Hem curtains in 10 seconds flat without sewing … for real! Here’s an easy and fast (hack) when drapes are long and time is short.

For weeks I’d been trying to update the curtain situation in our dining room. We’d had the same metal mini-horizontals and cotton topper for over 10 years, and I was so done with it.

However, since the task to change everything seemed daunting, I called in a “decorator” to help. Ummm, let’s just say it didn’t go well; her tastes differed vastly from mine. Vastly.

So I went out and bought panels with grommets, at the time thinking I could hem them myself and all would be well. Not … .

Now, I’m a good sewer and have done a lot of sewing, but those panels were cheap (which is not a bad thing) and when I started to cut them I discovered the grain was crooked and the curtain itself was so slippery it wouldn’t stay on the ironing board … (insert scream face). Never have I made a quicker trip to the thrift store to donate something. I just wanted them to be gone (a heartfelt apology to the hubs who spent a fair amount of time helping me find said panels).

Then this past week I came across some lovely *side panels at Jysk (a Danish retail chain), and they’re gorgeous!

They were just what I was looking for: white, crinkly, semi-opaque, and cheap at $10.00/panel! They brighten up my dining room and make for a beautiful backdrop …

… and as I was walking out of the store a thought occurred to me … they don’t even need to be hemmed! Since they aren’t too bulky it would be easy to simply tie them in a knot … it takes about 10 seconds per panel. Voila! Am I brilliant or what ;)

Proof that it doesn’t have to be expensive, or complicated …
When open, the panels are wide enough to fit across the entire width of my windows. Of course when they are pulled closed, the bottoms will “puddle” on the floor, which I don’t mind since I will only close them when I’m trying to take photos.

My next plan of attack is to install light filtering cellular shades and I’ll never have to close the panels. Perfect. So next time, before you automatically think you have to hem curtains … think again.

The side panels are “Tina” 53″ x 96″ with hidden tabs … and yes … 100% polyester … .

Day 24 #nablopomo