Curtains - the cheap and easy (ie lazy!) way!

[Feijoa]

Hi there - we have roman blinds at the moment which are falling to bits as they were cheap and nasty ones and the sun has been rotting the cord which we have been constantly replacing and now the thermal backing is breaking down and going powdery - so we have decided to go with curtains now! I also feel happier about the idea of curtains rather than blinds with a mobile baby, soon to be toddler, roaming around! Also want curtains for the insulating properties (the blinds are terrible as only just go to the edge of the window frame!)

I am trying to to do curtains as cheaply and easy as I can. I can sew straight lines but get really frustrated when sewing (mostly because I don't really know what I'm doing haha!). After doing some research on the net, making curtains from painters drop cloths seems quite popular overseas. This seems like a good idea as they will be cheaper than buying fabric, they are heavy so good for insulation and also already hemmed so lots less sewing!!! - The only thing is hanging them. I was thinking about curtain tape - which I will have to sew on. Because it's so heavy, not sure how difficult it will be to sew the fabric. Then thought about the iron on stuff but wonder if it would be strong enough. - On the overseas websites, they had used curtain rings which have clips so they fabric attaches to the clips (doesn't get much easier!!) . However not sure if those clips are available here - has anyone ever seen them?

Anyway - sorry for the novel but just wondering if anyone has any ideas or advice on this. Thank you

[Middy]

Curtain tape is not tricky to sew at all and you can get a range of different pleats for minimal cost and effort. I'd steer clear of iron-on stuff as curtains by their nature get tugged, and they will end up looking ratty and coming to bits quickly.

You can pick up some really cheap deals on pre-lined curtain fabric at Spotlight. I did two rooms at our old place for $30!

I've been eyeing up those clippy things for curtains too (thanks to Pinterest) but at the end of the day, they are so easy to sew that it's probably not worth it.

[jhcsmum]

You can buy ready mades on the roll from Spotlight, just buy what size you need, and all you need to do is hem the edges, I found some on clearance and they were super cheap a couple of years ago.

[Nutbar]

I made curtains one year - curtain tape is easy

I loved the fact that it was all me that made them too

[Feijoa]

Thank you Glad to hear the curtain tape is easy. It would definitely be cheaper than those clippy things and with a mobile bub will stay up better rather than constantly being pulled off!

Will go have a nosy at Spotlight I think and see what they have. Thanks for your help