How to Hang & Hem Drapes (No Sew Method)

I love curtains and drapes because they can make your room feel complete and cozy. They’re also a great way to add in some interesting texture, colour and pattern if you wish. For today’s simple decorating tips post, let me share with you my curtain hanging tips and how to hem long curtains using a really easy no-sew method!

First of all, when hanging drapes or curtains hang them nice and high to create the illusion of height in your room. I like to hang mine only a few inches from the ceiling. Next, make sure that you can completely clear your window when you pull your drapes back, creating the feeling of width too.

For this hemming method, I’m not using a sewing machine and I’m hanging my drapes right on the rod! This is a great way to hem drapes if you are short on time or don’t want to sew. Make sure your drapes are clean and pressed before hanging them on your curtain rod.

First of all, determine how long you want your finished curtains to be. This is personal preference – some people like them pooled a little on the floor for a more romantic look, others like them skimming the floor, and some like them slightly off the floor. I usually prefer to have my drapes just touch or skim the floor.

With your curtains hanging on their rod, use a stick pin to mark where you want bottom of the hem of the drape to be. Mark in a couple of different spots just in case.

Then, measure from the bottom of your current hem to the pin. For the drapes here in my studio, this measurement was 10 inches. Next, subtract 2 inches from that measurement – this will be for your new hem – and make a mark. For me, this measurement was 8 inches. Make several marks with a pencil using this measurement along the bottom of your drapes.

Then, take a straight edge and join the marks to create a straight line. Use shears to cut along this line.

Bring your ironing board to your drapes. Flip your drape so that the back side is up on top of your ironing board, and turn the bottom edge over 1 inch. Press with your iron all along the fold, making sure it measures 1 inch. Repeat, folding your edge over again another inch.

Finally, use some wide hem tape (here’s the hem tape I’m using), insert it in between your double-folded hem, and use your iron to adhere it to your hem. Make sure you’re using a heat on your iron that’s appropriate for the fabric content on your drapes. If your drapes have polyester content, don’t turn your iron up too hot or you’ll melt your fabric!

And that’s it! Your no-sew hem is complete. This is a simple way to hem your drapes without a sewing machine and in no time at all.

Watch this video for the full step-by-step tutorial on how to hem curtains without sewing:

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