Create the perfect shower curtain to fit bath decor

Have you noticed that the newest luxury area in a home is the bathroom? In new homes, baths are often huge, having both a full shower and a jet tub.

My decorating partner, Matt Fox, and I have found that these glamour baths are a breeze to decorate. Oh, we might need to pick a wall color and add towels and other necessities, but the ceramic tiles used in these baths are so beautiful that very little else needs to be done.

The same cannot be said for older bathrooms. Thank goodness, ceramic tiles have come a long way in 40 years.

If you live in an older home, I'm sure you know what I mean. The color of the tile tends to dictate the decor. Since yellow, pink, aqua and green were big colors in the '50s and '60s, you may find it difficult to locate coordinating linens for your bath.

Towels are not usually a big problem. Most companies carry every imaginable color, but finding a matching shower curtain can be a real challenge.

Don't despair! In just a few hours you can create an original shower curtain to brighten up that old bath.

sizing things up

A standard shower curtain measures 72 by 72 inches. Since most home decorating fabrics measure 54 inches wide, you will need to buy two lengths of fabric. To allow for seams, add 16 inches to the length. The length is now 88 inches.

Now determine the pattern repeat. All patterned fabrics have a repeated pattern down their lengths. This pattern repeat is measured from a point in one pattern to the same point in the next pattern.

Most patterns have a horizontal match, meaning that all cut lengths have to start at the same point in the pattern so that the seams will match when they are joined. To determine the pattern repeat, lay the fabric, right side up, onto your work surface. Mark the top of the first complete pattern in your fabric piece with a pin.

Next, measure 88 inches from the top of the pattern. Beginning at the selvage, mark a straight line across the width of the fabric. Cut on this line. Pin a safety pin at the top of each length. Repeat this process for the second length.

on to stitching

To stitch the pieces together, place one cut length, right side up, on your work surface. Cut a second cut length down the middle, creating two pieces measuring 27 inches by the total length. Place one piece, wrong side up, on top of the first whole piece, adjusting the position until the pattern matches at the selvage edge. Pin in place.

Repeat this process with the second half of the fabric, matching it to the opposite selvage. Fold back the seam allowance to check the pattern match as you continue to pin the widths together. Machine stitch, using the seam allowance as your guide.

Make sure the bottom edge is straight across on all widths. Trim if necessary. Finally, measure the cut length from the bottom edge and trim off any extra fabric.

Next, make the top and bottom hems. To create a 4-inch double-thick hem, turn up 8 inches on both the upper and lower edge of the curtain.

Press the fold and then tuck in the cut edge of the fabric into the fold. Pin and stitch into place.

To hem the sides of your shower curtain, turn up 4 inches along both sides of the panel. Using the same process, press the fold and then tuck in the cut edge of the fabric into the fold. Pin and stitch into place.

holes for the hangers

The next step is to make 12 1-inch buttonholes in the upper edge of the panel. Buttonholes should be placed an inch from the upper edge. The first and last buttonhole should be 3 inches from each side edge of the curtain. The other 10 buttonholes should be placed 6 inches apart.

Carefully cut open each buttonhole using sharp scissors or a seam ripper. To hang your shower curtain, use 12 decorative rings, or you might consider ties made out of coordinating satin ribbon.

I'm sure you'll find your pretty new shower curtain really dresses up your old bathroom. With just a little effort, you can change drab into beautiful!