Eyelet fabric often has a scalloped border that makes a lovely edge for cafe-style curtains. These curtains are light and breezy and are perfect for a country or "shabby-chic" style room. Eyelet is a fabric that has a pattern of holes. When eyelet was handmade, seamstresses would make the holes with an awl and work the buttonhole stitch around them. Modern eyelet is machine made, but still has a pattern of holes surrounded by embroidery. The holes in eyelet curtains allow the sunlight to make lovely patterns on the floor in the early morning and late afternoon.
1-Measure from the top of your curtain rod to your windowsill. Add 2 inches to this measurement. Cut your fabric this width, measuring from the widest point of the scalloped border.
2-Measure the width of your curtain rod. Double this measurement. Cut your curtains this length.
3-Examine your fabric to determine which is the right-side. This is tricky with eyelet. The right side will be the side where the stitches around the holes are straight. Iron a 1/2-inch hem on the both sides of curtain. Be sure these hems are on the wrong side of the fabric. Fold under 1/4 inch at the top of this hem and iron it down. Sew the hem close to the folded edge.
4-Iron down a 2-inch casing at the top of the curtain. Fold in 1/2 inch on the edge of the casing. Iron this fold down. Sew the casing closed by sewing close to the fold.
5-Run your curtain rod through the casing.
Tips & Warnings
You may make one curtain which goes all the way across your window, or a curtain for each side of the window. Two curtains are easier to open. One curtain will not have a gap in the middle.
You may make a valance for the top of the window in the same way. Cut your fabric 14-inches wide for a 12-inch valance.
