How to Make No Sew Curtains From Scarves
No Sew Curtains from Scarves
This project has been a long time coming, and finally I’m sharing how I made no sew curtains from scarves for my living room windows.
For me decorating is all about creating things that make me smile.
Things that you won’t see everywhere else.
But also things that can be easily changed up to suit any decor style and/or color scheme, and I’m always trying to find an inexpensive way to do all of that.
For my decor style these no sew scarf curtains had to be fun, colorful, and inexpensive.
I started collecting scarves for my curtains about a year ago. Not the square kind, but the long kind that has fringe on the ends.
It took me some time to find enough because I was looking for specific colors… blues, pinks, and greens.
The colors had to be light, bright, and happy.
While I was collecting them I stored my scarves using a metal shoe rack on the outside of my craft room door.
Once I thought I had enough scarves to start making these curtains happen I brought them all down to the living room in a pile.
Funny, the pile looks so small in the picture. You wouldn’t know there are quite a few scarves there.
The first thing I had to do, and the most unpleasant I might add, was give all the scarves a good ironing.
This was totally necessary so I could better see their length and width. If you ever make these curtains don’t skip this step, no matter how tempting it might be. And I can really relate to that temptation. lol.
Some scarves were pretty wrinkled from just from being in storage, and some had wrinkles as a part of their style and they almost doubled in size after ironing.
Regardless of why the wrinkles were there they all had to go.
TIP: Don’t use scarves that are stretchy. It’s important that no matter what the fabric, they need to be solid.
Here’s my pile of scarves after I finished ironing.
I found most of these scarves at thrift stores for 50 cents each, and a few were $1.
This project would have happened months ago, but I was having a heck of a time finding enough green scarves.
Not sure why, but finally when spring arrived I found the few more that I needed.
To make this whole curtain thing happen I used Heat n Bond iron on hemming tape.
Love this stuff!
So perfect for non-sewers like me, and also fabulous for this project because some of the scarves were very thin.
I’m 100% sure that an inexperienced sewer like myself would have damaged some of them by trying to sew them together.
Putting together my no sew scarf curtains
First I measured and cut all my scarves to the width that I wanted for of my curtains.
Most of the scarves were between five and six feet long.
For the two larger living room windows each curtain panel would be 30″ wide before hemming, and the one smaller window’s panels would be 26 inches wide before hemming,
I was able to get two pieces out of most of the scarves.
So then I just had to start going for it, so I grabbed a pink scarf and laid the heat n bond down in small strips.
Then I ironed my next scarf piece to that.
I just randomly added scarves as I went. I knew I wanted to mix up the colors and patterns so I just winged it.
If you want to do a bit more planning you could certainly lay the scarves on the floor to see how you want to put the patterns and colors together.
I just continued my way along with the heat n bond…
… until the scarves were bonded all the way across.
As you can see in this pic I’m keeping all the fringe ends to one side so I only have to hem one long side. Yay!
Once I had all my scarves bonded together I hemmed the raw side, and then top and bottom.
TIP: Before hemming the top and the bottom I hung up my curtains and measured and pinned before cutting and hemming.
Hanging scarf curtains
I found these awesome silver metal curtain rods at my local home improvement store, and they were fairly inexpensive at $10 a piece.
Then I needed some curtain clips for flexibility of hanging. These were $5 a piece.
I did the living room window with the green spray painted window blind first.
Our living room ceiling height is 9 1/2 feet and I wanted the curtains to hang just a few inches from the ceiling so I measured down about 4 inches, marked, drilled, and installed the curtain rods.
Repurposed Scarves into No Sew Curtains
My scarf curtains have a sort of funky patchwork hippie vibe to them that I really love.
I decided to do double hems on the tops and the bottoms to give them more strength, and to give the clips something to hang onto.
And I can reverse the curtains on the clips, by putting the bottoms at the tops, to change the look if I want.
The curtains go so well with my spray painted mini blinds.
And I can either hang my scarf curtains with the fringe on the outside or on the inside,
Because we have three cats who sometimes sit in the windows I’m putting the fringe on the outside.
They honestly have enough play things and don’t need any more. lol.
This is definitely a project where you just have to go for it and not worry about perfection.
The lines won’t be straight as arrows, and that’s totally ok.
Now, here’s peek at the other two windows.
