How to Sew Simple Rod Pocket Curtains: A Tutorial for Novices

When my husband and I purchased our home two years ago, we went in search of curtains. I was surprised at how pricy they were! Though I have very rudimentary sewing skills, I decided to purchase fabric and sew my own.

Now that we are furnishing a nursery, I purchased some cute fabric and pulled out the sewing machine once again. Rod pocket curtains are very easy to sew—even if you’re like me and have only basic sewing knowledge and skills!

Get ready

The first thing you need to do is select your fabric. If you want your curtain panel to hang flat, then you need your fabric to be a couple inches wider than your window. If you want your curtain panel to hang ruffled, then you need your fabric to be twice the width of your window (this may require you to make more than one panel).

Decide what curtain rod you will use to hang the curtain. If it is a thin rod, then you want your fabric to be 8-10 inches longer than the desired length of your final curtain. If it is a thick rod, then you want your fabric to be 10-12 inches longer than the desired length of your final curtain. It’s always a good idea to shoot for a longer length—you can cut off excess fabric, but you can’t add on once the fabric is already cut!

Unless your fabric can only be dry cleaned, you’ll want to wash, dry, and iron it before beginning to sew. You’ll need an iron, ironing board, pins, tape measure, scissors, sewing machine, and thread to complete the curtains.

Step 1 – Hem the sides of your fabric panel

Fold over the side edges of your fabric to create 3/4 or 1 inch hems. (It doesn’t matter which measurement you use, just be consistent all the way down your fabric.) Pin the hems in place and iron them so they are completely flat (this makes it easier to stitch). Sew a straight seam down each side to keep the hems in place.

Step 2 – Hem the top of your fabric panel

Fold over 6 inches of fabric at the top of your panel (if you will be using a thick curtain rod, then make this 8 inches). Pin the hem in place and press it with your iron. Using the lines on your sewing machine as a guide, sew a straight seam 1 inch below the folded edge. This creates a decorative top border for your curtain. Your curtain will hang from this seam—it will sit atop the curtain rod.

Step 3 – Create the pocket

Raise the flap you just created when sewing the top border. Fold the top edge of the fabric over by about 3/4 inch. Press flat. Fold down your new folded edge so it lines up with the seam beneath the decorative border. Turn down your newly created pocket so the decorative top border is at the top of the panel. Pin the pocket in place and press it with the iron. Sew a straight seam across the bottom of the pocket.

Step 4 – Hem the bottom of your fabric panel

Lay your fabric out flat on the floor. Measure down from the seam beneath the decorative top border until you’ve reached a point that is two inches longer than you want your curtain to be. Mark this point and cut off any excess fabric.

Fold over two inches of fabric at the bottom edge. Do not pin, but press with the iron. (By ironing this fold, you’ll leave a mark that will act as a guide.) Unfold the fabric, then fold over just one inch of fabric. Iron this fold flat. Leaving this fold in place, fold over along the mark you made a minute ago (this leaves the unfinished edge of the fabric tucked inside the new seam, reducing the chance it will unravel). Pin, iron, and sew in place.

You’re done! Hang the curtain and enjoy!

What do you think? That’s not so difficult, right? What simple sewing projects have you tackled recently?

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