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how to make grommet top curtains

The thought of making grommet top curtains kinda scared me a little at first. I’ve made (or altered) all of the curtains in my house – yet the idea of making these was somewhat daunting. But, I like a good challenge, so when I decided to make some curtains for my kitchen, I wanted to try something new. Ya know what? Grommet top curtains weren’t nearly as complicated as I thought they’d be!

how to make grommet top curtains

I started out by measuring my windows and cutting my fabric six inches longer than I wanted my curtains to be. I chose this pretty blue medallion print fabric  along with blackout lining for them, both courtesy of Online Fabric Store.  I used the full width of the fabric and cut from the length.

grommet top curtains

At the top edge of the front fabric, iron on a six inch strip of fusible webbing (we’ll get to why in a minute.)

grommet top curtains

Then pin around the two long sides and the top of the fabric (so three sides, leaving the bottom open.)

grommet top curtains

Next sew up all the way around the three sides, just like with my easy lined curtains tutorial.

grommet top curtains

Then, I flipped it out to iron. Remember the fusible webbing? Be sure to really iron down that six inches all the way across the top to seal it to the lining. Then iron out all of the edges all the way around to get it all even and neat.


Related links:

How to Perfectly Hem Curtains

DIY Easy Lined Curtains

Quick & Easy French Script Curtains


grommet top curtains

On the back side (where the lining is), cut a piece of grommet tape to the width of the panel. Measure down 1 1/2 inches, then pin the grommet tape all the way across. Trace all of the holes with a pencil on the inside.

grommet top curtains

Snip inside the hole, cutting it into pieces will help to trim it all out.

grommet top curtains

Cut all of the circles out all the way around, then line up the grommet tape with the holes and pin it down again.

grommet top curtains

With coordinating thread to your front fabric, sew down the grommet tape all the way around.

grommet top curtains

Lastly, pop on the grommets on top of each of the holes, then hang your new grommet top curtains. To hem your freshly made curtains, use my curtain hemming tutorial to make it quick and easy.

grommet top curtains

 

*Thanks to Online Fabric Store for partnering with me on this post. All ideas, opinions, photos and content are my own.*

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Filed Under: DIY

About Gina Luker

Gina Luker is a writer, photographer and lover of all things quirky. She's usually found with a drill in one hand and a cocktail in the other while blogging along the way. She's addicted to coffee, polka dots, rock stars, Instagram, and everything aqua.

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Comments

  1. Audrey Zumwalt says

    December 19, 2013 at 8:29 am

    Wow … great tutorial.
    Have a wonderful Christmas.
    Audrey Z. @ Timeless Treasures

    Reply
  2. Nina Petty says

    December 19, 2013 at 10:28 am

    These are beautiful, but now I’ve got a dilemma! Do I make regular lined drapes, or grommet topped??

    Reply
  3. Michal says

    December 19, 2013 at 6:01 pm

    This was very helpful. I need to make curtains for a lot of windows. AND…..I LOVE THIS FABRIC!!! It’s awesome! Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  4. Diane @ The Checkered Apple says

    December 20, 2013 at 10:57 am

    So glad to see your tutorial. Your curtains look awesome! Great fabric! I have been leery about trying to make my own and this is giving me the courage to take that next step. Thanks so much!

    Reply
  5. Anne Boykin says

    December 22, 2013 at 8:24 am

    Hi Gina, I’ve always wondered about do it yourself grommets. Thanks for the how-to. I’m going to try this my next curtains I make. Happy Holidays!

    Reply
  6. Carolyn says

    January 1, 2014 at 9:21 am

    Love the curtains and that fabric is to die for!!! Are the colors pretty true to your photos? I’m moving into a “new” place and this would be perfect. You wouldn’t have any scraps you’d want to send me as a sample…..just a thought.

    Great blog too!

    Reply
    • Hamideh says

      November 26, 2014 at 2:11 am

      It’s so nice and you have described how you’ve made it very good. I just have one question!
      Should I sew both the top edge and the bottom edge of the grommet robbon to the fabric?
      Because it does not seem to have a sewing line at the top of the curtain in the picture!
      Thanks for your information 🙂

      Reply
      • Gina Luker says

        December 1, 2014 at 1:49 pm

        Yes, I sew it all the way around the tape.

        Reply
  7. Virginia Callister says

    January 19, 2014 at 9:00 pm

    Wow! You make it look so easy! Thanks.

    Reply
  8. Cindy says

    January 27, 2014 at 10:04 pm

    Grommet tape: genius. Who knew there was such a thing?!
    Great tutorial. Thank you!

    Reply
  9. Amy@theidearoom says

    April 28, 2014 at 2:07 pm

    LOVE these Grommet Curtains! Love the fabric! Sharing on fb today! Thanks.

    Reply
    • Gina Luker says

      April 30, 2014 at 7:06 am

      Thanks, love!

      Reply
  10. Ginger says

    May 6, 2014 at 1:33 pm

    I am drooling over these curtains…seriously, the family is amazing. Can you tell me how many yard it took to do 1 long panel? I am trying to figure how many yards it would take for me to do my living room and dining room. 1 very small window which I would want 2 thin panels on and 2 larger windows with regular panels 4″ long? Oh and then can ya make them for me? Lol

    Reply
  11. Lorena Creely says

    August 2, 2014 at 6:08 pm

    Gina, your instructions for the grommet-top curtains are confusing. First you say to iron the fusible webbing onto the top of the front fabric (the actual curtain fabric). But then later on, you say to iron down the webbing to seal it to the lining. So is the webbing ironed into the front fabric, or the lining? I’m assuming the webbing is sandwiched in-between the fabric and the lining, and that the grommet tape is attached to the back of the lining after the lining and fabric are sewn together and flipped so that the outside of the fabric is showing? Thanks for clarifying, hopefully you will see this soon!