You’ll get a better look at these two windows when the living room makeover is done.
But I just wanted to point out that because of the random combos of the scarves I can move the curtains around, and mix and match them in the windows any way I like.
This is the smaller window where I used the curtain panels that were a little narrower, and I put the curtain rod at the same height as the other two windows so the curtains all hang the same.
Also this window’s molding butts right against the wall so when putting up my curtain rod I had to leave the one round finial off.
But you don’t really notice it at all.
These no sew curtains made from scarves is a great window solution for someone like me who needs change every once in a while.
I can move them around to my heart’s content for a different look whenever I feel the need. They go well with my hanging throw, and my ReStore wing chairs.
I guesstimate that I used 15-16 scarves for these curtains, at a cost of somewhere between $8-$10 dollars, and the Heat N Bond was $24 for 6 packages. That’s $32-$34 altogether for all the curtains.
Making them took three afternoons and there were a lot of trips up and down the stairs to hang them as I went to check on what they looked like as I was going along with each panel. Who knew making curtains could be so much exercise. lol.
The curtain rods and clips cost $50 altogether, but I’ll reuse those if I ever change the curtains..
Overall, I’m very happy with how my scarf curtains turned out, and super happy with the price. Three large windows for about $84, including the rods and clips. Works for me! And they match the vision that I’ve had in my head for a long, long time.
These scarf curtains could be created in so many color combos, or monochromatic would work too. The possibilities are endless really.
Supplies used for no sew scarf curtains
– misc scarves
– heat n bond no sew adhesive
– scissors
– sewing tape measure
– iron
-curtain rods
-curtain clips
Save this project for later by pinning!
Thanks so much for reading, and until next time…
keep on keepin’ on!
XOX
This is so my style! LOVE the fringe and colors and just Everything about this.
I actually do sew but like your initiative to do it with heat bond tape. Clever and hippie chic!
Thanks for sharing all your ideas and fun projects.
Thanks very much Molly Jo! I have to admit to being a bit sewing challenged. lol. So the heat n bond is a real project saver for me.
These are adorable, Tuula! I’m sure they pull your whole room together. I think they’re kinda hippie;)
Thanks Lora! They are definitely hippie, and I am starting to see the living room come together. Now the only big project left is the floor and the stairs. Hopefully it doesn’t take as long to get that done as it did the curtains. lol.
Oh, wow, girl! Totally awesome! I’d like to do something like this in my craft room….the room that is actually getting the thorough cleaning it needs! Curtains like this will be a perfect ending to the project. Thanks so much for your never ending inspiration!!!!! Dona
Thanks Dona! Good for you for sticking with your craft room clean up. I think scarf curtains would be so fun in there when you’re done. 🙂
Wow! I get so tickled when I see one of your projects on Hometalk! It’s like I know you! Keep up the good work! Dona
Thanks so much Dona!
Hi, Tuula,
I am SOOO thrilled to see this post. I’ve used scarves to make curtains for my enclosed back porch and I love it. I only needed curtains on the bottom half of the windows so I set the rod low and used fabric glue to make a fabric loop for the rod, after cutting the scarf in half. (Tape would have been a better choice). I can loop the scarf over the rod so I don’t have to do any cutting , sewing, or gluing at all if I want to do it that way. I didn’t glue or sew the edges of each scarf to the next so that allows me to move the colors around to create a different color scheme. I call it my “boho” room.
Your curtains sound fabulous Marnie! I can move my panels around as well, mixing them up for different looks. I call my living room style hippie chic, but the word boho would certainly work too. Your porch sounds like a fun place to be. 🙂
I like what you did. My cats are really dorks. Fringe on either side would be a temptation for them. My washroom window is higher and I could see it working for that room. Such a unique idea. I love how your mind works.
Thanks Olivia! My cats haven’t even noticed the fringe…. yet. That’s a big yet. lol.
Well once again you have amazed me! Those look great! I could see darker, more muted colors used in a boho room!
Tania
Thanks very much Tania! The awesome thing about projects like this is that they can be totally personalized. The idea definitely lends itself to boho, which I think isn’t quite colorful like hippie.
Your creativity and “outside the box” thinking never fails to inspire me. Your curtains are AWESOME! The living room looks so happy?.
Great job with the new blog look as well and thanks for sharing your wonderful ideas.
