I'm getting to the end of my tether looking for curtains for my house. Our windows are enormous and the costs I have seen from curtain makers on the internet mean its going to be 2050 before I can afford them all. For example my landing window is 255cm drop x 119 cm wide, I can't buy them off the shelf because of the drop, they look daft if I just have them to under the sill so they have to go to the floor. I have been quoted on the net 220.00 for just a pair of pretty plain lined curtains.

I'll hold my hands up and admit I know nothing of how much curtains cost but this is the smallest window I have and theres 16 more besides Is this really how much someone would charge for making curtains or is this an inflated net price? I'd make them but I aren't sure I'd do it right, I know the theory but I aren't confident enough to do it I don't think. Does anyone have any suggestions other then nailing dust sheets over them as suggested by the boyf (cheap and practical apparently) I don't want them to look naff, as they are so big I think they should make a statement but if this is how much they are all going to cost they will be whispering it rather than shouting as I had hoped!!

hiya

I had the same problem with my windows could get the width but not the drop...so I ended up buying two sets and sewing them together to make up the length..It looks ok and saved me soo much money..hth

I never thought of that, is it obvious. I suppose I'd need to be careful with what pattern I went for if any. Thanks hun x x

My advice to you would be.... ditch the curtains!!!

Dirty great big bloody dust harbourers that look awful!

It sounds to me like you have an older property - you could put vertical blinds in or window shutters depending on the period of the property. Worth the expense in the end (curtains are a lot of money - plus you've got to wash them, they stink... collect dust, collect smells... fade... )

I hate curtains, we don't have any in the house at all!

I know I am in the minority here though

Why not make your own, they are the easiest thing in the world to make! I made mine by hand, double lined too with triple pleats. Only difficult bit is measuring to get the pleats even, but if you buy a good book on home furnishings you're laughing! Honestly there is no skill at all as all the seams are straight. The amount you will save will more than pay for a basic sewing machine of about £150!

I had thought of making them myself, but then I thought maybe I'm seeing simplicity where there isn't any. I'll have a scout round for a decent book an see whats to do. Thanks all

see if there is a local curtain maker in the yellow pages, look for someone who doesnt have a huge add to pay for, chances are they might cost less .

also check out ikea, their curtains are 3m long. and great value.

I went to night school a few years ago to learn how to make curtains. Only because we were moving (to where I live now) and the property has very big windows and I knew it was going to cost an arm and leg to put curtains up.

My bay at the front will have, when I get my arse in gear. False floor length curtains at the front and then sill length hidden behind which I can pull. I have decided to do this as the cost to make full full Length curtains myself with decent material would be around £1000.

i make my own curtains, swags, tails etc, i priced up how much it would be to have them made (£350) i dont bloody think so..........made em myself at a grand cost of £50.

swags and tails can be fiddly, but the main curtain is so easy. you dont need a pattern.

measure the width of your window, then if you are going to close them, multipy the width by 3 (this will still give you abit of gather when they are shut). if you arnt going to close them, then i just times the width by 1.5, measure the drop of the window, then add 6" (this is for the heading tape and the hem). all you need to do then flowerpot, is sew them (obviously if you get a patterned material, it can be awkward matching patterns, and you get alot of waste, depending on the pattern) if i was you and this is your first attempt, go with a plain fabric.........it really is a piece of cake to do

hth

I am with you, I hate curtains and lace and so on. I have timber venetians through my house and yes they still get dusty but they dont need to be washed and I love the clutterless less fussy look. If your windows are that big I would look for blinds in a style you like, Roman blinds, verticals, venetians and so on. xxx

i must be one of the old fashioned then

i love my curtains,and swags n tails, i think they make a room look more cosey, rather than bare windows, that no-one cares about (i dont mean that literallly - if you know what i mean) but i always think that windows without curtains look like no-one lives in the house

Thanks everyone I think I'll have a go myself, if I make a practice pair out of cheap plain material and they look alright I'll have a go proper!!

I'm a curtain girl as i am very tactile and love the luxury look that fabric can give.

I think that wooden blinds do look nice and modern but this is not for me as everyoe I know has them in there house and just looks a little samey. If you know what I mean. But do hate nets. Cant stand nets. They are the stinky dirty dust catchers.