No sew Oil cloth curtains

I first made oilcloth curtains for our kitchen french doors as we wanted to conserve energy and give ourselves some privacy. I also wanted them to be wipe clean so oilcloth seemed the perfect option. I made one in a stone/white spot but I didn't want to stitch the curtains as I thought they would look neater and slicker if there was no visible stitching. So I used iron on no sew tape. When it came to covering up the open shelves in our hallway room I opted for oil cloth curtains again, this time in a floral spot print. I thought I could get away with just one but in the end I decided two would give better coverage and look neater. It also gave me the perfect oppurtunity to show you how I did it...

Oil cloth curtains
Tools and materials

• Oil cloth ( I used English rose taupe)
• HeatnBond Ultra Tape Roll Fusible tape acts as an adhesive between two pieces of fabric, and it is activated with heat.
  *Make sure you buy a strong hold tape with a backing paper.
• Silver eyelets

Start by measuring the window/door/cupboard for the desired width and length of the curtains. For the finished curtain width, measure from one end of the curtain track to the other. The overall fabric width will be the final curtain width multiplied by 2. Add 17cm plus to the curtain length to allow for hemming. (11cm for the top hem, 6cm for the bottom hem)
Cut out the fabric.

Oil cloth curtains, How-to step by step

Place material wrong side up and using an iron on low heat bond the tape to the outside edge along the length of the curtains.(until you are sure the tape has melted)
Carefully peel off the backing tape.
Fold hem over and press with your fingers.



Using an an iron on low heat with a clean tea towel between your oilcloth and the iron, bond the hem down along the length of the curtain.(until you are sure the tape has melted)
*Be careful not to move the fabric around too much until the adhesive is dry and secure.
For the top of the curtain iron on a piece of tape along the top edge and another row just below where the 11cm fold will be.
Remove backing tape and add a strip to the outside edge of both sides of the top hem as photo above.
Remove backing tape.
Using an an iron on low heat with a clean tea towel between your oilcloth and the iron, bond the hem down along the top of the curtain.(until you are sure the tape has melted)
Repeat as above to make the 6cm deep bottom hem.




Now you are ready to create the holes that will house your eyelets.
Each curtain has an even number of eyelets regularly spaced across the width. The spaces between the edges of the first/last eyelet and the edge of the curtain are half of that of subsequent eyelets.
On the top of your curtain, measure 4.5 cm down from the top of the border and draw a small dot with your pen to mark the position of the eyelets.
Most eyelets come closed with a small hole at the top, which you can prize open with a pair of scissors. One half of the eyelet has prongs on the inside and the other has a ridge.
Place the ridged half of your eyelet on top of your border so that the dot is right in the centre.
Draw around the inside of your eyelets.
Make a small fold in the fabric so that you can make your first snip and then cut around the circles.


Place the larger, ridged half of the eyelet underneath your new hole and snap the smaller, pronged half on top. Repeat this till all your eyelets are in place.
Your brand new curtains are now complete and ready to be hung.



Have a sweet day!