Fran
Thanks so much Fran! Happy is exactly what I’m going for. Happy hippie! lol. I’m so glad you like the new blog look!
Tuula,
What a great idea! Love the hippie vibe. I visit thrift stores often and do not think I have ever seen scarves at the prices you mentioned. Of course everything seems to be expensive in California, thrift store or not. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks Nancy! We live in the country so prices are a lot more reasonable. Whenever we go to the city I’m quite shocked by the thrift store prices. Maybe garage sales would be a good place to try..
I just LOVE them and now I know what to do with all my millions of scarves!!
Thanks Mary! How lucky that you already have scarves to use. 🙂 If you do make some curtains I’d love to see them.
I love how your curtains turned out, particularly your fabric and color choices. They frame the upgraded mini blinds so well. I wish that you would add a photo from a distance to show how the curtains and blinds work together, and with the rest of the furnishings 🙂
Sorry on your name spelling. I know how to spell it, but this iPhone thinks it knows better.
lol. No worries Florence. I know you know how to spell it. 🙂
Thank you so much! I will definitely be sharing pics of the finished room when the makeover is done. Still have to do the floor, stairs, and a few decorative touches here and there. 🙂
Beautiful job Tula! Love how they look with your funky colorful blinds! I’ve had an idea in mind for some time to make a solid scarf curtain for a doorway without a door going into our bathroom . Solid meaning a panel. You’ve inspired me to get it done.
Wow Florence! I’m so happy that I’ve inspired you. That doorway would be an awesome place for some scarf curtains.:)
Love, love, love the hippie/boho vibe!! AND, the idea to not sew them is even better! Again, you have impressed me…thanks for sharing!!
Thanks so much Karolyn! I do love no sew projects. 🙂
These are awesome! So cheerful and add such a good vibe. Love them.
Thanks so much Debra!
Wow! You are amazing with the heat n bond. I’m all about no sewing but I know I would have to force myself to iron! LOL! Love your new blog look and title!
~Jill
Thanks so much Jill! Making these curtains was a lot of fun, but the prep ironing part… not so much. lol. The ironing with the heat n bond was cool because it made creating these curtains so much easier.
When I was young and sewed my own clothes, sometimes when in a hurry (I MUST wear this tomorrow!!!), against my seamstress mom’s advice, I used that bonding tape to do the hem on my dress or skirt. It worked great until laundry day! Depending on the fabric, sometimes all or most of the tape would come off. I realize you wouldn’t wash curtains as often as clothing, and perhaps the bonding tape is better now than it was in the 60’s!!! It could be disappointing for all your hard work to be destroyed with just one cleaning! Hope not……!!!!! From a GENUINE Hippy Girl!
Thanks Charlie! I hope I never have to wash them, but if I do the hemming tape does say that it’s washable so my fingers will be crossed. 🙂
These are gorgeous!! Love your painted and stenciled blinds, too…so pretty and creative!!
Thank you so much Carole!
Where do find blinds with designs on them. !I’ve the a card curtains, but really got to have those blinds.
Hi Rose, I created those blinds myself with lace and spray paint. There’s a link to that project in this post, or you can search the word blinds on my site using the search box at the top of the sidebar. I’m so glad you like them!
very good idea. Does anyone have any ideas how to reuse bed skirts? I have quite a few that I use to circulate but with my new mattress (very heavy) I quite using them. Any ideas?
Thanks Mary! Depending on the style of the bed skirt you could maybe create a window valance or two.
A clever way to recycle scarves and love the boho vibe! This is a great room divider or closet curtain idea too. Need to show my daughter this for the office space she carved out and in need of a room divider. Very cool!
Thanks Marie! I love the idea of a room divider. That would be awesome!
Hi Tula,
Can one sew over the tape to reinforce the edges. Hand washing curtains to remove dust occasionally might loosen the binding between fabrics. Love your ideas and I love to recycle! Thank you for both the scarf curtains and lace spray painted shades.
Hi Marilyn, I haven’t tried that myself so I’m not 100% sure how that would turn out. If it were me I would try a sample with some misc fabric and see. I’m so happy that you enjoy these projects. They’re two of my favorites, and I do have to admit that I haven’t washed the curtains yet. I vacuum them occasionally to keep them looking good. They won’t last forever, but so far so good.