This isn’t a surprise to you, but my “Repurposed” entry for So You Think You Can Sew Week 2 is the flutter curtains (they’re a knock off of Anthropologie’s Tender Falls Shower Curtain).
I’ll be honest, every time I do an Anthropologie knock off, I feel like I should start my tutorial with a Big Ol’ Disclaimer. These knock-off’s, while fabulous, are a ton of work. And these curtains are no exception.
With that warning, if you want to make some fluttery, lovely, slightly labor intensive curtains, here’s the how-to.
You’ll need- two Ikea “Knoppa” flat sheets (for the curtain panels), another Knoppa sheet cut into circle ‘flutters,’ part of a cream colored sheet, cut into circle ‘flutters,’ and part of another bright white sheet (with a different texture than the linen-y Knoppa) cut into circle ‘flutters,’ a fabric cutter and a circle die (optional, but nice… I used the GoBaby! to cut out all of those circles), invisible thread and needle, sewing supplies.
First sew the curtains panels. To do so, first fold your sheet in half , right sides facing each other. Make sure the bottom hem’s finished edge matches up and pin and sew up the vertical edge. Turn right side in.
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Then measure the length from your curtain rod to the floor to find your finished length. Iron over the top edge to match your finished length. Make a curtain rod casing by turning the extra fabric under (I had to cut some off first) and make a ‘tube’ on the top edge with a finished seam (because you turned that extra fabric under and pinned and sewed in place). Optional- Fold and press your curtain in half and in half again and sew along those pressed-in-places lines. This divides the curtain up nicely and gave me good ‘markers,’ but if you’re good at eyeballing space, you might not need this step.
Sew a row of ruffles along the top of the curtain, matching up with the bottom of the curtain rod casing.
To make my flutters, I folded each circle (you use SO MANY circles for this project!) in half, then in half again. I pulled my needle through the point and then back down through the quartered circle and the curtain fabric- just once on most of the flutters, but sometimes twice.
I also used my ‘guide’ lines to divide my panels up into fifths. Before filling the top 20″ with ruffles, I sewed three vertical lines of ruffles in place. Then, I filled in each block, one at a time (using the same flutter method I described above).
Make sure you use a mix of circles to get that haphazard, fluttery look. Add more spaced out flutters on the bottom three quarters of the panel, and you’re finished!
I love having these curtains in the living room, but I think they’d be dreamy in a Master bedroom, or even in a nursery. And if you decide to take this project on (especially after I warned you about how they’re a little fussy), would you send pictures over? I’d love to see your take on them!
wowza lady. Those are mighty pretty. You are a patient hand sewer.
Hmmmm- patient or crazy.
Thanks friend!
I have been logging in twice a day for the past 4 days to see whether the tutorial was up yet
) I love, love the way you’ve made these. I am planning to make these for my living room . But I have one small doubt, Do you think the ruffles will retain their look after a wash ?
You are an amazing seamstress – I voted for you yesterday on SYTYCS . Wishing you the best of luck for the rest of the contest
Shireen – all the way from India
Shireen, this comment made me laugh (and blush!). Thanks for being so patient!
The wash makes me nervous too. Two thoughts- first, you could use jersey that won’t fray as your flutters (maybe even a jersey sheet since you need so many)! My other thought is that the whole thing is kind of ‘raw’ anyway. I made them white so that I can bleach them if I have to. And I figure the frays will just add to the charm. Hopefully I’m right because it is not a small endeavor.
Good luck! Please send pictures over when you’re done!
love
kirstin
Kirstin,
Will definitely post you the pics once I do it. Thank you so much for the tute!
I wasn’t thinking about the fraying – I was wondering whether the ruffles would get flattened /wrinkled over after a wash. After so much effort , if those ruffles get ruined , I am sure I would cry ! Do you have any suggestions , any special way – maybe a dry clean ? I am a very beginner sewer , this would take me days n days to do
, so please don’t mind if I ask stupid questions .
Thank you,
Shireen
I would love to see pictures if you ended up making these, Shireen! I love this idea and am thinking of trying it as soon as I get a job and can therefore buy a sewing machine
Wow! It’s gorgeous, but looks soooo time consuming!!!! I want to try, but have a question or two first. It looks (and sounds like) you sewed the flutters on by hand. Is that correct? Would it work to use a sewing machine (I hate sewing by hand!)? Or did you try that first with disastrous results?
You are right on all counts- yes, I did sew them all by hand and yes, it was oh-my-goodness time consuming!
Please try it with a sewing machine and let me know if it works. Hopefully there is a way to do this faster!!!
love
kirstin
this is gorgeous! I love the whole feel of it
Thanks friend! We do too (Burke keeps telling me how much he loves the new curtains- haha!).
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Those curtains are amazing and beautiful. I really love them, and can just imagine them on the window in my guest bedroom.
…but, that tutorial!!! It inspired me to learn to love the “no curtain” look I currently have, or just throw up a plain sheet! Cause there is no way I could ever do that!
(please take my comment with the intended dose of irony!)
haha! I kind of agree.
If I’d known how much work they were beforehand, I might’ve just shelled out the money at Anthro (or found something else to love). 
Very inspired by your curtains! I also have been drooling over Anthro’s shower curtain but cringe at the price! SO, I’m going to buck up and attempt to make these! However, I absolutely hate sewing (on a machine) so I thought maybe I could buy some white curtains and just hand sew on the little petals, think that would work?
Thanks for the inspiration!
Shawnie
I love this idea..Im thinking about shear white and finding hot pink and zebra print rose petals (all the wedding rage right now) if I cant find them then circles it is..
I have 2 girls and it would looks soo cute in their room….To go with my newly inspired zebra chair makeover! I love your ideas!!!
Ooooh, Sandra, I love the idea of not cutting out all of those circles! Let me know if you do it- send over a pic.
OMG! The bottom of my wedding dress had “petals” just like this! LOVE!
I love that! I bet it was gorgeous!
wow you did an amazing job xxx
Thanks Aimee!
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LOVE this DIY!!! You have put so much work into this and I am about to do the same
) One question though. How big are the circles? Thanks!!!
Hey Chris. It’s not for the faint of heart- can’t wait to see yours!!!
The circles are 2″ (with a 3″ one every 10th one or so for variety).
I am in lve with these curtains, and am currently making my own version! I am using basic broadcloth, chiffon, and satin in white, teals, and red. How did you go about spacing the ruffles? Thanks so much for this wonderful idea! I hope mine turn out similar to yours!
Kelly, that sounds GORGEOUS! I used my finger to space the upper ruffles and eyeballed the lower ones. Send over a picture when you’re done- we’d LOVE To see them!
ps- They’re a ton of work, aren’t they??? Glad to have someone who can relate!
These are gorgeous! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Holly!
Ahhh ! I’m so EXCITED. I’ve been looking for curtain ideas and they are friggen’ fantastic girl ! wowza.
Question : Did you cut all those little circles out by hand? (I’m sweating already…)
I have 4, 7 foot windown in my living room, I’m going to attempt this look, except since I’m a newbie at sewing I’ll be hot glueing. May work, I will keep you posted !
(It may look a tad different, but I made a coffee filter lamp shade the hot glueing way and it looks “fluffy”
Thanks SO much for sharing with us !
Hey Ashley! I used my Go Baby fabric cutter for the circles. It was still a bit of work, but not nearly the task of cutting all of those circles out by hand. Can’t wait to see yours!
Hi, so I am braving this project and finally have all of my circles cut. I am now ready to sew them on but they don’t seem to stand up like yours do, they just kind of flop over. Im not sure that Im sewing them on right. Could you please explain to a newby sewer how to sew them on in a little more detail. I would greatly appreciate it!
Thanks so much!
Shawnie
Hey Shawnie! I love it that you’re braving this project!
Ok, so I folded my circles in fourths. On most of them, I just stitched right through the folded point, but if you’re needing them to stand up more, you could also bring your thread through the point horizontally (going threw the fold) as well. The difference might be our fabric choices- some fabrics hold their shape much better than others.
If you try the double stitching, will you let me know if that worked???
You sewed each one on individually and knotted it on the back right?
No, just the ones that were spaced out at the bottom. The close together ones at the top are all sewn in one line (until I ran out of thread, and then I just started a new line).
Ok, thank you SO much for your help! I started sewing them on individually and oh my does that take some time! And you are right, the tougher fabric definitely stands up better. Thanks again for replying! Ill send you a pic once they are done =)
Shawnie
Hi i love this post and am attempting a few questions though before i get started. What size sheets did you buy at ikea?? Twin, full, queen?? And how many circles do i roughly need to cut out?? Thanks
I used one of their Knoppa flat sheets… I think those are twins (they don’t come in different sizes- they’re the 3.99 ones).
Also, I have no idea on circles. Hundreds for sure. I think I used almost another whole Ikea sheet in circles, plus part of an ivory vintage one.
Hope that helps!
I made mine I will post a picture of it soon on my blog. I did some shortcuts i will share…I LOVE THESE CURTAINS
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I would pay you good money for you to make a set of these for my living area. Please let me know if you would be interested. And how much . Thank you!
What a compliment Maureen! You probably think more of my sewing than you should.
And we aren’t taking any customs orders right now, but are flattered you asked!
Where did you find the beautiful blue lamp?
Hey Judy- I got the lamp at Target.
I love your flutter curtains! Since I am not sew that well, could I buy a set from you?
So sweet of you to ask- though we aren’t accepting any custom projects right now.
*can