Rules for hemming tulle at home yourself

Tulle is most often used to decorate window openings in bedrooms or living rooms. This soft and weightless fabric makes the living space more comfortable. Most often, tulle curtains are combined with thicker curtains, which are used to cover windows at night to avoid prying eyes. It is not always possible to guess the size and buy a product of the right length. At the same time, it often happens that there are simply no curtains of the right size in stores. In these cases, the tulle will have to be hemmed. This is easy to do at home.

How to cut tulle evenly with your own hands

Tulle is considered a delicate and fragile fabric that is easily deformed by mechanical action. Any careless movement can lead to the appearance of snags, runs, holes. The difficulty in cutting is that the surface of the fabric is quite slippery. This leads to uneven cuts that have an unaesthetic appearance.

Pulling out the cross thread

To perform transverse thread pulling, it is necessary:

• measure the required length on the curtain and make marks for yourself with a pencil;
• make a small, neat cut on the edge of the fabric;
• pull out the thread from the edge;
• Make a cut along the resulting path using sharp scissors or a utility knife.

This will give you a smooth cut on the tulle. Pulling out the cross thread is the most reliable way to cut. But only if you use a sharp knife or scissors in the process. Otherwise, there may be nicks on the fabric.

Fabric cut

To cut tulle this way, you will need:

• fold the curtain in half;
• make a cut at the edge. The mark should be on both sides of the tulle;
• fold the curtain in half again, align the edges with the fold;
• make another cut in the area of ​​the bend;
• unfold the fabric so that it does not move from its place;
• Using a ruler, connect the marks using a simple pencil or chalk.

Now all that remains is to make a cut and get even edges on the tulle.

Selection of threads and needles

It is important to take a responsible approach to choosing needles and threads; incorrectly selected equipment can damage the curtain.

Needles

Tulle is a thin and rather fragile material, so the needles for hemming it must be thin and sharp. If the needle is blunt, it will damage the fabric and leave unsightly marks on it. The same will happen with a thick needle - marks from making the seam will remain on the tulle. Over time, they can cause stretch marks and runs.

Threads

Threads are also selected according to the same principle as needles:

• they must be thin and strong;
• The threads must match the curtain in tone.

It can be thinner, but not thicker. If the curtain shimmers and has a pearlescent sheen, it is best to use threads a couple of tones lighter than its shade. Also, the hostess will need a tape measure, scissors, chalk or a pencil, and an iron. If a tape of a contrasting shade is used to play with color and highlight accents, then the threads can be taken in a darker shade than the curtain itself.

How to hem tulle

Tulle is most often made of synthetic fabric, which is easy to tear and does not need to be trimmed. In order to shorten the curtain, you will need to make a small cut in the right place and tear the fabric with your hands to the end of the other edge. It is advisable to use this method for thin mesh curtains without a pattern. If there is a pattern on the curtain, then you will need to trim it with scissors, otherwise the integrity of the pattern may be damaged. This method of trimming is also not suitable for fabric with increased density. It is hemmed from below according to the following principle:

1. determine the size of the hem, usually it depends on the size of the foot on the machine. If you take the standard width of the foot (16 mm), then you need to fold the fabric by 8 mm with an additional reserve of 24 mm;
2. calculate the length of the canvas with all the reserves and cut off the unnecessary section. As a result, you will get a cut that will not initially look aesthetically pleasing;
3. now you need to turn the edge of the tulle over to the width of the sewing machine foot, lower the needle;

4. Before starting the process, you will need to check whether the curtain is lying flat so that the cut is straight;
5. you can start stitching, turning the tulle as you go so that the seam is the same size and width;
6. the curtain must be stitched to the end along the bottom edge;
7. cut the thread;
8. now you need to sew the second line. To do this, you need to tuck the fabric under the machine foot along the line of the first line, lower the needle and start sewing. If the first seam is done evenly and neatly, then the second will be sewn quickly and without additional problems, since the first line will serve as a guide in this case;
9. As a result, you should get 2 seams, which will be located at a distance of several mm from the edge of the curtain.

Now the tulle can be ironed and hung on the window. You can sew the fabric yourself without using a machine, but this process will take more time.

Side cut processing

You will also have to hem the tulle on the sides. This procedure can be done in several ways: with a Moscow seam, bias tape, or hem. The traditional method is considered to be sewing using a Moscow seam. But for a denser fabric, you can use other types of soles.

