When it comes to blackout curtains, one size never fits all. If you accidentally bought oversized blackout curtains, they’ll not only make your windows look unpolished but also pose a safety hazard. The excess material may catch fire (if it covers the radiator), and your energetic children and pets may trip over it while playing.
Do you want to shorten your ready-made blackout curtains but don’t have strong sewing skills? This no-sew resizing guide will teach some hacks to fix dim-out curtains that are too long. By the end, you will have mastered the craft of resizing & hemming curtains without needle & thread.
No-Sew Guide For Hemming Blackout Curtains | 3 Simple Techniques
Perfect for complete beginners with no sewing experience, these steps will teach you how you can shorten blackout curtains without a sewing machine, just by using fusible tape, velcro, and folding the top.
Before Shortening Blackout Curtains: Remember These Key Tips
- Make sure the blackout curtains are pre-shrunk before you begin the alteration.
- Calculate the desired length of the blackout drapes while they are hanging.
- Separate the drapes and blackout liner, and hem them independently.
- Do not use heat above 55°C when ironing, as the dim-out coating melts easily.
- Use sharp fabric shears that can cut the stiff, almost plasticy blackout curtains without fraying.
Iron-On Hemming Tape Method
Shortening curtains with heat-activated hem tape is the most recommended alternative to stitching. This curtain-tailoring method is best suited to blackout curtains with many layers and provides long-lasting results.
Tools Required:
- Iron-On Hemming Tape (must get a heavy-duty one)
- Ironing board
- Steam Iron or Dry Iron (if it has a synthetic setting)
- Measuring Tape
- Chalk Or Pencil
Step-by-Step Guide:
Step 1: Separate the blackout curtains and the polyurethane liner since you will be resizing them separately.
Step 2: Find out the height of the dim-out curtains while they are hanging with a measuring tape.
Step 3: With chalk, mark the blackout material (in a horizontal, straight line) where you want them to end.
Step 4: Get your shears and trim the length, 5 to 10 centimeters from the bottom of the blackout curtains, using chalk markings as a guide.
Step 5: Fold the drapery material (ideally 2 – 3 cm) and make a sharp crease.
Step 6: Apply the fuse-on hemming tape on the inside of the blackout window curtains.
Step 7: Iron over the face fabric of the light-blocking fabric at one dot or a maximum of two dot settings. To prevent scorching, iron for only 10 seconds, or ideally, place another cloth over the drapes.
Step 8: Lastly, allow the window coverings to cool, then check whether the length is right for you.
Velcro Strip Method
For those looking for a quick solution, use Velcro tape for adjusting the length of lined blackout drapes at home. This method is renter-friendly as it preserves the integrity of expensive blackout curtains.
Necessary Tools:
- Ultra-Strong Velcro Tape
- Tape Measures
- Pins Or Clips
- Iron
- Tailor’s Chalk
- Scissors (Optional)
Steps For Shortening Curtains
Step 1: Decide how much shorter you want the blackout curtains to be, then mark the correct length with the tailor’s chalk.
Step 2: Fold the unwanted curtain length neatly. You can also iron it over the drapery fold to create a sharp crease.
Step 3: Trim your Velcro strip, then apply the hook part to the folded edge and the loop part to the parallel side of the curtains.
Step 4: Before connecting the two Velcro sides and ultimately shortening the curtains, allow the adhesives to cure (this may take a full day).
Optional Step: If the folded blackout material is too big, trim it with fabric scissors for a professional finish.
Fold-The-Top Method
If you are looking for a convenient “temporary” method for resizing blackout curtains, we have the perfect tutorial for you. This does not require ruining the bottom edge of the curtains, and you probably have all the necessary tools at home.
Tools You Should Have:
- Drapery Rings Or Clips
- Measuring Tape
- Seam Ripper (Nice To Have)
Steps To Follow:
Step 1: Measure how much length you want to remove from the top of the blackout curtains.
Step 2: Fold over the unwanted material at the top edge of the curtains and press to make it crisp.
Step 3: Add the curtain rings and make sure they go through the folded fabric as well.
Step 4: Rehang your blackout curtains on the pole to create a shorter, customized drape.
Why Resizing Blackout Curtains Without Sewing Is A Wise Decision?
No-sew blackout curtain alteration not only saves money and time, but can also be a fun DIY project.
- No Expensive Tailor Visits: Tailors can charge up to AED 50 per blackout curtain panel just to shorten it.
- Save Significant Time: This guide for trimming and hemming blackout curtains takes just 30 minutes.
- No Pinholes From Needles: You can customize the room-darkening curtains without the fear of making excessive holes or damage.
- Easy for All Skill Levels: Anyone (even with no previous DIY experience) can shorten their curtains at home by following our guide.
To Sum Up:
It is entirely possible to shorten blackout curtains without going near a sewing machine. In this article, we walked you through 3 easy ways to teach you how to adjust blackout curtain length without stitching. You learned tips to successfully hem blackout window curtains without mistakes. Next time, if you receive blackout curtains that are too long, we hope you know exactly what to do.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is It Possible To Hem Polyurethane-Lined Blackout Curtains Without Stitching?
Use heat-activated hemming strips to shorten polyurethane-lined blackout drapes. Since polyurethane can bear extreme heat (up to 121°C) without melting, you can iron on the hem tape and shorten the curtains without worry.
How To Shorten Blackout Curtains But Keep The Original Border Intact?
If you want to preserve the original printed or weighted hem of the blackout window curtains, use the “fold-the-top” method to shorten them; a guide is already included in our comprehensive guide.
What To Avoid When Resizing Blackout Drapes?
To avoid mistakes, measure the room-darkening curtains at least twice before deciding how much length you want gone. Secondly, do not put iron directly on the light-blocking fabric; instead, place a cloth over the material.
