How To Make Curtains With Blackout Lining

 8 Step Tutorial – How To Make Curtains With Blackout Lining

I’ve made ALL the curtains in my house. Curtains are expensive and sometimes not even that great. Especially curtains with blackout lining. I find the ones you buy in the stores are not really dark enough to block the light.How to make curtains with blackout lining

Generally, curtains are pretty easy to make. In a nutshell, all you need to do is stitch up four sides. And just so you know, I’m not a seamstress by any means! In fact, I’ve always disliked sewing. I never wanted to learn and it has always frustrated me. So if I can do this,you can do this! It may look complicated but trust me, it’s easy.

How to make curtains with blackout lining

Because I really don’t know how to sew {I can just sew straight lines!}, I made up this tutorial so there might be a more efficient way of doing it, I don’t know. I also don’t know the technical terms for anything so bear with me.

Before we begin, let me just add that blackout lined curtains are a MUST for any child’s room. My kids won’t sleep if there is light streaming through at 5 am and that means I don’t sleep! I’ve bought many different types of blackout curtains over the years and I find that they are just not dark or heavy enough. You have to buy the actual blackout fabric from a fabric store, the kind that is heavy, the kind that hotels use!!

Okay, so let’s begin!

SUPPLIES

  1. Fabric or flat sheets {floral sheets I got at Home Sense / linen fabric from here}
  2. Blackout lining {I bought mine from Fabric.com}
  3. Sewing machine
  4. Tape measure
  5. Iron and ironing board
  6. Fabric scissors
  7. Pins

TUTORIAL

 STEP 1

{Make sure your curtain rod is already hung on the wall} To find the length, measure from the curtain rod height down to the floor. Add an extra foot.

How to make curtains with blackout lining

STEP 2

To find the width of one curtain panel, measure the width of your window frame then double it {or you can use 1 1/2 times the width of your window frame}.

For example, if your window width is 50 inches wide, the width of your curtain panel will be 100 inches wide. Since you are making two curtain panels for each window, each panel will need to be 100 inches wide.

How to make curtains with blackout lining

CLICK HERE FOR STEP 3-8

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67 Comments

  4. Thanks for this great tutorial–my adult daughter actually gets up in the morning and goes to bed in her guest room because the light comes thru her curtains so strong. I will share this with her!

    Reply

  6. Love this tutorial. I tried to do a DIY curtain tutorial, but yours is better! I wanted to pin this, but don’t see a Pin Option? Thanks for linking up with PinIt! Tuesday. I am a new follower now!

    Reply

  7. What a great tutorial! I might try adding this to my curtains in the bedroom; it’s way to bright!
    I’m visiting today from Savvy Southern Style. I co-host a Linky Party Tuesday (open thru Sat) and I’d love for you to link up! I hope you get a chance to stop by, link up and leave a comment, too!
    ~ Megin of VMG206
    Join me each Tuesday for Brag About It Link Up Party

    Reply

  8. I need to do this! I keep putting it off because I love the sheer curtains/girly roller blinds in my daughter’s room, but she keeps waking up too early. Thanks for showing a cute option for blackout curtains!

    Reply

  10. What beautiful sheets! Love that print. This is a great tutorial on making your own lined shades. Thanks for sharing at Silver Pennies Sundays! x

    Reply

  14. What a great tutorial!!! I am definitely pinning this and sharing it. I can’t make curtains, but now I really think I can, and want some just like those grey linen ones you made. You don’t feel like making some more do you? Featuring at my party tomorrow too. Starts at 1:00 PST. Thanks!

