Yesterday I showed you the gorgeous shower curtains I made for a client. Shower curtains made with ruffles and lace. Today I’m going to show you how to make a shower curtain for yourself. The fact that this project uses bed sheets makes it so easy and quick you won’t believe how fast it is!
You will need the following for one shower curtain:
4 yards wide lace – you can find different styles here.
Thread to match the sheets and lace
Figure the finished length you want your curtain. And how long you want the bottom ruffle. The length of the finished ruffle can be subtracted from the total finished length of the curtain. The main curtain piece will be cut shorter by the length of the ruffle (it will be the total finished length minus the finished length of the ruffle) (you will need to add a seam allowance to the bottom of the main piece and to the top of the ruffle) when the ruffle is added the length will be the original length you figured. Make sense? Don’t forget to add those seam allowances and hem allowance where needed!
Create the bottom ruffle. You will use the extra bedsheet to make the ruffles. Cut the ruffle across the width of the sheet so you can use the hemmed sides as the sides of the ruffle. Cut two widths – ruffles look best when they are at least double the width of the main piece. The length the ruffle hangs can be whatever you prefer. Add about an inch in length to create a hem. I hem by serging the edge and turning it up twice and topstitching.
The two ruffles can be stitched together (right sides together) and then press open. Because the edges were hemmed you won’t need to finish them, just press! 🙂 Sew the ruffle pieces together before hemming the ruffle.
The top ruffle is made the same way as the bottom ruffle. I made this ruffle wider than the bottom one. You can make yours however you wish! Finish the bottom edge with a hem just like the bottom ruffle.
Serge the top edge then turn it under about 1/2 inch.
Gather the fabric ruffle and the lace ruffle. I used my ruffler foot for my machine. You can also run gathering threads and pull it up as needed.
The lace was purchased in one piece of yardage. I cut to double the width of the curtain then hemmed both sides. I turned them under twice and topstitched.
To get the lace ruffle and upper fabric ruffle in the correct spots I measured up on the main fabric 1 inch less than the length of the ruffle. I wanted the lace ruffle to just cover the seam of the bottom ruffle.
Measure up all along the ruffle and mark that line. I chose to use pins so I didn’t have marks to wash out. You can use a marking pen if you want to.
Lay the lace ruffle along the line of pins or your marked line if you prefered that way.
Stitch it on.
It should fall just over the seam of the bottom ruffle at the highest point of the lace.
The top ruffle can now be added in the same way as the lace ruffle. Decide how far down on the lace you want it to hit and measure up from the lace accordingly to make your line for where the top ruffle will be attached.
Since the top of the sheet has a large header it works wonderfully as the top of a shower curtain. 
Make buttonholes, spaced evenly, along the top of the curtain. You will need 12 buttonholes. I don’t have an easy way to tell you how to space the buttonholes – I put one on each end and space them evenly – just trial and error – doesn’t usually take too long to figure out where they all should go – start with 5 inches apart and see if it comes out right. Adjust as needed to get 12 buttonholes. I know there is probably a mathematical equation that would solve this but it’s quicker for me to do it this way than to find that equation 😀
Buttonhole scissors are one of the best tools for your sewing room – makes cutting open those buttonholes very easy.
Another close-up look at the ruffles.
Hang your ruffles and lace shower curtain and enjoy the beauty you have created!
Jill
Just beautiful! Thanks for the little tutorial. I have never seen buttonhole scissors, amazing!
Thank Susan 😀
Been sewing long time, never heard of button hole scissors. Great to find out tho. Wonderful tutorial Jill, I’m printing this out for my sewing notebook. I’ve made things like this before, have my way of figuring things out but this could certainly help to learn from a professional.
I noticed how you made your hems and seams and few other little good sewing practices. I was taught by one of my aunts who was a professional seamstress for Halle Bros. Dept. store in Cleveland many, many years ago. Funny how those things come to mind when I saw that you practice them in your sewing.
Haven’t touched my machine in weeks, been jamming so leave it alone til I can deal with it with patience not anger. In all honesty, can hardly get to it for all the “stuff” on floor of sewing room. Now that I got hallway cleared I can fill it again with stuff in sewing room to go thru it, hopefully get it organized. Need to be in right frame of mind to tackle it.
How did it get to be Wed. already? Have great rest of week and weekend
I am really considering making a shower curtain for our bathroom just for pretty. We have a glass door on our shower.
I love how lush and full the curtain looks over the shower, just looks cozy. You did excellent job with your tutorial and making the curtains. Have you made any for your own bathrooms?
Buttonhole scissors are great! Not totally necessary but they sure make the job of cutting those holes open easier!
So lovely! Thanks for the tutorial. Have a great week!
Thank you Leslie!
What size sheets did you use?
My client sent them to me so I can’t remember for sure – I think they were double or queen – I’d recommend measuring how long you want yours to hang and then checking that to the measurements of the sheets.
Thank you! I love the shower curtain!!
Thank you so much. I love the shower curtain!