Refresh your windows with our easy country craft guide

Looking to add a decorative touch to your windows? Follow our easy, step-by-step craft guide...

You will need

  • Main fabric (we used Sea Shell, ref CH2576/040, £82.10 a metre, Chivasso)
  • Wire-edged ribbon or braid (we used Gold Braid, £9.60 a metre, VV Rouleaux)
  • Telescopic curtain rail
  • Matching threads

Illustration, Michael A. Hill

Step 1) Measure the height and width of your window recess. Measure in a few places as windows are rarely square and use the smallest measurement in each case. Cut out a piece of main fabric to this size, adding 19cm to the drop and 10cm to the width.

Step 2)  Turn under 2cm then 5cm along each side edge, press and machine stitch hems in place.

Step 3)  To form a channel for the curtain rail, turn 2cm then 10cm to the wrong side along the top edge of the blind and press. Machine stitch close to the turned under edge.

Step 4)  Thread the blind on to a telescopic curtain rail and adjust the rail to fit the alcove. Carefully push the rail into place at the window with the wrong side of the blind facing you. Pin a hem along the bottom edge, turning under 2cm then 5cm but adjusting the fit as necessary. Take down the rail and remove the blind. Machine stitch the hem in place, remove pins and press.

Step 5)  Carefully cut two lengths of wired ribbon or braid, each to twice the finished drop of the blind. Lay the blind out, face up, on a flat surface. Position each length of ribbon at an equal distance from each side edge of the blind, and with half of the ribbon hanging over the front and half over the back (see illustration). Pin the ribbons in place back and front at the points where the ribbon covers the machine stitching along the curtain rail channel.

Illustration, Michael A. Hill 

Step 6) Using a sewing thread that matches the ribbon or braid, neatly hand-stitch the ribbon in place along the machine stitching (see illustration). Work carefully through one layer of fabric only, repeating at the back of the blind to attach the ribbon there.

Step 7) Slip the curtain rail through the channel on the blind and hang in place. Lift one side of the blind up to your preferred height and carefully tie the ribbon or braid to hold it in that position. Repeat on the second side. Adjust the fabric and ribbon as necessary until you're happy with the result. If you are using wire-edged ribbon, add a decorative touch by coiling the free ends into curls.