Any time I find myself making curtains, I think of my sister Janet.

You see, Janet was the penultimate seamstress.  Meticulous attention to detail.  Perfectly straight seam lines.  She knew all the technical sewing lingo and skills …

Like what cutting on the bias means …

… and what bias tape is really used for …

… and how to make button holes.

She also never, ever bought department store drapes.  Instead she studied their construction and went home and made her own.  Only better.

Janet was the person who taught me how to make balloon shades.  Together, we made four for my very first apartment; she and her husband came over and helped me iron those folds and folds and folds of fabric and hang them.

When it comes to sewing, I’m a poor woman’s Janet.  My projects entail a lot of guesswork and fudging and improvisation …

So when I tackled the drapes for my son’s room remodel, I was wishing Janet was still here so I could ask her what to do.

Like, what did she think about me making them out of canvas painter’s drop cloth …

I’m pretty sure she would’ve told me that I could make two 48" x 90" panels out of one 4’ x 15’ package – therefore I should pick up two to cover the two windows in Sam’s room.

And I’m pretty sure she would tell me to wash them first.  Yes, I’m positive that’s what Janet would do.  So I did too.

And when I cut that 4 x 15 panel in half, I’m thinking Janet would know this handy tip of just snipping and ripping that drop cloth with my bare hands into a perfectly straight line …

And that band on top?  I know Janet would approve of my solution to sidestep possible uneven seams by attaching thick ribbed orange ribbon to the top …

… and then again where the panel and the drop cloth materials meet …

… and then top-stitching right over that ribbon with orange thread …

And I know I was channeling Janet when I realized the bottom seam should get a band of ribbon too …

The final step, when the panels and ribbons were all attached, was to fold over even seams on the sides and stitch, trim, and press …

In the end, I think Janet would’ve approved of what I did …

I wrote this post with a box of tissues by my side.  My beautiful sister Janet lost her decades-long breast cancer battle on August 21, 2006.  

Linda is a wife, mother, Chicago homeowner … and creator and author of it all started with paint blog.  You can find the detailed tutorial on how she made her drop cloth curtains by clicking here …