How to make a cafe curtain

1. Materials & tools

Materials (standard size)

• Main fabric (linen, lace or lightweight cotton) — about 110 cm wide × 60 cm
• A tension rod or slim dowel to fit the window

Tools

• Sewing machine (or needle and thread)
• Fabric marker or pencil
• Ruler and scissors
• Iron
• Pins or clips

2. Make the pattern (auto-generated in Katagami)

With the Katagami pattern tool, you just enter the finished size and it drafts a seam-allowance-included pattern, tiled to print at actual size on Letter or A4.

1. Open the tool
   Open the pattern tool and choose “Home” → “Cafe curtain” from the tabs at the top.
2. Enter the size
   Enter the finished width, length, fullness ratio, rod pocket height and the hem and side turn-backs. Presets cover small windows, standard and sill-height windows.
3. Set the seam allowance
   Use the slider at the bottom (beginners: 1.0–1.5 cm / about 3/8–5/8 in).
4. Print
   Press “Print (actual size)”, then in the print dialog set Scale = 100% and turn “Fit to page” OFF. Check the 50 mm calibration box on the first guide sheet with a ruler.

3. Cutting the fabric

1. Measure the window
   Measure the drop from where the rod will sit down to where you want the curtain to end, and the width you want to cover.
2. Check the cut sizes
   The guide sheet shows cut sizes that already include fullness and turn-backs. It is a rectangle, so rule the lines straight onto the fabric instead of printing.
3. Cut the piece
   Cut 1. Keep the grain straight and the hem will not ripple when it hangs.
4. Finish the edges
   Not needed — every edge is double-folded.

4. Sewing

4-1. Hem the sides

1. Double-fold both side edges by the given turn-back. Press the folds first and the stitching stays straight.
2. Topstitch close to the fold, straight from top to bottom.
3. Lace is sheer, so the seam allowances show from the front. Take extra care to keep the fold widths even.

4-2. Hem the bottom

1. Double-fold the hem by the given turn-back.
2. Topstitch close to the fold. A slightly deep hem, 3 to 5 cm, weights the curtain so it hangs well.

4-3. Make the rod pocket

1. Fold the top edge over by 1 cm, then again by the rod pocket height.
2. Topstitch close to the fold, straight from one side to the other. This channel is what the rod goes through.
3. Allow 5 mm clearance above and below the diameter of your rod. Made to the exact size, the rod will not go in.

4-4. Hang it up

1. Slide the tension rod through and fit it in the window.
2. Arrange the gathers with your hands. Distributed evenly, it looks shop-bought.

✏️ Always leave the rod pocket bigger than the rod. Tension rods are usually 1 to 2 cm across, so a pocket of around 3 cm slides on easily and lets the curtain move smoothly. Make it exact and it is a struggle to thread and the gathers never sit right.

5. Tips & variations

• Your first project: three straight seams and nothing else. This is the ideal thing to make first.
• Lace lets the light in: lace screens the view while still letting light through — lovely on a small kitchen window.
• Screen a shelf: hung across the front of open shelving, it hides cluttered storage in one move.