Need ideas from crafty people please

[WeLuvDCL]

I've been lookinng for curtains for our nursery for months now and I couldn't find anything. So I started looking at fabric and found some I really liked but it would be really expensive to get enough fabric for 4 curtain panels as I would need 12 yards due to the length of the windows. So, I finally decided to buy these all white grommet curtains from eBay that were $10 a panel. They look great and have a fabric pattern but I want to add some color. The room is blue so I bought a blue fabric marker and I was going to trace the design in blue. Problem is, no matter how lightly I trace the pattern with the marker, it bleeds\runs and just doesn't look right. Anyone know what else I can use on the fabric to trace the pattern and will withstand washing? The fabric is 100% polyester.

P.S. I tried the marker on the back of the doubled fabric grommet area so I haven't ruined any of the curtains yet.

 

[java]

Poly will bleed with fabric markers unfortunately.

Have you thought about buying iron on transfers and doing it off a print out from the computer? then just do a border?

Or add a topper? In the blue?

Or what about dying it? Poly is harder to dye I think you have to boil it as you do it? But google might be easier than I am thinking.

 

[LJSquishy]

Why not use fabric paint instead?

 

[disneyhand]

Or you could still buy a small amount of the fabric you like, then add a band of fabric across the curtain panels.

 

[mrudman]

I've been lookinng for curtains for our nursery for months now and I couldn't find anything. So I started looking at fabric and found some I really liked but it would be really expensive to get enough fabric for 4 curtain panels as I would need 12 yards due to the length of the windows. So, I finally decided to buy these all white grommet curtains from eBay that were $10 a panel. They look great and have a fabric pattern but I want to add some color. The room is blue so I bought a blue fabric marker and I was going to trace the design in blue. Problem is, no matter how lightly I trace the pattern with the marker, it bleeds\runs and just doesn't look right. Anyone know what else I can use on the fabric to trace the pattern and will withstand washing? The fabric is 100% polyester.

P.S. I tried the marker on the back of the doubled fabric grommet area so I haven't ruined any of the curtains yet.

I agree with PP... sew a strip of the blue fabric to the white curtains.. I did that to some curtains I made for my bathroom, and it really turned out cute (was a dark brown strip an inch or so in from the edge of some patterned material I used).

But I do have to ask.. 12 yards just really doesn't seem "right" to me. What are the measurements of your windows? Assuming you have 2 windows(since you said you needed 4 panels).. and most home decorator fabric comes in 54" width, your windows would have to be approx. 3 1/2 ft wide and 8 feet long to need that much material (giving you 12 inches for hemming and the rod pocket, and assuming a 2.5x width curtain/window ratio (which I usually stick around to give enough "scrunch").

 

[wiigirl]

Why not use fabric paint instead?

Fabic paint and a stencil/stamp is how I made curtains for my kids bedroom.

 

[scrapquitler]

Or you could still buy a small amount of the fabric you like, then add a band of fabric across the curtain panels.

This. Or sew a ribbon or some kind of other trim along the edge, or even across the middle.

OR, you can buy some of the fabric you like, cut shapes out of that and use a fusible web to adhere them to the white curtains. Here's a tutorial that describes what I mean: http://www.sewingweb.com/Projects/DishTowels/

 

[WeLuvDCL]

Why not use fabric paint instead?

Will fabric paint not bleed/run on polyester? I assumed if the marker ran that painnt would too. Or is there a special paint that is not so "watery". Woudl acrylic paint work? I'm crafty with everything except paint so I have no clue, I can barely draw a stick figure. That is why I just wanted to trace the existing pattern on the curtains.

 

[WeLuvDCL]

I agree with PP... sew a strip of the blue fabric to the white curtains.. I did that to some curtains I made for my bathroom, and it really turned out cute (was a dark brown strip an inch or so in from the edge of some patterned material I used).

But I do have to ask.. 12 yards just really doesn't seem "right" to me. What are the measurements of your windows? Assuming you have 2 windows(since you said you needed 4 panels).. and most home decorator fabric comes in 54" width, your windows would have to be approx. 3 1/2 ft wide and 8 feet long to need that much material (giving you 12 inches for hemming and the rod pocket, and assuming a 2.5x width curtain/window ratio (which I usually stick around to give enough "scrunch").

We have 10 and 12 foot ceilings throughout our house and low windows. The room has 2 windows and they are 56" wide and 80" high. I really love the grommet look which means I need almost twice that size in fabric (or at least that is what I read on-line when researching). The windows are so tall that if I just make a loop and hang them on the curtain rode, they are a pain to open and close. I found that out when I tried some in our master bedroom, I had to buy curtain rings to make them easier to open and I just don't care for the look. I'm probably just being way to picky about them.

I thought about buying a little of the fabric I like and making an attached valance look but with the panels being all white and so wide and long. I think it would still be a lot of plain white.

Not sure a strip of fabric would work as the pattern on the curtains is actually raised, it's liked puckered fabric waves.

<img src="http://i1129.photobucket.com/albums/m504/5thavenuetextiles/CURTAIN%20PANELS/DSC02709.jpg">

 

[WeLuvDCL]

OR, you can buy some of the fabric you like, cut shapes out of that and use a fusible web to adhere them to the white curtains. Here's a tutorial that describes what I mean: http://www.sewingweb.com/Projects/DishTowels/

I love this idea. Definitely will be my second choice if I can't find anything that outlined the pattern without bleeding/running.
With the raised fabric pattern, I just need to make sure the images are small enough.
Thanks for the idea and link to the tutorial!

 

[chris31997]

You could try a sharpie. But it probably would bleed also. For paint the best would be fabric paint as it would move with the curtain any other paint would make the curtain stiff. Acrylic paint is the best for being permanent on fabric but it makes it stiff, too much experience with that Lots of washing does make it less stiff and wearable But that is another story.

 

[lizabu]

Acrylic paint will work and the bonus is you can buy pens that have acrylic paint in them. Fabric paint is better because it's basically acrylic paint with something mixed in to make it flexible. I think they sell pens with fabric paint in them too. Any kind of ink will bleed into the fabric.