Help, I’m Having a Curtain Emergency!

by Katy on March 2, 2011 · 73 comments

Update: There was a *mishap* at the very beginning of Curtainpalooza 2011 with the very first cut of fabric. I am not here to place blame, but my mother is still recovering from surgery and I appreciate all the help she’s able to give. I love my mom, I love my mom, I love my mom . . . .

In the meantime, I’m just kind of watching how they look in the different times of day. I’m leaning towards having the two side curtains be full length, as that looks cohesive with the also tan full length curtains that are in the adjoining living room. However, keep your votes coming in, as they are very helpful!

I am sewing new sheer curtains for my dining room, but need help deciding how long to make the two side curtains.

Should they be:

 

Full length?
All one length?
Each in line with their windows?

I would like your opinions as soon as possible as my mother is currently over at the house, sewing machine at the ready.

And yes, I did buy the curtains from Goodwill, where they were half off and $5 total. I did however pick up the spring tension rods at Target.

Thank you!

Katy Wolk-Stanley

“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without”

 

{ 72 comments… read them below or add one }

Nancy E. March 2, 2011 at 2:30 pm

I think full length. Definitely not the all one length option.

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Leanne Opaskar March 2, 2011 at 2:38 pm

Each in line with the window, unless you have the need for the privacy that comes with full-length.

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Crystal C March 2, 2011 at 10:31 pm

I agree completely!!!

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Dmarie March 3, 2011 at 9:37 am

me too…in line with windows, if no privacy concerns!

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Jessica March 2, 2011 at 2:43 pm

Does one look better/worse from the outside?

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Katy March 2, 2011 at 3:11 pm

My neighbors weighed in, and like the full length option.

Katy

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lacy Cooper March 2, 2011 at 2:43 pm

I love the last one. Very modern and a twist.

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Kelly March 2, 2011 at 2:43 pm

I vote in line with the windows but second the not all one length option..

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Megg March 2, 2011 at 2:47 pm

Definitely the last option!

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Ann March 2, 2011 at 2:49 pm

I vote for the last one! I like the clean lines. Definitely not the middle one (all one length).

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Kayleigh March 2, 2011 at 2:49 pm

go with full length, then if you change mind you can always cut shorter. can’t get length back if you hate the shorter length next week. i’m wimpy that way

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Katy March 2, 2011 at 3:09 pm

I was just thinking along these lines, as I can always go shorter, but never go longer!

Katy

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Katy (another Katy in Portland) March 2, 2011 at 2:50 pm

In line with the windows – the third option. By a long shot!

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Darcidoodle March 2, 2011 at 3:00 pm

Totally!

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Amy March 2, 2011 at 2:53 pm

the last one. definitely.

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Gloria March 2, 2011 at 2:54 pm

I like the full length. It blocks the view of the houses next door. The middle window has the interesting detail on top which looks good the way it is.

I hope all our differing opinions don’t confuse you further. Go with what looks right to you!

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Katy March 2, 2011 at 3:11 pm

These curtains will not afford me much in the way privacy, as they’re sheer, which is what I want since these windows are south facing.

Luckily, these neighbors on this side are a dream come true, so they can peep to their heart’s desire.

Katy

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Senora H-B March 2, 2011 at 3:07 pm

I say full-length or each at the mid-point of the window. Definitely not all one length.

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Sara March 2, 2011 at 3:20 pm

I absolutely love the aesthetics of the last option, but I think you need to consider why you are hanging sheers in the 1st place. You said privacy is not a consideration here…what about filtering the sun to keep the heating bills down in summer? In that case, hanging full length might make more sense.

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Melissa March 4, 2011 at 4:09 pm

Love the frugal twist. So appropriate!

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chppie March 2, 2011 at 3:29 pm

I liked the one in line with the windows because they seemed to blend in better.

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Angela@MyYearWithoutSpending March 2, 2011 at 3:31 pm

I vote for the 3rd option on aesthetic grounds. It’s true you can always go shorter, but would you? (I tend to not return to projects).

However, if there are other considerations, such as cooling the house, then you should consider those. Although I can’t imagine that’s a huge factor in Portland. (Too much sun, ha!)

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sandy March 2, 2011 at 3:39 pm

I would opt for the third option and consider having the width about double so you can have some fullness to them. My second option would be to cover the full window and use a rod at the bottom, too.

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Leanne March 2, 2011 at 3:41 pm

Window #3, as long as it’s enough coverage for you. It’s the one that makes the fewest horizontal breaks in the view, and I like the simplicity of that. HTH!

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Eshie March 2, 2011 at 3:48 pm

NOT the all one length, otherwise, no strong opinion.

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Mel March 2, 2011 at 3:50 pm

What did you do?

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Katy March 2, 2011 at 4:04 pm

I’m working on the center curtain while I ponder the possibilities. šŸ™‚

Katy

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Heidi March 3, 2011 at 9:53 am

#3. no doubt about it

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Twyla March 2, 2011 at 4:06 pm

I pick the bottom photo. It matches and doesn’t look funny like the others.

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Dawn March 2, 2011 at 4:07 pm

I like the last picture

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tracy3xl March 2, 2011 at 4:15 pm

You made me take a look at mine. I have mine like your second option, but seeing your pictures I like the third. I think I’ll need to change mine.

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Barb @ 1SentenceDiary March 2, 2011 at 4:17 pm

I guess my opinion is seconding (or twenty-sixthing) those above. I don’t like the middle option but the other two are both nice. My preference, if I had to choose, would be full-length.

