No-Sew Kitchen Café Curtains
When we did the kitchen remodel last fall, my plan was to hang café curtains on the window above the sink. That just never seemed to happen.
I have drapes made out of a grain sack fabric on the other windows in the kitchen and I knew I didn’t want the café curtains to be matchy-matchy (technical decorating term). But while I knew what I didn’t want, I never really settled on what I did want.
Until a few weeks ago when I was at an estate sale and saw the cutest café curtains on the window above the kitchen sink. I really liked them but there were two problems:
1. They weren’t the right size for my window.
2. They didn’t seem to be for sale.
I kept shopping and a few minutes later I was rewarded with a happy surprise.
In one of the house’s bedrooms, I found several yards of the exact same Better Homes & Gardens fabric that the café curtains were made out of, brand new, and with a $3 price tag.
To say I snapped it up would be an understatement.
Since I don’t sew, my plan was to make a no-sew treatment, figuring it out as I went along, and documenting each step for this blog.
But something way better happened.
My mom was in town and offered to make the curtains for me.
She used the iron-on adhesive I had bought, because even though Mom was in KC, her sewing machine wasn’t.
She measured and cut and pinned and ironed. It turned out to be a way bigger job than I had imagined, so I’m glad it was her and not me doing it.
But I was a big help by doing the things I’m good at, like retrieving my daughter’s dorm room ironing board from the basement, running out for more adhesive, and making bacon and tomato sandwiches for lunch.
When the curtains were done, we hung them using a tension rod and matching rings with clips. We also “trained” the fabric to hang in folds using chip clips. As in the clips you use to close potato chip bags.
That was a good look.
But all that business is behind us and I love, love, love the result. They added some much needed softness and a little bit of color to the kitchen.
Thanks, Mom. ☺
This post is part of Metamorphosis Monday, Nifty Thrifty Tuesday, Tackle It Tuesday, Fabulously Frugal Thursday, Transformation Thursday, Tutorials, Tips & Tidbits, Show and Tell Friday, Feathered Nest Friday, Weekend Bloggy Reading, Fabulously Creative Friday, Rock and Share, and One Project at a Time.
Your kitchen is beautiful and I love the new curtains…fabulous fabric! I just found you at Naps On The Porch and now following. I am off to browse your archives.
xx,
Sherry
Thanks for the nice comment, Sherry. The archives are a little thin at this point as I’m just getting started, but it am so happy to have you as a follower.
Love! I’m going to do the same thing in my desk/laundry area. I’ve made curtains that way before and if you keep it simple, it works great!
I love a simple cafe curtain, Stacey. Sounds like you do too.
Perfection! How awesome is that to find the fabric for $3?! Your mom did an excellent job. 🙂
Yes, she did. 🙂
Very Cool idea! I love the pattern and your beautiful kitchen!
Thank you!
The cafe curtains are just beautiful. They are perfect with the view outside your window too.
Thank you for your nice comment, Eilis.
I love the curtains! The fabric is so bright. I’ve been thinking about switching out our kitchen curtains, though I didn’t want to spend time sewing. I also can’t find any premade curtains I like. I think I’ll try the iron-on adhesive, and find fabric that I truly like.
Thanks for linking up at Fabulously Frugal Thursday.
Good luck with the curtain project, Barb!
The view out your kitchen window is beautiful. It’s as though you are in a treehouse. Your new curtains and the green wreath add to the loveliness of the woods.
Judith
We do have a nice treeline which I enjoy very much.
Came over from Amanda’s. Love the window treatments. I have been eyeing that fabric for awhile. I would love to do something similar for our kitchen window as well. Beautiful view!!
Thank you, Lauren. Love your taste in fabric. 😉
I don’t blame you for snapping up that fabric! It’s gorgeous. Great job on the no-sew curtains. Love your window, too.
You are featured over at Yvonne’s! I love your curtains, I don’t sew either so these speak to me! Love the pattern and colors. Your kitchen looks very cute too!!!
Haha Pinky, glad they speak to you. That comment made me smile. Thanks for coming over from Yvonne’s.
What a beautiful window! Came by from Tutorial and Tidbits.
Awesome job on the kitchen remodel. I also noticed the new light in the hallway. Beautiful!
Thank you, Linda.
Those curtains really dress up the sink area and make it a nice focal point with the pretty wreath. Your kitchen is lovely. Glad to find your blog! 🙂
Christine
Thank you, Christine. Thanks for stopping in a leaving a comment. Hope you’ll be back! 🙂
Julie, I have a very similar window over my sink and have always just put a valance up there. I absolutely love your curtains and the wreath and the way they frame the window ~ just gorgeous! I just wish I could find fabric for $3/ yard! 🙂
Kim, I had a valance before this too. And the fabric wasn’t $3/yard, it was $3 for several yards. Isn’t that crazy? The thrifting gods were really smiling on me that day! Hopefully some inexpensive fabric will find its way to you soon too. 🙂
I saw the same fabric today and thought it would make gorgeous curtains in my dining room! I have the same problem you did. My wallpaper and matching curtains will be 13 years old next month. I am not ready to tackle stripping that wallpaper and finishing the drywall. My ceilings are 10 feet tall! I think I will admire yours instead!
Ugh! Stripping wallpaper = the worst. I understand your hesitation to get started.
Where did you get the nice black suspension rod with the center support for these cafe curtains? I need them for my kitchen. Thanks.
sorry, **tension** rod
Hi, love your kitchen and like you I’ve created non sews more than I should prob admit…but noone ever knows! I was wondering if you would mind sharing your wall color? I love it worth everything else, from the pic it looks like a warm grey. Thanks!
Hi, love your kitchen and like you I’ve created non sews more than I should prob admit…but noone ever knows! I was wondering if you would mind sharing your wall color? I love it worth everything else, from the pic it looks like a warm dark tanish/grey. Thanks!
Nevermind lookef at your before and after of the entire kitchen…love love. Thanks for sharing!
I love the kitchen! You did such a wonderful job. Where did you find your wreath? I’ve been looking everywhere for one like that.
Hi Brittany. Thanks for your nice comment. It’s a Smith & Hawken wreath from Target. I can’t find the exact one on their website anymore, but it’s very similar to this one: Smith & Hawken® Boxwood Wreath
There is a picture of a wooden storm door, can you give advice where I would purchase with installation?
I ordered the door from here and had it installed locally. Hope that helps! https://totalwoodstore.com/6-lite-wooden-storm-door/