Message Forums

If you want plain green curtains, you should be able to find the fabric quite easily. Couldn't you use the hooks which are on your existing flowery curtains?

I'm in the process of making new curtains for our small frame tent at the moment. I bought a load of Cabanon curtain hooks from our local camping shop last year, but have mislaid them, so I've just unpicked the stitching through the hooks on the old curtains, and I've sewn them into the new ones.

The biggest problem I had was getting fabric in a small green pattern with a touch of red (to replace the geometric patterned grey with red and black lines on). I've ended up with a small pattern of holly with red berries  It should get us into the Christmas spirit, but hey, it'll look bright & maybe, just maybe, it won't look like holly from a distance

Many thanks for all your suggestions....I had wondered if you could unpick the plastic hooks and reuse them, but would I need a specialist machine to sew them back in again? I guess I could do it by hand, but the Camborne is BIG tent!! I'm a bit surprised no-one seems to offer this service (curtain remakes) as it must be a common problem.

I've still got my heart set on plain green - I dont suppose Jean's actually Mrs Christmas in disguise?

go to a fabric shop and ask them if they have someone who would make the curtains for you, then just cut off the tape at the top with the hooks in and sew that back on. 

my mum completly re did her curtains, and mattress covers a while ago, really freshened up the TT.

Quote: Originally posted by jenhug on 17/8/2006

---

go to a fabric shop and ask them if they have someone who would make the curtains for you, then just cut off the tape at the top with the hooks in and sew that back on. 

my mum completly re did her curtains, and mattress covers a while ago, really freshened up the TT.

---

I'm afraid there's no tape as such on mine.. I suppose I could just cut off the top strip and have that sewn in....hmmm that's set me thinking, thanks.

You should be able to sew the hooks on with an ordinary electric sewing machine, they aren't that tough. If you have any trouble, just change the needle to a 'jeans or denim' sewing one.

Believe me, tent curtains are quite easy to make. Just turn edge of fabric over twice & hem down the sides. Turn top edge over once & sew, then space the hooks out & turn top hemmed edge of fabric over the flat part of the hook (make sure the hooks point downwards) and sew along this hem 2 or 3 times to make sure the hooks are secure. Then you just sew the bottom of the hooks straight onto the fabric. Sew this 2 or 3 times again, or if you have an electric machine with reverse, just reverse over hook edge & then forward again.

Copy the original curtains for the bottom edge. They may have just a hem, or if they're like mine they will have a pocket along the bottom where elastic runs through with hooks on each end.

If you live anywhere near Coventry, you're welcome to come over & I'll help you.  

If you live anywhere near Coventry, you're welcome to come over & I'll help you

Well that's very kind of you!!!! Unfortunately I don't, or you just might have found me on your doorstep. But thanks for the advice - I had been loooking at them yesterday after washing them and had come to a similar conclusion myself. i.e - 'It can't be that hard!!' A job for when the young un's back at school, methinks. The only machine I have is an ancient old Singer with a hand wheel (don't laugh - we're a bit backward in this part of the world - LOL) but I don't see why it couldn't work if i could find a tough enough needle. failing that, I could borrow a friend's machine.

Many thanks for everyone's replies.

The olde Singers are tougher and better at sewing thick fabrics than many modern machines, belive me! My old Singer treadle has outlasted two modern machines, and it wasn`t new when I got it back in the early seventies. I keep it just for heavy sewing.

I agree with JK98...get a denim machine needle for the tough bits, and use an ordinary needle for the rest. Much c**p machine sewing is caused by using blunt needles so a new needle is always a good start. Polycotton fabric would be best for tent curtains, btw....the hooks won`t take the weight of heavy furnishing fabric, and you want something that`s resistant to sopping up damp. Matching polycotton thread, or 100% polyester. Press each seam flat before you sew them...it`s always easier to sew a flat seam when you`re making flat things like curtains. And for the side seams on curtains, always sew the same way ie top to bottom, or vice versa. Prevents nasty ripples.

And for the side seams on curtains, always sew the same way ie top to bottom, or vice versa. Prevents nasty ripples.

More useful advice, thanks. I have decided that i will have a trial run with the small curtains from the sleeping area and see how they go. Getting a suitable polycotton in a dark green shouldn't be a problem, finding a replacement needle for the ancient Singer may be more so - but there are so many about, it should still be possible.

We bought our curtains from ebay as I'm hopeless at anything like that. The person I got them from let me choose my own fabric and had them made in a couple of days.

Michelle

Quote: Originally posted by QuietPlease on 18/8/2006

---

finding a replacement needle for the ancient Singer may be more so - but there are so many about, it should still be possible.

---

Sewing machine needles are almost all the flat sided type that fit almost all machines...certainly, my Singer uses the same needles as my current modern machine.Shouldn`t be a problem. Any haberdashery department should stock them.

We bought our curtains from ebay as I'm hopeless at anything like that. The person I got them from let me choose my own fabric and had them made in a couple of days.

Don't suppose you have a contact for this paragon of virtue, do you?

Hey, we've got a Singer fan club starting on here   Mine's a Singer treddle (my Great Aunties), and I use modern needles with it.  

Just after I'd finished sewing the last curtain, I found the Cabanon curtain hooks which I'd misplaced, and noted the unit price was 10p each (purchased October 2005), so they're not expensive.