Crafty Curtain Project - Tutorial

Once again, I am using the term "tutorial" in the loosest sense of the word.  I have always wanted to learn how to sew, but since I neither know how nor own a machine ... I usually end up "fake" sewing ... with some mixed results.  These results just happen to be pretty fakin' fabulous!

Let me be clear that I have very limited knowledge, minimal skill, and very few tools.  I am sure there is a better, easier way to do what I did ...

Is that enough of a disclaimer?!  Let's get to the photos ...

1. The ingredients ...  

• I bought cheap tab-top curtains from Target for less than $15.  I chose them for color and thickness ... because I want my girls to sleep past sunrise ... but hey, that's just me.  
• I also choose four colors of 7/8" ribbon that coordinated with the bedding ... and feel girlie without being too juvenile.  I love this ribbon because both edges are trimmed with white stitches ... adding to the illusion that I actually learned how to sew ;)
• Because I really do NOT sew, I also had to buy a package of straight pins.
• I had the scissors, iron, ironing board (neither of which have been used in a very long time) and CPV's big, manly tape measure on hand.
• I've also discovered that a bottle of "no-fray" would be a nice addition to this list.
  
• Lastly, the secret behind this project, Heat-n-Bond Lite - Sewable Iron-on Adhesive.  According to the lady at Michael's the "sewable" variety includes a strip of paper on the adhesive.  This was important because I wanted to be able to iron on the adhesive and then add the ribbon on top.  I did NOT want to try to line it all up ... because I am just not that talented.

2. Getting all my ducks ribbon in a row ...

• No craft room for me, people.  No special sewing table.  Just a round dining room table and the hardwood floors.  I opted for the floor because I could semi-use the lines of the boards to help get the ribbon straight ... how lame is that?!
• Once I "eye-balled" it, I placed a few preliminary pins and then did some measuring.  My tolerances where fairly high because I knew the curtains would never be laying flat on a floor ... they be hanging ... besides, I just don't need the stress.  So I got close and felt good about that :)
• I then spread out the second curtain alongside the first and repeated the process ... hoping to get the two to match up ... at least a little.

3. It's Getting Hot in Here ... 

Seriously, after all those floor exercises, I was starting to sweat ... add to that the heat of the iron ... and the thought of actually attaching those ribbons to the curtains ... phew!  Hot, I tell ya!

• To help get these buggers - all 42 inches - straight, I decided to do HALF of each length of ribbon at a time.  And I must say, I think this was a good decision.  It really helped to be able to adjust a little along the way. 
  
• For each ribbon, I released a pin, folded the ribbon back, cut a strip of the adhesive to the "right" size.
• Once I had all four strips laid out, I ran the iron over them for a few seconds.  The adhesive stuck to the curtains, and the paper was peeled off ... exposing the other sticky side.
• The ribbon was unfolded, positioned, and then ironed into place. Hope that makes sense ... 
  

4.  Tuck it in the back ... 

• To secure the ribbon ends to the back of the curtain, I originally busted out the hot glue gun.  Things were going so well, I got just a tiny bit cocky ... big mistake.  
• I soon realized that the adhesive tape would work much better.  I just did the same process - in miniature and wrapped the ribbon ends around the back.  Easy ... and much less messy than that stupid hot glue gun!
  

5. The finished product ...