I have had a set of cotton twill curtains in my house for years. I don’t really remember where I bought them anymore; they have just been a part of my home for ages. This spring, I got a set of new set of (more energy efficient) French doors to replace the 1950s era sliding glass doors that open from my kitchen to the back patio.

Because the curtain rod now needed to be moved, I took the cotton twill curtains down for a wash – and I decided to decorate them.

I used our 100% organic medium-weight cotton jersey in white with our Anna’s Garden stencil to add an 18” Negative Reverse Appliqué (see page 99 of Alabama Studio Sewing + Design) border to the bottom of the curtains.

After a very hot wash and dry, my curtains drew up in the length and became too short for my new French doors. I remedied this by adding a simple, matching, white cotton jersey border to the bottom with a straight stitch.

The following instructions are for four curtain panels that are 55” wide.

SUPPLIES
2 yards 100% organic medium-weight cotton jersey
Anna’s Garden stencil
Garment scissors
Embroidery scissors
Tools for your choice of stencil transfer method
Pins
Needle
Button Craft thread

1. Cut four rectangles of cotton jersey fabric 18” high x 55” wide. Adjust the height based on your desired appliqué area and the width based on the size of your curtains.

2. Transfer your stencil design (see page 17 of Alabama Studio Sewing+ Design) onto the right side of your appliqué fabric and let the fabric dry thoroughly.

3. Pin your appliqué fabric securely to your curtain base as illustrated below.

4. Stitch the two layers of fabric together 1/8” inside the edge of the stenciled shape; then cut the top layer of the fabric 1/8” outside the edge of the stenciled shape, leaving a 1/4” sliver of top-layer fabric beyond your stitching line.

5. Continue stitching and trimming away the cotton jersey appliqué fabric until you have completed all four patterns.

6. Add a cotton jersey border by cutting a rectangle of fabric twice the height of your desired border size and as wide as your curtains. Fold the rectangle in half across the long edge and apply to the top of the curtains with a straight stitch.

7. Hang curtains. Sit down and have refreshment.