How to Make Your Own Shower Curtain
Changing your shower curtain just might be one of the fastest ways to spruce up your bathroom. But finding one in a fabric to match your décor can be tough which is why I like to make my own shower curtains. And believe it or not, it's a relatively simple process. Here's how.
1. The Fabric You want to pick a fabric that stands up to moisture, like vinyl, polyester, or a polyester-cotton blend. A typical shower curtain measures 72" by 72" and a stall shower curtain, 50" by 78". As most fabrics don't come in a 72-inch width, you'll have to put together two panels. If you're using a print remember to match up your pattern at the seam.
2.The Size Regardless of what size shower curtain you're making, add on 16 inches in length and 8 inches in width for the hem. After you put together two panels to create a panel that is 88 inches long (72 inches plus 16 for the hem) and 80 inches wide (72 inches wide plus 8 inches for the hem) it's time to sew!
3.Sewing Fold the top down four inches and iron flat. Then fold the fabric over another 4 inches and iron flat again. If you're using a lightweight fabric you may want to apply a strip of interfacing to the top edge to stabilize it and support the weight of the curtain. Pin the fabric to keep it in place after ironing and sew the fabric so the folds stay put. Repeat for the bottom. Follow the same procedure for the sides, turning them in 2 inches instead of 4.
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4. The Grommets This step is optional. You can also choose to put in button holes but grommets really make the difference between a homemade-looking and a professionally-appearing job. Plus, they're fairly easy to put on:
- Mark the fabric where you want the center of your grommets to be. Typically there are 12 on a shower curtain.
- You'll need a grommet tool kit which you can buy at craft stores for about $20. Most kits come with a tool to punch a hole in the fabric. (I found mine hard to use so I used a seam ripper instead, making sure to make holes the same size as the ones the punching tool would've made.)
- Place the bottom of the grommet on the side of the fabric which will be facing out. Then put the top piece on the back side.
- In your kit, there should a metal cylinder to place under the bottom grommet and a metal piece to place on the top one. (shown in the picture).
- Hammer the two pieces together until the grommet no longer spins around. Repeat with the remaining grommets
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5. Hang your finished shower curtain and admire your work!
Looking for other easy ways to liven up your space? Take a look at our sleek ideas for your light switch. What are some quick switches you've made to change up your bathroom décor? Let me know in the comments!
-by Jamie Ueda
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