Linen Tablecloth to Curtains

I love the look of simple white cotton linen curtains and made some inexpensively this week.

For some time now I have wanted white curtains in the family room/kitchen end of our home. With patio doors, a large triple window and one smaller corner window we need 5 panels. That would be a lot of fabric and all the fabrics I found were expensive. {It is getting harder to find fabric stores here.} The solution: I bought 5 linen 100% cotton tablecloths, measuring 70" x 126", on clear out at HomeSense for $13 (Cdn) each. That makes each tablecloth 3.5 yards x 70 inches wide.

They have a fine simple weave and no shininess, exactly what I was looking for! The extra width gives the curtains lots of fullness. I simply cut off the excess length from one end (the other 3 sides are already hemmed), ironed a double fold bottom and sewed a ~~new hem~~ straight line.

I left extra length in case they shrink when I wash them but I like a bit of puddling.

My iron stopped working with 3 panels still wrinkled! The patio panels are ironed, the family room panels are not. I'm going to borrow my sister's steamer and see if that works faster.

Most recently I had drop cloth drapes in the kitchen and blue paisley in the family room. I like them both but really wanted light, white and all 5 panels the same.

I'm thinking of selling the little antique secretary desk between the door and window. It is a great little piece, especially for a laptop (which we don't have at this time) but I'm hoping to find something taller for that space because of the high ceiling.

I still need to finish slipcovers for the chairs in the family room. I made a slipcover for the brown ottoman, above, using blue and tan outdoor fabric but I'm not liking it. So, hopefully later this week I will be able to finish a new white or cream ottoman slipcover. There is still lots to do, especially with the fireplace/tv wall and the computer desk area, but I'm really liking the way it is all coming together.