How to make a shelf curtain

1. Materials & tools

Materials (one pair, under-sink size)

• Fabric (linen or cotton) — about 110 cm wide × 70 cm (43 × 28 in)
• A tension rod to fit the shelf — 1
• Sewing thread

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” → “Shelf curtain” from the tabs at the top.
2. Enter the size
   Enter the shelf width, the drop, the gather ratio, the rod casing width and whether to split it in two. Presets cover under-sink, small shelf and large shelf.
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 shelf
   Measure the inside width and the drop you want to cover.
2. Trace the pattern
   A rectangle. The width already includes the gather ratio.
3. Cut the pieces
   Two panels if you are splitting it, one if not.
4. Transfer the notches
   Mark the fold line at the top.

4. Sewing

4-1. Hem the sides and bottom

1. Turn each side under by 1 cm, then 1.5 cm, and stitch.
2. Hem the bottom the same way.
3. A slightly deeper bottom hem (2 cm) gives weight so it hangs.

4-2. Make the top casing

1. Turn the top edge under by 1 cm, then to the notch.
2. Stitch close to the fold, from edge to edge.
3. Check the tension rod passes through before you sew.

4-3. Hang it

1. Thread the tension rod and fit it into the shelf.
2. Where a rod will not work, stitch hook-and-loop to the top edge and stick it to the shelf.
3. Arrange the gathers evenly by hand.

✏️ The gather ratio is set to 1.4. At 1.0 — the shelf width exactly — it pulls flat and looks cheap; at 2.0 it becomes bulky and pushes out of the shelf. 1.4 gives natural folds and still sits inside the opening.

5. Tips & variations

• Split it in two: two panels can be pushed to either side when you need access.
• Hook-and-loop instead: for places a tension rod will not fit.
• Something washable: in a kitchen, cotton or linen that can go in the machine.