In case you are new to this electrical conduit phenomena,  I will do a quick little re-cap.

Basically, you can have a 10′ curtain rod for just a few dollars!

Conduit Curtain Rod WITH End Caps

Supplies Used:

• 3/4″ Electrical Conduit (10′)
• Metallic Spray Paint ( I used “Oil Rubbed Bronze”)
• 3/4″  dowel  rod
• Liquid Nails
• Screw-on Curtain End Caps

Tools Suggested:

•  Drill
• 1/4″ drill bit
• Fine Sandpaper/ Steel Wool
• Saw

To make the conduit curtain rod:

 First we will need to prepare the metal conduit for painting. I used a piece of  steel wool, and lightly scuffed up the surface of the electrical conduit.

After that, I wiped down the rod with a wet rag in order to remove all the dust.

Once dry,  I then appllied the spray paint. I  propped mine up so that as I rolled it, it would not damage the painted side.

As with any spray painting project, I  did multiple LIGHT coats (as opposed to one heavy coat).  It always turns out better, and cures faster !  Promise.

Attaching End Caps:

While that is drying you can prep your end caps.   YES, this tutorial will show you how to make it look like a real curtain rod, not just a spray painted rod!

You can find screw on end-caps in the curtain rod section of most home improvement stores. I  picked mine up for $6.98  at Lowes. One thing to remember when picking out your caps.  They DO NOT need to match the rod!  Remember spray paint is your friend!  You will want to paint these to match your rod regardless.

That being said,  scuff up your end caps with steal wool or sandpaper. Again,  wipe down with a wet rag to remove excess dust.  Once dry,  you can then proceed to paint.

While that is drying you can move on to the next part of our project.  Attaching the end caps! To do this I used (2) 6″ sections of 3/4″ dowel rod.

I  drilled  into one  end of each dowel rod,   using a 1/4″  drill bit.

To secure the dowel rod,  I used Liquid Nails, worked like a charm! I  just put a VERY  liberal mount inside the conduit.

  After I applied the glue, I simply slid the section of dowel rod, into the conduit curtain rod.  I  wiped off any excess glue and then allow it to dry overnight.    After the glue had dried completely,  I then  twisted  the end caps in place!  Like a REAL curtain rod.  It will allow you to remove and add curtains as needed!  So,  there you have it!  A 10-foot long curtain rod, that is sturdy, and decorative for under $15!  Something comparable in stores can range from $ 50+!  Seriously,  in just a half hour of labor, you can save your self some serious money!

So,  take a look around, are you in need of curtain rods, or simply need to update, or replace bowing/short rods?  This conduit curtain rod is the best bang for your buck, and it comes in countless finishes

 Take Luck,
Corey

The post Conduit Curtain Rod WITH End Caps appeared first on Sawdust 2 Stitches.

Last week we learned how to make these beautiful Muslin curtains. Not only are these panels CHEAP and easy, they are versatile!

As promised,  here is another way you can use your Muslin Curtains. You can add TEXTURE!

 You can create awesome texture by tying  the panels in knots. Then toss them in the washer.

You can let them air dry if you want to avoid any shrinking. But I live and Florida, and with humidity, it  would mold before it would ever dry, so  I put mine in the dryer…

Once dry unravel and you can have a totally different look!

 

The post Cheapest and Easiest Curtains EVER. (Part 2) appeared first on Sawdust 2 Stitches.

Alright people…lets talk about muslin curtains

See these drapes?

They are beautiful right? Flowy, light, long, and perfect.  Of course they had better be for the  $129.99 PER PANEL at Restoration Hardware.

I am going to let you in on a little secret,  you can make these same drapes for less than $15.00 for a SET of floor to ceiling drapes…

Ok, get your Joanns coupon,  and measure the height of your ceilings.

When shopping for material you will be looking for a material called “Muslin”.  This stuff is great!
They have several widths (starting at 36″  all the way up to 120″)   and traditionally, a bleached (white) and unbleached (linen).

DIY Muslin Curtains!

Pick the width  you would like your curtain to be.  I believe mine are 45″ but in retrospect I would have gone wider.  ( I think the next increment up is 90″)
I have 10′ ceilings so I needed  right around 3 1/2 yards per panel,  for a total of 7 yards.

So you have a better idea:

45″ Muslin  =  $2.99 x 7= $21.93 – (50% off coupon) = $10.46 !!!
or
90″ Muslin   = $5.99 x 7=  $41.93 – (50% off coupon) =$ 20.96 !!!  ( I should have done these…)

Ok,  so that was the cheap part, here is the easy part…

Since you bought the fabric in the width you needed ,  you do not need to cut it,  therefore you do not need to sew the edges!  Half of the reason I love muslin is it’s selvage edge (factory edge).

The only cuts you will need to make is the height.  This is a basic formula you can  use to calculate   your height:

Example:   ceiling to floor height  + 3″ for bottom hem + 4 ” (for a standard rod)= Total fabric length.

So layout your fabric and measure twice and cut (preferably with a rotary cutter),  this will ensure a nice straight cut.

( If you do not have one, and you want to become a more efficient seamstress or seamster,  I would definitely  invest in one!)

So lets start with the hem….

If you started having a panic attack,   there is a tutorial here…  ( I swear basic sewing tutorials will be up eventually).

You just completed the bottom hem, flip it over and do the exact same thing only leave 3.5″ and the .5″ folded under.   Deep breaths you can do this without a picture.

FYI make sure your hems are both facing back,  I have several times gone to hang up a panel and realized I have sewn the hem on the opposite side and had to take it out and re-do it…

Once both ends are hemmed you can either  use a rod, or attach clips to hang.
I have used both rod version and clip versions in my home…  It all depends on the look you want!

Stay tuned for second way to use Muslin curtains with a twist!

The post Muslin Curtains – Cheapest and Easiest Curtains, EVER! appeared first on Sawdust 2 Stitches.