No-Sew Success + A Finished Headboard

I set out with a mission to finish the bedroom curtain project pronto because taping the curtains in place wasn’t working. I couldn’t have the blue painters tape releasing, dropping heavy canvas on me in the middle of the night.

Again.

I left the taped up curtain in place just long enough to make sure I really liked it against the brown shiplap wall in the bedroom. And I’m happy to report that I still likey what I see.

The curtain panels that flank the window directly behind my bed consisted of matching 3’x9′ canvas that I cut after dying the fabric last week (a dramatic experience that you can read about over here if you missed it). The fabric dying was the hard part; I wanted to keep the installation and finishing touches easy as could be.

I’ve traditionally machine or hand-sewn the hems and edges of curtains (that being previous apartment window treatments – these are the first curtains I’m actually hanging in my house, unless you count the simple sunroom door curtain). But on these curtains, the tall edges of the cut canvas were fraying, so something sleek and easy needed to be done.

It struck me to use a no-sew-iron-on hem tape to solve this; I wouldn’t necessary say that it’s easier than zipping the curtain through the sewing machine, but I wanted a nice, clean finish that isn’t always achievable with the sewing machine. Not to mention, it was a 9′ length that I had to hem, and I imagined any err in the straightness of my stitching would have been visible.

I’ve never used Stitch Witchery (fusible bonding web, which sounds like something Spiderman also approves of), and for this job I selected the 5/8″ “super weight” model with a 40% off coupon from JoAnns. At less than $2 for 13 yards of no-sew tape, I’d have a little extra in case I messed up.

A no-sew virgin, yes. I may have been the last one on the planet. The best recommendation I received was to iron the crease in the hem first, and then follow back through with the tape in position. Perfect the first time, without a doubt.

The freshly ironed panels were ready to be hung; before I had gotten busy with the no-sew tape, I spray painted a curtain rod that I already had on hand (the previous owners left me with at least 12 when I moved in). I removed the finials completely for a clean, straight-bar look and doused it with Espresso Brown, a Rust-Oleum Universal paint-and-primer-in-ine product that had a nice satin finish, and was also dark enough to disappear against the stained wall.

The curtain clips that I’ve long-favored are available in a dark bronze (from Wal-Mart, bargain-priced at $3 for a package of 14).

They’re pinchy strong as can be, even on this canvas. And they hang so subtly that you can barely tell they’re there. Hands down my favorite.

The curtains balance out the bed, make the window seem subtly larger than it really is, and really help to anchor the layout.

Little do you know that there’s about 1.5′ of extra fabric resting on the floor. I decided to leave it put in case I ever have a reason to move the curtains into a room with a taller ceiling.

Hold up, let’s get all decisive with that art while we’re at it. The whole room is even more anchored with those RIBBA frames with Pixies/Frank Black posters hung above the side tables. Hung intentionally low because the box spring and mattress sit low-rise style on the ground, they help to make the room feel tall, even if it’s not.

I’m not much for the heavy opening and closing of the drapes, but as accent pieces (which could be fully functional) they’re serving the room well. Yay? Yay.