Say Goodbye To Basic Curtains & Add Privacy To Windows With A Vintage Clothing Find

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It's the ultimate in upcycling. Tiktok user angelmakesmagic shows off her new curtains — and what they used to be. Once a flowy skirt, the fabric is transformed into soft, gauzy curtains covering a small window. The fabric pattern was attractive as a skirt, but the DIYer notes that the skirt itself was one she never really wore, and it frequently ended up in her donation pile, only to be pulled out again. Unable to part with it, she created something new. Cutting the skirt into panels and working with the existing seam and hemline, she used a traditional tension rod and hung the panels just like curtains. 

It doesn't take a donation pile to make this project. Keeping fabric waste out of landfills and upcycling old material into new designs is not only earth friendly, but budget friendly. Think of using worn soft sheets, old threadbare blankets, or something from the overflow clearance clothing bin at the thrift store. All contain fabric that could use a second life. 

Not enough of your favorite fabric to cover the window? Not a problem. This creative project still allows you to incorporate new material by cutting and adding fabric to the rod. A plain white curtain can now have a border of your favorite skirt that no longer fits. Add it to the sides or line the bottom of existing curtains, or try an alternative and use old sheets or table cloths as the base fabric. 

Sort through your closet and find that Hawaiian shirt, that mismatched sheet, or that prairie-style dress that is so last season and has fabric to spare, and you've got the start of new curtains. Measure the window and the length of your fabric. Remember, additional material may be needed to add length or width. Cut along the seams to create panels, or if applicable, find the drawstring insert to replace the string with a curtain rod. 

This project is as no-sew as you want. If the seams of your fabric do not naturally align for curtain rods, fabric glue can be used instead of sewing. Other no-sew window projects, like this thrifted vintage doilies look, use fabric glue to secure the material together or to glue the material to an existing sheer fabric or curtain. Fabric glue is durable and strong enough for everyday wear, and works on curtain fabric. Just allow for dry time before hanging. Other alternatives to attaching material are double-sided garment tape or iron-on hem tape; just apply and stick together where needed to create your curtain.

To hang up your new curtains, try using clip-on drapery rings to place them on the rod. This allows you to move your curtains with ease, and match the hardware to your decor. And this project is not just for windows: Try it under a bathroom sink to hide extra storage, create a curtain to cover an open cabinet, or hang it to conceal a shelf in the laundry room.