    Reply
    • Gina Luker says

      August 4, 2014 at 6:18 am

      Iron it to the front fabric first, then fuse it into the backing once you’ve turned them right side out before adding the grommet tape on the back.

      Hope this helps!

      Reply
      • Lorena Creely says

        August 4, 2014 at 7:42 pm

        Thanks Gina. I ironed the fusible webbing to the back side of the front fabric. But it is only fusible on one side, how do I fuse it to the lining? Also, I just received the grommet tape in the mail, but I’m a little confused about how it works. I assumed the grommet tape would come with the grommets that you pop onto the front. But it looks like Ineeded to order the grommets separately (this is what I a guessing from looking at the Online Fabric Store website. This is very disappointing, it would have been nice to know this up-front. The grommet tape is pretty pricey to begin with, but then the grommets themselves are an additional $2.35 each? Ouch!! Makes for very expensive curtains. I assume I can order the black ones as opposed to silver for slightly less, $1.85 each? But the black ones should fit, right? I wish the Online Fabric Store had a little more information about their product.

        Reply
        • NANCY DUNCAN says

          November 28, 2017 at 9:28 am

          My dilemma is similar to Lorena’s. I’m confused as to what I need , size wise, with the grommets. I have seen online but I don’t know what size to use in the grommets. I have a pair of drapes with grommets and I think they are about 2-2.5 inches. I can’t seem to find that size online. Can you suggest a good place to order the tape and grommets and size I need to use for my drapes. Your instructions were great but I am having trouble with size of grommets….thank you for your input.

          Reply
      • Lorena Creely says

        August 4, 2014 at 7:50 pm

        Also Gina, what are those plastic tab things sticking out from each of the holes? I thought you were supposed to just pull them to separate the grommets, but I ended up just ripping the grommet ring away from the tape! Luckily I don’t need the entire length of grommet tape that I purchased.

        Reply
  12. Becky Marasek says

    October 11, 2014 at 6:09 pm

    I have a question…..
    How wide does my fabric need to be? With
    Gathered curtains I know it should be 3 times
    The width of the window. But how about with
    The grommet curtains? Is it the same?

    Reply
    • Gina Luker says

      October 13, 2014 at 10:14 am

      With grommets I usually do 2 times the amount.

      Reply
  13. Hellen kudinha says

    November 6, 2014 at 6:59 am

    what type of fabric is this,so nice i would love to make my own curtain with it

    Reply
    • Gina Luker says

      November 10, 2014 at 12:51 pm

      It is drapery quality fabric

      Reply
  14. Katy says

    November 23, 2014 at 6:41 pm

    I love the curtains you made! I am about to make some for my house, but I have the same question as Lorena. I purchased fabric, and grommet tape, but your instructions do not show how to use the grommet tape. What are the little plastic tabs? What happens to them? How do you get the fabric in between the grommets? Thanks in advance for your reply!

    Reply
    • Gina Luker says

      November 24, 2014 at 9:41 am

      I don’t use the plastics tabs so i cut them off of mine.

      Reply
  15. Hillary says

    March 18, 2017 at 11:48 am

    I had no idea grommet tape was even a thing! I’m just researching so I can attempt to make curtains for our new trailer. Thanks so much!

    Reply
    • Gina Luker says

      March 21, 2017 at 9:45 am

      Go for it Hillary!

      Reply
  16. Cindy says

    June 11, 2017 at 8:02 pm

    All good tips, however there should always be an even number of grommets to make sure the curtains hang so that both edges are towards the wall instead of one facing the room. You may need to adjust the width of your curtain material to do this.

    Reply
    • Gina Luker says

      June 12, 2017 at 10:12 am

      Thanks Cindy, great tip!!

      Reply
  17. Julie McCowan says

    August 7, 2017 at 1:40 pm

    You still have those curtains? Would love to buy them from u…

    Reply
    • Gina Luker says

      August 7, 2017 at 4:04 pm

      So glad you like them Julie but we still use them 🙂 You should try to make your own, super easy, just follow the tutorial 🙂

      Reply
  18. RJ says

    December 19, 2017 at 3:28 pm

    Do you know the brand of grommet tape with the tabs? Thanks

    Reply
    • Gina Luker says

      December 19, 2017 at 6:26 pm

      I am so sorry RJ but that was a long time ago and I do not!

      Reply
  19. Debra E Miley says

    May 11, 2019 at 1:35 pm

    Grommets should always be done in even numbers !

    Reply
  20. Olive Veali says

    August 30, 2019 at 7:34 pm

    I have been wondering how the grommet curtains are done. I want my curtains done up like that.
    Thank you.
    Olive Veali
    PNG

    Reply
    • Gina Luker says

      September 2, 2019 at 10:05 am

      It is my pleasure Olive, so glad it was helpful 🙂

      Reply
  21. red slider says

    June 27, 2020 at 5:23 pm

    Much easier way than measuring, using templates, punching individual holes, etc. Just cut your fabric to the size opening you want to cover and fold your material into pleats of the width you want the pleats to be, each fold will be the same size, except the first and last if you want some extra overlap on each side. Decide how much margin you want on the top and locate the center for your grommet accordingly on that first fold. Then just punch a hole through all of the pleats at once. They will all be at the same distance from each other and at your desired distance from the top. Set your grommets and you’re done.

    Reply
    • Gina Luker says

      June 29, 2020 at 11:54 am

      Thanks so much!

      Reply

Trackbacks

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