So You Want to Make Your Own Lined Drapes…here’s How

I know you spent a lot of money on those drape panels and still the light comes through. Or you electric bill is killing your budget The solution is to add lining to the drape. Not only can lining protect your investments (couches, paintings, pictures, or the drapes themselves) but they can keep the sun from beating into your house and heating up the space we pay so much to keep cool.

Start by measuring you drape, from the top flange (the little ruffly part) to the bottom of the hem. This will be the length you need to buy so take the measurement with you. You can head of to the fabric store to by your lining. You can usually find lining in white or cream and if you have a great fabric store can even find blackout material. I personally like use bedsheets for lining my drapes. I have found that the fabric is thicker and especially on colored drapes you can match your lining fabric to your drape. I am also guilty of leaving the hem on the top of the sheet and using that for my bottom hem on the lining. This will save you a bit of time. At any rate, find a fabric that suits your need and head on home.

Start by cutting the lining material to the measured length. On the top edge iron a hem 1″ and run a stay-stitch across the length. This will keep the fold from unfolding on you, if you are comfortable enough with your abilities you can just fold and iron that edge. Make sure both hems are stitched on the same side of the lining. On the bottom edge fold it up 1″ iron and then fold up again 1 1/2″ so the raw edge is inside the fold. You are creating a pretty hem without the worry of fraying overtime. Iron and then finish stitch the edge.

Now…place right sides together so the finished edge of the lining reaches to top of the bottom hem on the drape. You want the lining to be a bit shorter that the finished length of the drape so that the lining never shows at the bottom. Basically the stay stitched edge of the lining will come to the bottom stitch line of the rod pocket on the finished drape. Stitch those two sides together and flip right side out. Now stitch the top of the lining along the existing stitch line of the rod pocket. That is all there is to it.