Bringing Farmhouse Charm to My Pantry Windows
I’ve been meaning to hang curtains in our pantry for years now. In the winter, when the leaves are all gone, you can see our neighbors’ house, and a sheer cafe curtain seemed like it would add the perfect amount of privacy and charm without blocking the light. Spoiler alert: they do! So today, I wanted to share how I made these simple cafe curtains – no special tools required.
Let’s talk about the fabric, shall we? It’s a classic Morris print, and we all know I love Morris prints. In my opinion, it’s perfectly cozy, a little refined, and a little country without any kitsch. Most Morris fabric is in the designer $100-yard range, but this cotton was only $12.50 a yard. Score!
The Grit and Polish had some great tips on making these curtains, and I followed their lead. The first step was to figure out the quantity of fabric I’d need. I decided on the orientation of the fabric I wanted and added 6 inches to the height of the curtain for the seams. For our 28-inch-wide window, I used a 44-inch-wide fabric, cutting it into two panels.
Next, I tackled the clips. The Grit and Polish recommended one clip on each side of the curtain panel, plus one clip per every 5 inches. For our 20-inch panels, I used 5 clips per panel. These Rejuvenation cafe rods are pretty slick, and I love the mounting hardware. Both the inside and outside mount have a two-piece mounting system, with one piece that you attach to your window and a second round piece that sits over the rod and screws onto the mounting bracket.
Sewing Up Some Farmhouse Charm
I’ll be honest – I’m no sewing expert, but my mom taught me the basics when I was little, and she gave me a sewing machine when I got married. Thankfully, curtains are about the easiest thing to make. The first step is to sew the two side seams. I like to iron my seams first; you could also use pins to hold them in place while you sew. I folded over one side about 3/8 inch, ironed it down, and then folded it another 3/8 inch and ironed that in place. Then I sewed that seam and repeated the whole thing on the other side of the curtain.
Next came the top and bottom seams. I ironed the top seam down about 3/8 inch and then folded it down 2 inches (or whatever length you want for the top seam) and sewed it in place. I repeated the process for the bottom seam, making sure I ended up with the overall height I wanted on the curtain panel. For the bottom seam, I folded the fabric over 3/8 inch, ironed it down, then folded it over about an inch and ironed it again before sewing.
At this point, I had four finished sides on my curtain panel. I repeated the process with the second panel, and voila – cafe curtains!
Hanging My Handmade Cafe Curtains
The Blesser House blog had a great tip for making these curtains even easier: using kitchen towels as the panels! Since I already had the sewing skills, I stuck with my Morris print fabric, but I can see how that would be a super quick and budget-friendly option.
Once I had my two curtain panels ready, it was time to hang them. I decided to go with an outside mount on our casement window so that it could still open with the window treatment attached. I measured the overall length of the rod and hardware and then custom-ordered the outside mount. The Grit and Polish shared a genius trick for attaching the curtains to the rod – putting the curtains on first, then attaching the rod to the brackets. This made it so much easier.
I’m thrilled with how these cafe curtains turned out, and I love the farmhouse charm they bring to our pantry. The total cost for each window was around $89.50 – $50 for the rod and mount hardware, $30 for the curtain clips, and $9.50 for the fabric. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly option, the Blesser House blog suggests skipping the clips and hanging the curtains directly on the rod, which would bring the cost down to around $34 per window.
Whether you choose to sew your own panels or repurpose kitchen towels, cafe curtains are a great way to add privacy and character to any room. And with a little creativity, you can achieve the perfect custom look without breaking the bank. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to find the perfect plant to perch on the pantry windowsill!
Ready to bring some farmhouse flair to your own home? Head over to Home Curtains Philadelphia to explore our wide selection of custom window treatments and get inspired. From cozy cafe curtains to stunning tiered drapes, we’ve got everything you need to transform your space.
