I wanted to make a curtain to pull across our front door in winter at night. It's single glazed and really drafty. We do have wooden shutters on the outside but we don't close them completely because of the cat door - Barney Boy has to be able to get in or out or he'll start yellin' at 3am!

I was looking at curtain fabric this weekend with DH but didn't really like anything I saw - all too boring! I said to DH this is probably because I make quilts and can't stand to see something made of only one fabric! :D So he suggested making a 'quilt' to use as a curtain; I think it could work if I used a really lightweight batting. Has anyone done anything like this? If so I'd love to hear how you made it, would you do it the width of the opening or one and a half times, like with a normal curtain, so you get some pleats when it hangs? And how would you attach it to the curtain rod?

I'd be grateful for any thoughts or opinions; I think I'll go ahead and do it even if you all say it won't work, because now I've got a bee in my bonnet!! But maybe ypou've got tips or ideas to share?

Anyhow, if it doesn't work I can always use it as a quilt! :wink:

K x

No clue how to put one together, but it does sound much more interesting, fun and warm!

You could add a rod pocket along the top back to put on a rod or use those clippy things.

I had thought of the clips but guess Id have to find really sturdy ones. I thought a rod pocket might prevent it from pulling back far enough?

K x

[img]http://www.countrycurtains.com/image...103H40B_dt.jpg[/img]

I'd probably do something like that. If you wanted it to be more country/prim, you could make the quilt using the birthing method and have one end of the tab integrated into the seam, button holes in the free end, and have buttons on the front so you can easily attach to a curtain rod.

Another option would to be making it like you would a wall quilt but adapting the tab to accommodate the curtain rod instead of the usual quilt hanger thing. (Need coffee I can't remember what the hanger-doohickey is called.)

can you put a rod up farther away from the edge of the window? so that when it is open the quilt goes farther to the side?

I wouldn't put any batting in or if I did, I use the thinnest stuff I could find. Then it wouldn't be so heavy. And yes, make it just like a curtain -- make two sides. Put in a rod pocket so it slides -- no pleats. Make it almost to the size of the opening so that it won't "gather" or "ruffle". Does this make sense??

What about a felt backing and use that as batting and back? Will be warm and not real heavy and won't hang and draw down. Just a thought. I am working on a table runner and useing the felt as both as hopefully it will not slip off too easy

I haven't done it myself, but my cousin made a shower curtain out of a quilt and it looks great. Hangs really nice. I was surprised.

Think it's called a hanger-doohickey isn't it? :lol:

The only prob with tab tops is I haven't got much room from the top of the door to the ceiling - only about three inches - so there'd be a gap at the top; also as you see in the pic (I hope!) there's only about six inches of wall at the right hand side, Up North so it can only be pulled so far back. the left hand side will be flush because DH says when I've made the curtain he'll FINALLY make a cupboard to hide all that electricity gubbins you can see - which he's been promising for nearly TWO YEARS!

Thanks for your sugggestions though, it's really helpful to explore all the options.

K x