoo! Ehem...sorry I still get excited about them.

Hopes this helps you guys with all your striped curtain dreams...I mean I assume, like me, you have had them.

Linking up:
Ta-Da Tuesdays: Mommy by Day, Crafter by Night
Share Your Awesomeness: The 36th Avenue

Canvas and Fabric Decorating-Baby's Room

8 weeks until our newest Little Man should make his debut. That might seem like a long time...believe me there are days/minutes/seconds where I feel that. THEN I start looking at my legen....wait for it...dary to-do list and I realize 8 weeks is not  that long.

This week I got a couple things accomplished for his new room. I painted canvases and made embroidery hoops cute by  adding coordinating fabric.

Both of these projects were super easy and fairly fast.

Of course once I found all the fabric, the planning could begin. I was so happy when I finally went to a store here in town that was rumored to sell home fabric...you know the kind on the giant rolls...for super cheap.

Jackpot!

Can you just imagine, home fabric for anywhere from 4.99-9.99 a yard? Say what? Yeah it is true.

Isn't it all so lovely.

This is the curtain material. I got 6 yards of this cute print for just over 30 bucks. Again, I must say it...

JACKPOT!

The curtain material is where I started coordinating all the other fabric.

Some of the fabric is going in hoops. I am adding more sizes of hoops to these soon.

This is one of my favorite fabrics and is inspiring the accessories of white elephants.

I also decided to use my handy dandy, always in stock, canvases to make some more wall art.

I simply gathered my canvases and taped off the edges with painters tape.

I picked out some coordinating craft paint.

I painted my canvases with 2 coats. Then I removed the painters tape.

Next I used white vinyl and my Silhouette and cut out a chevron pattern for one. The first letter of new baby's name for another...

and then of course a white elephant on the biggest canvas.

I LOVE the colors together.

I am getting so excited. Middle and Littlest's room is all done. Oldest's is SO close. Newest's room is on its way.

This room is going to be so sweet and hopefully ready just in time for our sweet new Little Man.

A Darth Vader Pillow

I know this is my second post on Oldest's Star Wars theme room...I could promise you it will be the last...but uh...that would be false. Hehehe...I am having some fun with this room. I giggled with glee when I finished the Yoda Stay Calm sign, and then I clapped like a little girl when I finished this oh-so-scary Darth Vader throw pillow.

There has been a lot of Star Wars talk around our house lately. My pile of Star Wars themed stuff and ideas is growing. You wanna know what else is growing (no not my belly, I think I have exhausted those jokes for the last couple of days...although it is true)? My Oldest Little Man's excitement for his new room.

exhibit A--pile of stuff 

Oldest waited pretty patiently while I finished his Darth Vader pillow.

He waited while I traced an outline on freezer paper. He waited while I painstakingly cut out Vader's face from black felt. He waited while I slowly sewed on the completed helmet to the pillow front. He waited while I sewed the simple envelope enclosure pillow together.

Then when he got home from school...the completed pillow was waiting front and center for him to see.

Yes, the force is strong with this pillow. It was quite the hit.

You know where else the force is strong?

With our own Littlest Vader.

If you haven't already guessed...the rest of us are the rebels...at least I am sure according to him.

Okay on to another day of room painting...wish me luck!

Thanks for reading everyone!

Linking up here:
Craftomaniac Monday at Craftomaniac
Take-a-Look Tuesdays at Sugar Bee Crafts
Ta-Da Tuesdays at Mommy by Day, Crafter by Night
Show and Tell Wednesdays at Blue Cricket Design

A Pinteresting Saturday: Yoda Says

Welcome to another A Pinteresting Saturday! 

Okay first things first...we have a winner of the Seed & Sky giveaway...

Our lucky winner is #3 Alayna

Who said, 

"I think the leaf earrings in sterling silver are my favorite."

Congrats! Email me your contact information and I 

will get you in contact with Kelcey!

Okay, so back to this edition of A Pinteresting Saturday...this is my project for the week...I might be in love with it!

I am in the middle of a room decorating marathon over here. Nesting has officially settled in and my to-do list is HUGE...just like my belly.

At the top of my list is Oldest's room. His new room has a little bit of a Stars Wars Theme. I have been pinning ideas for a little bit now and I fell in love with this poster the minute I saw it. I immediately made plans to recreate it.

pinned here

I pulled out one of my handy dandy flat canvases from my craft closet. I taped off the edges and slapped two coats of navy blue paint on it. Then I used my favorite crafting toy...my Silhouette...and I cut out the shape of Yoda's head and the lettering out of vinyl. After that, all I had to do was try my hardest to get it on straight...which is a little difficult when you are a just-make-it-straight-by-eyeballing-it kind of gal like me.

I pulled it off pretty well.

I love the little Yoda silhouette. To get the Yoda head, I simply did a google search for Yoda silhouette in the images. Once I found one I liked, I imported the image into my Silhouette program. Once the image was in the program, I could use the machine to cut out the shape...have I mentioned I love this machine yet?

The font I used was BEBAS.

My other favorite part of this sign...well the wise after thought of Yoda at the end..."yes, hmmmm". My kids kept repeating that all day.

Another project done! Whew! I can't wait to add this sign to my other projects for Oldest's room.

Have a marvelous Saturday friends!!! What pinterest project is on your list this week?

Linking here:

Show and Tell Saturday: Be Different, Act Normal
Share Your Awesomeness: The 36th Avenue

Pillowcases

Remember the fabric I showed you the other day...you know the fabric that went along with the mile long project list for getting Middle and Littlest's room done?

Well I decided to make new pillowcases to update the several year old bedding. I used Dana's tutorial and only altered it a little by adding in the strip between the main part of the pillowcase and the top strip.

This project was easy, fun, and fast!

And now I am one step closer to getting this room done! That makes one happy Momma.

Added bonus, the pillows also make for some happy Little Men.

Have a great day everyone! Thanks for reading!!