Have fun with the project!

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Anita March 2, 2011 at 4:19 pm

It’s late, but I like the 3rd choice best!!

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Beth March 2, 2011 at 4:37 pm

First or third, depending on how much privacy you want.

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Alison March 2, 2011 at 4:42 pm

Option #3…in line with the windows and kudos to you for using photos on your blog so that you can really see the differences.

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Lorraine March 2, 2011 at 4:45 pm

Third option – in line with the windows.

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Kat C March 2, 2011 at 4:46 pm

I vote option 3. Unless you want the privacy from full length.

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Heather March 2, 2011 at 5:15 pm

I like the look of the last option. Of course, my frugal cautious side says go long and then cut as the mood strikes. Once it is cut short, you can’t go bak (unless you find another set at GW)

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Jenny March 2, 2011 at 5:29 pm

My vote would be for in line with the windows, just looks best to me. I really don’t like the all one length option (looks weird and wrong), and full length is okay too, just not quite as neat looking.

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elinor March 2, 2011 at 5:42 pm

Vote: NOT all one length.

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Susan March 2, 2011 at 6:05 pm

All one length….

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Erin March 2, 2011 at 6:21 pm

Last one. Sheets won’t provide much heating and cooling help anyway. If you’re unsure you could hem them long but hang the sheers lower and gather them like roman shades…

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Emily March 2, 2011 at 6:49 pm

I vote for #3, or all full length (including the center one, which you might have already hemmed, which wouldn’t help you much, so go with #3).

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Lorna March 2, 2011 at 6:58 pm

definitely, positively each in line with their window!

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PigPennies March 2, 2011 at 7:05 pm

Agree with most everyone – option three!

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Jenny March 2, 2011 at 7:22 pm

1st or 3rd, definitely not all one length.

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Shannon B. March 2, 2011 at 7:28 pm

I’d go with in line with the windows — the third option.

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Ann March 2, 2011 at 7:47 pm

I am revisiting this post…so many opinions!! I am going to add….I like option 3, but I don’t like the “fringy” thing in the middle window…I like cleaner lines.

Why do anything? LOL Looks like you have nice windows!

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AnnW March 2, 2011 at 9:00 pm

Each in line with its own window sash. Because you have a decorative window in the middle, this looks okay. Also, since these are sheers, they are mostly for decoration, not for coverage. Remember, the width of the curtain should be at least twice the width of the window. Three times is even better with light fabrics. That means if your window is 30 inches wide, your curtain width should be at least 60 inches or even 90 inches. Good luck.

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Katy March 2, 2011 at 9:08 pm

Those rules would apply if I had bought the fabric in a fabric store. However . . . when one does her shopping at Goodwill, these rules are ahem, loose.

Thanks!

Katy

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Lauren March 2, 2011 at 9:05 pm

#3 looks the best!

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Practical Parsimony March 2, 2011 at 9:13 pm

Aesthetically #3

Privacy #1

I hope your mother is not still sewing.

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molly March 3, 2011 at 4:50 am

#3 , in line with their own windows. Hands down. No question.

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Jenny March 3, 2011 at 7:00 am

#3

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Sue March 3, 2011 at 7:50 am

Number 3 definitely ;o)

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Tracy Balazy March 3, 2011 at 8:37 am

I like each in line with its window. To me, that’s more aesthetically pleasing.

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lynda March 3, 2011 at 8:39 am

1 or 3 but they’d have to be fuller, whichever option you take.

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Steady Plodder March 3, 2011 at 8:45 am

I vote for window #3! What did you decide?

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Cindy C. March 3, 2011 at 9:08 am

I vote for #3

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leslie March 3, 2011 at 10:49 am

I like Option 3!

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Anne March 3, 2011 at 10:58 am

Here’s my 2 cents I like either of the two lower pictures.

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rhonda March 3, 2011 at 11:50 am

I liked the bottom picture best. Good luck, I hope you share your final product!

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Weston March 3, 2011 at 12:19 pm

Each in line with their windows

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Erin March 3, 2011 at 12:50 pm

bottom…it would also look nice with a couple stain glass pieces hanging on either side šŸ™‚

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Su Madre March 3, 2011 at 2:10 pm

Katy, how about posting a shot of how we had it with the sides full-length, but pulled back “priscilla”-style, where it frames the center in a graceful way? (You KNOW how your scissor-happy mama votes!) Also, the suggestion to go long, then cut shorter if you change your mind is smart.

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Emily March 3, 2011 at 2:29 pm

Another benefit to $ 5 curtain material – a cutting mishap is slightly less painful. The last time my m-in-law hemmed my husband’s suit trousers she measured twice and cut twice – on the same leg. Did I mention that was the LAST time she hemmed for him?

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Jay March 3, 2011 at 4:31 pm

Each in line with their own windows. For sure not the second picture, with them all lined up together.

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LG March 4, 2011 at 7:02 am

Full length!

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Melissa March 4, 2011 at 4:12 pm

The first option puts the focus on the curtains, the third option puts the focus on the windows (and they’re great windows, by the way). It depends on what you want to look at every day.

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T.M. March 4, 2011 at 4:57 pm

Each in line with their windows….those are some beautiful windows!!!

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Raffaella March 5, 2011 at 7:50 am

Each in line!! šŸ™‚

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Jeanine March 7, 2011 at 10:00 am

Eash with it’s window…

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