    Reply

  15. Fantastic tutorial and the drapes look wonderful!! Thanks for linking up at Feathered Nest Friday!

    Reply

    1. Hi Kristen,
      No, you don’t have to worry about sewing the blackout lining into the bottom hem. I did it once with the first set of curtains I made. It seemed to bunch a lot at the bottom. As long as they are stitched into the sides and top, it will just hang nicely with the weight. Good luck! Thanks so much for stopping by.
      Hugs,
      Jamie

      Reply

  17. These look lovely, thank you so much for sharing! I’ve pinned your tutorial for future reference as I’m sure it’ll come in handy at some point.
    I’ve come over from the Le Chateau Des Fleurs linky party 🙂

    xo

    Reply

    1. Thanks Donna! I know it’s hard to find sources out sometimes so I wanted to include it 😉
      Thanks so much for your comment!
      Hugs,
      Jamie

      Reply

  22. Love this! I’m going to be installing curtains in our rental (um, after 5+ years) using Command hooks and rods. (I waited this long because I didn’t want to drill!). Question about the width of the panels. You mentioned that for a 50″ window, you would measure out 100″ width of fabric. And since there will be two panes, that EACH needed to be 100″. Does that mean 200″ total width? Thanks!

    Reply

    1. Hi Adrienne,
      That’s such a good idea about using Command hooks! Yes! You figured it out correctly. I know, it’s a bit confusing. Basically for one panel you double with the width of your window or if you don’t have enough fabric you can always do one and a half.
      Thanks so much stopping by 😉
      Hugs,
      Jamie

      Reply

  24. Hi, Enjoyed the article and just about to do some curtains, but I am considering the benefits of stitching the blackout material into the curtain. I prefer the look of a single curtain, but doesn’t it make cleaning difficult as the blackout material cannot be machine washed?
    Thanks, Al

    Reply

    1. Hi Al, thanks for your comment! I don’t think blackout fabric is meant to be washed so you’re right, if you’re wanting to wash your curtains it’s best to not stitch them into your curtains. I usually dust and/or vacuum the curtains every now and then. I like the look of a single curtain too 😉
      Thanks for stopping by!
      Jamie

      Reply

  25. Hi! I loved your tutorial that I’m willing to try this; novice sewer here! I’m hoping to receive some guidance with the size of your flat sheets that you used for the nursery? I’m going to attempt to make these blackout curtains out of vintage sheets but keep hesitating since I’m unsure the best size? Would full size suffice? Two twin flats? Or queen flats cut in half vertically? Your feedback is greatly appreciated!

    Reply

    1. Hi Cecelia,
      I used a queen size sheet set and had a lot left over so I’m sure two flat sheets would work great depending on the size of your window. If you need to use a fitted sheet, you can always cut off the elastic part.
      Good luck!
      Jamie

      Reply

  26. Thanks so much for the instructions! I’ve never done this before, and I can’t sew either lol. I’m starting first on the window on my front door, but using magnetic curtain rods. I’m excited to start on all (emphasis added lol) of my windows! I’m pinning this!

    Reply

  27. This is exactly what I have been looking for to make our curtains for 3/4 of the windows on our bottom floor and two rooms on out top floor! Thanks so much for sharing! I will definitely link back when I get them done and the room tour up on my blog!

    Reply

  29. I love the color of these curtains! Your link to the fabric goes to the oatmeal color. Is that the same color you used?

    Reply

    1. Yes, that’s the same fabric I used, Jessica. I love it. I missed your comment, sorry it took literally months to get back to you. Good luck!
      Hugs, Jamie

      Reply

  30. great tutorial! how dark do they make the room? I work night shift as a nurse and only found blackout curtains that aren’t the best looking and don’t block out that much light.

    Thanks!

    Reply

  31. I have some drapery panels that are made out of a cream linen. I used blackout lining and now have black coming through in the pinhole/ stitch. Does anyone have a solution for this? Please help!

    Reply

    1. Hi Lisa,
      Do you have black coming through because the lining is black? The blackout lining I bought was white on both sides.
      Let me know and I’ll see if I can help.
      Thanks, Jamie

      Reply

  32. Actually I am looking for a post on how to buy blackout curtains and I have landed on this page at the right time.

    I am already on my way to a nearby curtain shop.
    Thanks for the same.

    Reply

  36. It’s amazing that you can have curtains that block out light really well. It would be great for me to get something like that! It would be so nice to be able to block out the light in my room.

    Reply

  38. Curtains are expensive and especially curtains with blackout lining. Finding the curtains that do not block the light. After reading this, I can say that curtains are pretty easy to make..

    Reply

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