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When buying ready-made curtains it can often be hard to find the right length for your windows, so it's good to know how to shorten curtains. On the plus side, it's a super easy job that you can even do without sewing, but if you're handy with a sewing machine it's a relatively quick project.
The quickest way to shorten curtains is by using hemming tape, which is also a good idea if you're not confident at sewing. 'Speaking from experience, hemming tape can be an incredibly handy tool for shortening curtains,' explains Tim Green, Founder at Archway Joinery.
'Be sure to follow the product instructions closely, checking that you're abiding by proper heat setting and sealing practices, if you want to achieve a clean and durable finish. For a neat and professional look, make sure you've pinned the fabric securely before using any adhesives.'
How to shorten curtains
There are a few things you can do to make the job easier, such as using a large table or clear section of floor to lay the fabric flat for measuring and cutting. It's also worth using pins with bobbled, colourful heads as they're easier to see, meaning they'll be less likely to be left in when you're finished.
What you will need
- Curtains Try Dunelm for a wide selection of curtains
- Tape measure
- Pins
- Sewing machine and thread The Brother LK14S Sewing Machine from John Lewis is a good budget buy
- Hemming tape, available on Amazon for £5 (if not stitching in place)
1. Work out the right length
To begin, you want to decide on the length you want your curtains to be. If they are covering a window with a sill, you need to decide whether your curtains end at the sill or if you want them to hang slightly longer.
For floor length curtains you have the choice of them sitting just above the floor or letting them puddle a little. Hang the curtains up and pin them at the length you want, then you can start measuring your curtains.
Measure the bottom of the curtain to your pin – this is how much length you need to remove.
Once you've checked your measurements, fold the fabric over twice up to the new length, (you want a hem of around 1.5in), iron and pin in place so you have a neat fold. If you are shortening your curtains by a lot, you can cut away any excess fabric to ensure you have the correct size hem.
If you have a sewing machine, attach thread in a matching colour to your curtains and stitch to secure in place, removing the pins as you go.
2. How to shorten pleat curtains
When it comes to shortening pencil pleat curtains, you will need to take a slightly different approach and instead shorten from the top. This means the professionally sewn hem on the bottom remains intact.
It can be a bit more fiddly than shortening other curtains, but with the right tools it's easily done. You’ll need to remove the heading tape using an unpicking tool (also referred to a a seam ripper).
You'll then need to determine the new length of the curtains. From the top of your curtain, measure down to the length you need the curtains shortening by and pin. Do so along the whole width of the curtain before folding the material over, so the pins now sit at the top.
Next give the curtains an iron so you'll end up with a near and crease-free finish. Then it's time to reattach the heading tape by pinning it back on over the top of the fold. Sew along the top of the header, so it’s securely attached. Before you sew the bottom part of the header, flip it up and cut off any excess curtain material, so the cut end is hidden underneath the heading tape.
3. How to shorten curtain with hemming tape
If you want to shorten your curtains without sewing, then you can easily do this by using hemming tape instead. 'You can shorten a curtain without even lifting a sewing needle,' says Tim. 'All you have to do is get your hands on some fabric glue or iron-on hem tape. Simply measure and mark out your desired length, then fold and secure the hem with the glue or tape.'
Like before, the key to successfully shortening curtains is making sure you measure them carefully. 'For the best result, always measure your curtains twice before cutting, as this will mitigate the risk of mistakes,' adds Tim. 'If you're worried about aesthetics, I suggest you steam or iron the hem afterwards until it looks appropriately polished.'
FAQs
How do you shorten a curtain without sewing?
If you don’t want to do any sewing, it’s best to shorten curtains from the bottom. Mark where you want to cut the material, leaving at least a few centimetres extra for your new hem. Mark or pin where you need to fold the bottom of the curtain to create your new hem and iron along the fold. Then take some hemming tape and pop this inside the fold and iron again to stick it down.
