DIY Curtains: How to Make Curtains Without a Sewing Machine

I know I surely cannot be the only one who longs to be a DIY queen, but lacks the sewing machine skills/is too lazy to just lug that 10 pound thing out of storage. For years I've been trying to figure out how to make things without using a sewing machine! Luckily I discovered HEM TAPE, a double stick tape that bods with heat! I'm hemming all of the things. Dresses, pants, Jonathan's shorts as a prank etc. 

Since we've moved into the new house AND we're on a bit of a budget we've been DIY-ing a lot around these parts. I decided to make little curtains for our kitchen, and apparently ain't nobody got time to sew a bunch of rectangles and shiiiii......So I decided to put my new best friend, hem tape, to good use! Read on to find out how to make curtains without using a sewing machine! 

1. Gather your materials.
You'll need fabric, scissors, a tension rod, an iron, hem tape and a tape measure. I suggest fabric that doesn't have much elasticity or stretch. It's a lot easier to get things all even with less slinky/stretchy material which can sometimes be hard to measure exactly. As far as hem tape goes, you can get it at any craft store. I got mine at Joanne's Fabrics, or you can order it online here. Tension rods you can order here OR grab at your local hardware store

2. Measure your windows and cut your fabric.
You're going to need to measure the inside of your window frame for these curtains because they are suspended by a tension rod which fits snugly inside the frame. After that, measure your fabric and double the width of the frame. If your window width is 30 inches, your fabric should be 60 inches wide. As far as length, I typically cut about 6 inches over the exact length of the window. My window length was 28 inches, so I cut the fabric 34 inches long. Once you have your panel all cut, fold it over length wise and cut it right down the center. Now you have two panels for one window!

3. Make hems for the sides of your panels. 
Place a strip of hem tape along the edge of the back of your panel length-wise.  Hem tape is like double stick tape, so once it's on your fabric, peel of the paper off to reveal the other sticky side. Now, fold over the edge of the fabric with the hem tape directly onto the rest of your panel so it sticks. Once it's folded over, press firmly along the folded fabric with a hot iron. Hold the iron 10-15 seconds on each section of hem tape to ensure a good stick. Repeat 3 more times on all the length-wise edges of your panels. (If you're nervous about ruining your fabric with a hot iron, you can place a towel between the iron and your fabric. My fabric was super thick and linen-y, so I didn't need to do this even with my iron on the highest setting. It's always a good idea to test on a scrap piece of fabric). 

4. Create a place for your tension rod. 
Once you have your edges hemmed you can begin creating the loop for your tension rod. The photo has me ironing the the loop for the tension rod without the side hem! This is a mistake I learned from in the midst of the project! Do your side seams first and place the hem tape over that side seam when creating the space for your tension rod! Again, put the hem tape along the edge of the fabric, except across the top of your panel this time. Instead of folding it directly over onto itself like you did for the side hems, fold the fabric 1 and 1/2 inches over so it sticks and iron slowly along the top of your hem taped fabric. Once you're done with this step you should have a space to put your tension rod....but don't do it yet! Repeat this step on your second panel.

5. Create a bottom seam. 
See a pattern developing?! To be precise, lay your tape measure length-wise along your hemmed panel. What ever the length of your window is, run your hem tape horizontally across the bottom of your panel directly at that measurement (you will have an excess of fabric, but it's okay... we'll deal with that next). So again, fold the fabric directly on itself and iron...just like your side hems, except this time you will have a bit of extra fabric beyond the seam you created. Repeat this step on your second panel.

6. Cut excess fabric.
Cut whatever fabric you have left from your bottom hems. You might say this step can be avoided by measuring properly, adding and subtracting, but I prefer to do as little math as possible so there you have it. If you're the measuring type, by all means go for it and skip this step! At this point if you want to thread a needle and hand stitch a few stitches to reinforce your seams, go for it. It can't hurt, and certainly doesn't require the know-how of a sewing machine. If not, that's fine too.

7. Build your treatment.
place your tension rod in your window frame to get the width right. The width of a tension rod can usually be adjusted by a small screw that comes with the rod or you can simply screw and unscrew the tension rod itself to adjust its width. To get it snug, put the rod in the frame a bit diagonally and sort of shove it into the frame until it is perpendicular. once you've got the width, remove the naked tension rod from the window and slide the 2 panels onto it. Easy as pie.

