Make a Fabric Shower Curtain

These instructions show you how to make a fabric shower curtain with separate waterproof lining.

A single curtain will be enough for a regular bath with a curtain across the front. If you have a free-standing bath with circular rail then you will need to make two separate curtains to go around either side (like our pictures below). We have chosen to make ours in an extra wide size (240cm wide) to give a luxurious drape, but you can make a standard width (180cm wide) if this suits your room better.

We have based our curtain on a finished length of 188cm. To make a different length, decide on your finished length by measuring from the pole to where you want your curtain to finish, and add 12cm. You will need to replace the 2M length requirements below with your own measurement. For example: Finished length 230cm + 12cm = 242cm length of fabric (x 1,2 or 3 depending on width of fabric – see below requirements).

FABRIC REQUIREMENTS:

For the standard width curtain:

90cm wide fabrics – use three 2M lengths seamed together (or 5 lengths if making two curtains).

110cm - 120cm wide fabrics – use two 2M lengths seamed together (or four lengths if making two curtains).

130cm-150cm wide fabrics – use two 2M lengths seamed together lengthways (or three lengths if making two curtains).

280cm extra wide linen – use one 2M length (or two lengths if making two curtains).

For the extra wide curtain:

90cm – 120cm wide fabrics – use three 2M lengths seamed together lengthways (or six lengths if making two curtains).

130cm-150cm wide fabrics – use two 2M lengths seamed together lengthways (or four lengths if making two curtains).

280cm extra wide linen – use one 2M length (or two lengths if making two curtains).

 

YOU WILL NEED:

Standard width plastic shower curtain (180cm x 180cm long) x 1 (2 if making two curtains) OR extra wide plastic shower curtain (240cm wide x 180cm long) x 1 (2 if making two curtains).

Once you have your plastic shower curtain, count the number of holes and buy the same number of curtain hooks and eyelets as the curtain.

Double shower hooks like this.

Same quantity of shower hooks as eyelets on the plastic shower curtain (x 2 if making two).

Eyelets - same quantity as on the plastic shower curtain (x 2 if making two).

Strip of woven interfacing 5cm x finished width of curtain (x2 if making two).

 

METHOD:

Seam your two or three fabric pieces together lengthways (parallel to the selvedge) if required. Once seamed together, you will need to cut your piece to 192cm wide x 200cm long for each standard width curtain, or 252cm wide x 200cm long for each extra wide curtain.

Press in 1cm all around sides and bottom, then 5cm in all around.

Unfold the top edge and iron your 5cm deep strip of interfacing 6cm down from the top raw edge. The top edge of the interfacing should line up with the second pressed line down.

Mitre the bottom corners like this:

Edgestitch down round sides and bottom hem.

Re press the raw top edge down by 1cm, then press down by 5cm and edge stitch.

Measure the position of the plastic shower curtain eyelets, copy these exactly onto the top edge of the fabric curtain. Add eyelets where you have marked.

To hang:

Hang the curtain hooks over the shower rail. Attach the fabric curtain to the outer part of the hooks and the plastic curtain to the inner hooks.

 

Below are some suggestions of suitable fabirc: