Things You'll Need
Tape measure
Straight pins
Hand-sewing needle
Button thread
Scissors
Curtain rings are available in clip-on and continuous-loop, sew-on styles. Where clip-on curtain rings are easy and allow the seamstress to quickly make stylish curtains, sew-on style curtain rings provide extra strength for lined or heavier fabric curtains. Curtain rings are available in a wide variety of finishes and materials such as metal, plastic and wood. Sewing curtain rings to curtains requires no special machinery, only a hand-sewing needle and button thread in the dominant color of the curtains.
Step 1
Begin at the top left corner of the curtain, at the left-side hem. Place a straight pin 1/4 inch from the curtain top on the left-side hem.
Video of the Day
Step 2
Measure 8 inches to the right from the first straight pin. Insert a straight pin to mark the spot. Continue measuring every 8 inches from the last straight pin and marking the locations with straight pins. When you reach the right-side hem, regardless of if your measurement falls short or long, place a straight pin on the right-side hem.
Step 3
Thread a hand-sewing needle with button thread in the dominant color of the curtain. Bring the thread ends together to form a loop with the needle sliding along the thread. Tie the ends together. This allows a double layer of thread for stronger sewing. Dust and ultraviolet exposure can deteriorate thread over time. Using double thread increases the holding power of the thread.
Step 4
Grasp one curtain ring. Align the "bottom" center of the ring with the straight pin along the top edge of the curtain on the left side seam. The rest of the curtain ring should protrude over the top of the curtain.
Step 5
Insert the needle into the top curtain edge, from the curtain back, and pull the needle and thread until the knot meets the curtain fabric. Holding the curtain ring against the curtain fabric, insert the needle through the ring and back into the curtain fabric. Pull the needle and thread until you've formed a stitch around the center bottom of the curtain ring. This is an overcast stitch. (The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 470 Union Stagehands says that an overcast stitch is essentially a whip stitch that is used over and under an object or edge of fabric to secure an object or the fabric edge.) Complete about 6 stitches around the curtain ring, securing the ring to the top edge of the curtain.
Step 6
Move to the next straight pin and align the bottom of the curtain ring with the top edge of the curtain. Sew the ring to the curtain. Continue until you've sewn a curtain ring at each straight pin. Remove the straight pins.
Tip
Curtain rings may be sewn about 1/2 to 1 inch down from the top curtain edge on the top curtain edge back if invisible rings are desired. Spacing for curtain rings can be expanded from every 8 inches to every 12 inches for an increased draping effect or for wide windows.
Video of the Day