Voile curtains are a sheer curtain that are made of lightweight and semi-transparent fabric. They can add a touch of elegance and softness to any room, but they often come in standard lengths that may not fit your windows perfectly. If you want to hem your voile curtains to the right length, you can do it with a sewing machine or without sewing.
Hemming voile curtains can be done with a sewing machine, using a double-folded hem and a narrow stitch. Alternatively, you can hem voile curtains without sewing, using iron-on hem tape and an iron.
Use a Sewing Machine
One of the best ways to hem voile curtains is to use a sewing machine. This will give you a neat and durable finish that will last for a long time. You will need to use a double-folded hem and a narrow stitch to prevent the fabric from fraying or puckering.
To use a sewing machine, you need to follow these steps:
- Measure the length of your window, from the curtain rod to where you want the bottom of your curtain to hang. Subtract 1 inch (2.5 cm) from this measurement to get the desired length of your curtain.
- Spread the curtain, wrong-side-up on a flat surface. Use a ruler and a fabric marker to mark the desired length of your curtain along the bottom edge. Cut off any excess fabric below the mark, leaving a 1/2 inch (1.3 cm) seam allowance.
- Fold the bottom edge of your curtain up by 1/2 inch (1.3 cm) and press it flat with an iron. Pin it in place along the fold.
- Fold the bottom edge of your curtain up again by 1/2 inch (1.3 cm) and press it flat with an iron. Pin it in place along the fold. You have just created a double-folded hem.
- Set your sewing machine to a straight stitch with a narrow width and length. Sew along the top edge of the hem, close to the fold, removing the pins as you go. Backstitch at the beginning and end of the seam to secure it.
- Repeat with the other curtain panel(s).
You can watch this video for more details on how to use a sewing machine:
Use Iron-On Hem Tape
Another way to hem voile curtains is to use iron-on hem tape. This is a thin strip of adhesive tape that can fuse two layers of fabric together with heat. You can use this method to hem any type of voile curtains, from light to heavy.
To use iron-on hem tape, you need to follow these steps:
- Measure the length of your window, from the curtain rod to where you want the bottom of your curtain to hang. Subtract 1 inch (2.5 cm) from this measurement to get the desired length of your curtain.
- Spread the curtain, wrong-side-up on a flat surface. Use a ruler and a fabric marker to mark the desired length of your curtain along the bottom edge. Cut off any excess fabric below the mark, leaving a 1 inch (2.5 cm) seam allowance.
- Fold the bottom edge of your curtain up by 1 inch (2.5 cm) and press it flat with an iron. Pin it in place along the fold.
- Cut a piece of iron-on hem tape slightly shorter than the width of your curtain. Slip it inside the hem, right between the back of the curtain and the folded edge. Align the top edge of the hem tape with the top edge of the folded edge.
- Iron the hem down, following the instructions on the package of the hem tape. Press down with the iron for 10 to 15 seconds at a time before moving on to the next section. Make sure the hem tape is fully melted and bonded to the fabric.