8. Place your treatment in your window frame, step back, gaze at your creation, and bask in the glory of your amazing home-making prowess. 



I said tension rod too much in this post.
TENSION ROD.

why do I suddenly want a hot dog?

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10 Tips for Revamping Your Wardrobe on A Budget

Broke or on a budget and a new season upon you? I feel you, and I'm here for you, girlfreeeen. There are ways to give your closet a makeover even you don't have the money to shop.  Here's some tips to revamp your wardrobe when your wallet is looking a little frail.

1. Have a friend re-style your closet. 
When you've been looking at the same clothes everyday it's easy to get stuck in a rut. Closet full of clothes and nothing to wear, classic conundrum. Have a friend come over and re imagine your wardrobe! How would he/she style that maxi skirt you've been pairing with crop tops again and again? Have a glass of wine and style some looks out! Take pics to get inspired when your sartorial bubbles are getting flat.

2. Clean out your closet and uncover hidden treasures.
Wait..what? Get rid of stuff when you can't replenish the goods!? Yes! When you gut your closet, you're guaranteed to come across pieces you may have forgotten about. Get inspired by some older pieces you haven't worn in a while that may have gotten lost in the shuffle. You're on a budget what else do you have to do?!

3. Trade the old for the new. 
After you've cleaned out you closet you'll have loads of stuff you don't want anymore, right? Take your duds to Buffalo Exchange, Wasteland, or Crossroads Trading Co. They'll give you cash or store credit for you old threads. You can get a few new pieces or a fist full of cash! Your garbage as a form of currency!! Who knew!?

4. Don't underestimate the power of thrift stores. 
I'm a firm believer in shopping at thrift stores year round, but I know some of you aren't. If you're on a budget, however, you might not have a choice. To make it easier on yourself, keep certain pieces from your closet in mind, and find them mates! If you're not an experienced thrift shopper and you get overwhelmed, ask a pal who is to tag along and help you out. For more tips on thrift shopping look these ten tips for thrifting.

5. Host a clothing swap.
Any excuse to throw a party, right? Get a group of friends together and have everyone bring items they have expired or don't wear anymore. Drink wine and barter your faces off! (I know this is my second tip telling you to drink wine with your friends, but you're broke...no one's judging you).

6. DIY till you dye!
You can completely transform old rags into riches with scissors, dye or thread and needle. Even if you're DIY challenged, simple tricks can totally change the vibe of a piece. Hack off the sleeves of an old sweat shirt, fringe the bottom of a tee, or cut off and embellish some old jeans! You can get some inspiration on my Pinterest board if ya'd like!

7. Closet Crash!!!
Got a mom, dad, brother, boyfriend, or even better: a grandma? Kindly ask their permission to borrow and/or have some items. "Daddy, can I haz white button up?" (It will look totes amaaaaze with skinny jeans). Channel Stevie Nicks with your mama's burnout scarf. And what better way to spend an afternoon than bonding with Nana, talking about her old clothes and costume jewelry?! (And asking for some hand-me-downs).

8. Use gift cards.
If you have to get some retail therapy and you're going to spend the money anyway, buy gift cards at Giftcardgranny.com for cheaper than their actual value. You've saved the money before you even stepped foot in the store! What's more: promise yourself you won't spend more than what's on the gift card when you shop.

9. Channel the transforming power of accessories. 
Accessories are often cheaper than actual clothing. Spruce up a bag with a scarf like this. You can build an entire look around a reasonably priced statement necklace like this one.

10. Think outside the box
Try out styles you haven't before. Tights with shorts? Underwear as outwear!!! Don't be afraid to mix and match things you haven't before. Set aside some time for trial and error when trying out new styles to avoid frustration.

Pesky Skeeters

Hop on over to the Yeah Vintage Blog and check out these bad ass DIY Mosquito Repellant Lanterns!! Kendall's a country gal now and this is one of my favorite DIY's from her blog so far!

