Linen, Pleats and Gardenias

I have sewn new curtains for my bedroom (all by myself). 

Last year I got a couple of quotes to sew a pair of curtains for the two narrow windows in my bedroom.  The quotes were $1,600-$1,800.  Ouch!  I wanted something simple but pretty.  Our bedhead is upholstered in a slate brown/gray colour so I thought a simple beige/gray linen style fabric would work.  I found some cotton fabric that had slubs and texture like linen and I bought blockout lining to help keep out the 5am summer sunrise.  Total cost was about $200.

I measured, I cut, I ironed and I sewed.  I took my time.  I really wanted these to look well made, and I am so pleased with the result.  To add interest to the plain fabric I decided to add rows of horizontal tucks or pleats to the bottom of the curtain.

I also made fabric tie-backs embellished with some brown velvet ribbon and a pretty gardenia.  I think this achieves the perfect balance between masculine (what my husband wants) and feminine (what I want).

The heading is a simple single vertical pleat.  Each curtain is only one drop of fabric as I wanted clean simple lines rather that full and fluffy.

These curtains are largely decorative as we have timber venetian blinds on the windows already.  One day (on the wish list) I would like to replace the blinds with white timber shutters.

I know there are sewers out there that will see the imperfections, but to me they are perfectly imperfect and for $200, I'm not complaining.

Sharing this refined simplicity at:

A Beach Cottage - Good Life Wednesday

Primp - Primp Your Stuff Wednesday

Pink Postcard - Transformations & Treasures

The Shabby Creek Cottage - Transformation Thursday

French Country Cottage - Feathered Nest Friday

Freckled Laundry - Air Your Laundry

My Romantic Home - Show & Tell Friday

The Shabby Nest - Frugal Friday

This is a lot of link parties for me.  I usually stick to just a few but I worked really hard to make these.  I hope they inpire somebody else the way I get inspired seeing other people's work.