Hemmed

This is one of the most versatile methods of fabric processing. It allows you to shorten curtains made of any fiber: both thin mesh and thick. How to hem tulle - a step-by-step master class:

1. measure the required distance from the edge, fold it inward. For mesh curtains, it is best to measure 1 cm, on thicker synthetic fabrics, measure 3 cm, on veils or nylon, it is better to fold 20–20 mm;
2. stitch along the marked seam.

The curtain must be ironed or steamed and then hung on the window.

Bias binding

This option for processing the side seam is suitable for those who want to implement their own design solutions. For example, take a fabric that is close in shade to tulle or, on the contrary, more contrasting in color. The piping fabric can be denser. Some craftsmen advise taking canvases that are used for wall decoration. The combination of such materials will look advantageous in modern interiors. How to make a side seam, step-by-step instructions:

1. take a piping of the desired shade and material, fix it with a pin;
2. check whether the pieces of fabric are positioned straight in relation to each other;
3. stitch the tulle along the side seam, checking at the same time that it is even.

Moscow seam

The Moscow seam is considered one of the popular types of side cut processing for thin or thick curtains made of synthetic and natural fibers. The order of sewing works is as follows:

1. lay the curtain on a flat surface and fold the side edge by 50 mm;
2. iron the edge of the curtain to make the seam more distinct;
3. make a regular stitch that will be 0.2 cm from the edge of the tulle;
4. trim excess fabric if necessary;
5. fold the fabric by 50 mm;
6. go over it again with an iron;
7. make another line, which will be located at a distance of 2-3 mm from the first seam.

This stitching method is suitable for miniature curtains, where minimal fabric costs are required for sewing work.

Upper cut

The upper edge of the tulle can also be processed in several ways. The most versatile option is to sew a ribbon (extrafor) onto the upper edge of the tulle. This element can be found in sewing stores. The ribbon can be selected according to the color of the curtain or several tones lighter/darker to create a contrast and highlight accents. If the curtains have a mesh and thin monochromatic texture, it is best to purchase a nylon ribbon of medium density. It is also worth considering that the tulle can crumble when cut, so it is better not to use eyelets for decoration.

It is more appropriate to use satin or silk ribbons, which will give the curtains a special charm. How to sew extra-fors from mesh or nylon at home yourself - correct hemming for beginners:

1. sew the selected tape to the top edge of the curtain with two lines. The seams should be parallel, and the tape itself should be between them;
2. If a ceiling cornice is used, then an allowance can be added to the length of the curtain. This is relevant if lambrequins are not used.

How to hem tulle at home from above - a hem lesson for beginners:

1. the tulle is laid out on a flat surface so that it is positioned with the wrong side up;
2. make a 25 mm fold;
3. iron the fold;
4. apply a ribbon;
5. secure it with pins;
6. make the first line, which is located at a distance of 2 mm from the top of the curtain;
7. allow the ribbon to be folded inward by 2 cm;
8. make a second line with an indent of 0.1–0.2 cm.

Now the beautiful curtain can be completely ironed and hung on the window.

How to hem curtain tape

You can also sew a tape to the bottom edge, which will act as a weight. This method is used for hemming thin and mesh curtains. However, it can also be used for curtains with a denser texture. The weight should be denser in texture and heavier than the tulle itself. With this element, the curtains straighten out faster after washing, do not wrinkle, and are less susceptible to mechanical damage.

To sew the ribbon, you will need to prepare the following materials:

• ribbon. It should match the shade of the main fabric and be dense in texture;
• threads. Their color should also match the tulle and the selected braid for weighting;
• tape measure for measurements;
• sharp scissors or a utility knife;
• small metal parts.

How to sew ribbon to organza tulle or other stiff material:

1. first of all, you will need to carry out measuring work, the size of the tape should correspond to the length of the tulle along the bottom edge;

2. lay the fabric on a flat surface, apply a weighting tape to it, make the first seam along the entire length. At the same time, you will need to ensure that the stitching is straight and does not crook;
3. make a second seam, which will be located at a distance of 3-4 mm from the first. During stitching, you also need to monitor the evenness of the edges so that they are perpendicular to each other.

Now the tulle can be ironed and hung on the window.

Hemming tulle at home is a mandatory procedure when buying new curtains. It is not always possible to find a curtain of the right size that matches the design. In this case, you can give the item to a studio, or you can hem the curtain yourself. For the work, you will only need strong threads of a matching color, scissors and a sewing machine. You can also process the top and side cuts at home, and sew weights to the tulle so that it wrinkles less.