Calendar Year

It's been far too long since I've posted. So here's a doozy. (And by doozy, I don't mean long and boring, I mean scandalous)! My holiday season was pretty swell. Tons of lounging and eating just like most of you. I watched The Help and cried about 9 times, made Shepard's Pie for the first time, shot a few Christmas Photos for a few families, and totally scored sweet presents on Christmas. 

The most hilarious task I took on this season, however, was my Christmas gift to Jonathan. 

A vintage inspired pinup calendar.....of me. It was pretty hard to take myself seriously when shooting these, but hopefully it added to the playfulness of it. Really, you should shouldn't see the out takes. 

It was a lot of work putting it all together, but the calendar ended up pretty damn cute for a first try. Very special thanks to Brenna, and Kandi for their surprisingly lofty collections of hats, hot pants and heels.  And also to Haley and Liz for shooting. So, here are a few of the edited shots...of course these are not the most revealing, ya know...cause that's none of your damn business!!!

but you get the idea. 

 I did the calendar for Jonathan, but it was a bit for me too. Turns out walking around with victory rolls and red lips with M.I.A. blaring in sequin hot pants or dressed like a cowgirl kiiiiiiiinda makes you feel like a badass. There was lots of winking and "oh! you surprised me" faces...and there was even a sailor girl with a salute for July. 

I did my own hair and makeup which was time consuming, but easy with the help of some very adorable Rockabilly/Psychobilly girls on youtube. Those chicks are pros at looking perfect all the time. 

If any of you ladies are considering a boudoir or a pinup shoot for yourself or your significant other,  I highly recommend it.

 I am simultaneously bashful and proud of these...because I'm not wearing enough clothes to be posting this shit, but I worked so hard in post on these. Seeing as I usually just stick to your basic color adjusting, zit removing and a little clone stamping trash out of lovely landscapes....this was quite a task for me. I mainly used the magnetic lasso and the shadows and highlights setting to give them have a little bit of an aged look. Plus a yellowish color layer with a low opacity.  

In short, he loved all twelve months. 

Hope you're sticking to your resolutions!

A

Western Ware (and the unveiling of horseface)

I know. Corduroys and a long sleeve denim shirt....We're still experiencing very hight temps, 

but this is what I wear to work. You see, I work in subzero temperatures at JCP HQ. 

Working in the styling room from 9-5 often actually gives me a runny nose. So...that explains it. 

I don't wear much make-up. Every now and then I'll bust out with some eyeshadow

for special ocasions. Thankfully I found a red lipstick that works with my 

fair skin tone and very neutral makeup stylings. I also found that during the day just piling 

on red lipstick requires a lot of upkeep, so I figured out a way to make it look more like a stain.

It's less of a hassle. I just dab it on and blend it with my finger then apply clear gloss and blot. 

Easy as pie.

(Maybelline Moisture Extreme in Royal Red...discontinued whhaaa whaaa)

My new thing=doubling up rings. The tri-stud ring on the left is from F21, and on the right

are my Nana's diamonds. The turquoise necklace is hers too. After she passed I had lots of bags of 

her jewelry to look through. A lot of Rhinestones, (She was a diamonds and champagne type of lady)

so imagine my surprise when I found a whole set of sterling and turquoise Southwestern craftings. 

I like to imagine her taking a road trip with my Poppy from Tampa to New Mexico in the 60's 

and purchasing this from some old Navajo. She would've thought it was so novelty. 

She probably wore it while it was in fashion, and tucked it away for me to find

whilst sitting on my parents driveway at a garage sale 3 weeks after she passed.  

Hey look !!! I made the DIY bracelets I said I was going to! It was very easy and I've already 

made 3 for me, 2 for my husband and a couple for my friends! Go here for the full how-to!

And just to prove that I'm really a huge dork, I will now reveal to you my ultimate huge horse smile

never seen before on this blog. This is actually a before and after sequence. Before is me pretending

to look at my Man Ray portrait book (ahem....first edition, not that you needed proof I'm cool)..

and the second is my reaction when Jonathan said, "loose the book, you look contrived"

CALLED OUT AND THAT'S WHY I LOVE HIM.

 

Cords: H&M, Shirt: F21, Belt: Thrifted, Bralette: UO, Sandals: JCP

The Clark Gable framed drawing behind me is by an artist...Jonathan Brooks....

maybe you've heard of him.

Have a Happy Holiday