pretty dressmaker details turn a ho-hum shower curtain haute couture in this diy from senior editor Sally Armstrong.
What you’ll need:
Plain cotton shower curtain, 2 1⁄2 yd. fabric, scissors or pinking shears, a sewing maker and thread (measurements are for a conventional 70″ x 72″ curtain).
Step 1: sew On Valance
A few easy embellishments give a plain, economical shower curtain a decorative boost. begin by sewing an 8″-wide valance (hemmed along the top, bottom and sides) across the top of the curtain. Leave valance unstitched over top of each grommet, so shower curtain rings can still be fed through the holes, which will be hidden by the valance.
Step 2: gather fabric into Frills
Using scissors or pinking shears, cut four strips of fabric that are each 3″ large and 7′ long. set the stitch size on your sewing maker to the longest possible length. In the center of each fabric strip, stitch two rows, 1⁄4″ apart, the full length of the strip. working from both ends, gently pull each thread until the fabric gathers into a soft ruffle.
Step 3: sew On Trim
Pin the ruffled fabric onto the shower curtain, spaced about 6″ apart. sew them onto the shower curtain with one line of stitching down the center of each strip, then pull out the threads previously used to make the fabric into ruffles. (TIP: use ribbon instead of fabric for a a lot more tailored look.)