The most ambitious DIY I did for Ramona’s room was her abstract drapes. Full disclosure this is not a DIY for the faint of heart. It’s a pretty simple (dare I say easy) process, but it’s incredibly time consuming and not real cheap either. I know I’m really selling you on doing this right now. BUT they are jaw dropping. People are floored at their awesomeness when they come over. Worth it.
Do not attempt without: self healing mat, quilting ruler, rotary cutter, tacky glue
I know that list looks real sewing orientated, but there is no sewing involved!
I started with RITVA curtains. Nick drew the pattern at random with a fabric marker and decided on which fabric to put where. It’s the blue markings if you look really closely in that picture! We picked our fabric based on color not type of fabric- pink cotton, black lining (not pictured), cream silk, gold nylon, gray something or other. It doesn’t matter if it’s prone to fray. It just adds more texture, right?
Start the laborious task of cutting all the fabric by using a quilting ruler. Mine is 4″, so I cut 4″ strips. It’s just easier. I left the fabric folded to cut. Nothing has to be perfect so take advantage of this short cut. (Pun accidental but also totally killing me right now.)
Cut 2 inches up every 1 inch. I recommend binge watching Gilmore Girls during this process. Makes it all much more enjoyable.
Tacky glue is probably the greatest craft supply ever. Bold claim but it can back it up. I did 2 light lines of the glue and layered it on the drape.
Layer your strips based on the pattern you’ve drawn. Notice how the 2″ uncut piece works under the 2″ fringe cut piece. This keeps the white IKEA drape from shining through your pretty cut fabric.
I did each color block working from the bottom then moving to the right. It made layering between the colors easier that way.
I had the fabrics going different directions. The 2nd panel is a mirror image of the first. They aren’t quite as shiny in person but still pretty freakin’ dramatic.
The drapes are crazy heavy, but the acrylic rod from Nationwide Plastics does the trick beautifully. The brass brackets are so reasonable too.
The drapes make a huge statement and let me get away with the rest of the room being pretty neutral. I lost count of the yardage I need to pull this off, but my rough estimate is 6 yards of pink and 2-3 yards of the other colors – cream, black, gray, and gold – per panel.
This post contains affiliate links and hours of crafting fun or a reason to spend hours watching Netflix.
Best curtains and room everrrrrrr!
Thanks Julia! I wonder what Ramona will think of all of this when she’s an adult. I’m sure she will think I was insane.
those are SHOW STOPPING. I love it! Also, I love binge watching Gilmore Girls– just last night I FINALLY got to the good Luke & Lorelai stuff and it was very hard to leave the house for work this morning. haha
I’m in the middle of season 7 which is the last one, and it’s so hard to turn it off. I just want to know how it all ends!! It’s such a struggle for me to go to bed every night! Although I have no idea what to do when it’s finally over. Cry? Rewatch? Write fan fiction for it? Ok that’s probably too far. Maybe I’ll just go to bed at a reasonable time like a normal person.
I read an interview somewhere with Lauren Graham saying that when they shot the last episode of Season 7, they didn’t know that it was THE last episode. Maybe they will give us a movie.
WHAT?!?! That’s crazy. I’m not to the end yet, and I didn’t watch it when it originally aired. They did give us a Veronica Mars movie, so we do have hope!!
I can’t imagine the time those took. They are seriously awesome! xo
Thanks Kristin! It really did take forever, but at least it was mindless cutting and gluing! I mean if it required more focus I would have never made it through!
I love these curtains and it sounds surprisingly doable, time consuming, but no sewing and glue is my jam.
I know it’s shocking that it can be done with scissors and glue!
Those things are amazing! Great job! And how did people ever do tedious things like this before TV?!
I don’t know. Maybe tedious things just didn’t get done? Or maybe because of tv we don’t do as many tedious things because it is our tedious thing. Mind blown.
HOLY crap that was a boatload of work! but sooooo worth it! AMAZING.
So. Much. Work. Also lots of tv and muscle aches surprisingly. Confessions of an out of shape DIYer. 😉
I am pretty crazy impressed with your patience right about now. Wow. They really are fantastic!
You are witnessing the extend of my patience in this post. Take note that it took me months to even begin on panel 2. 😉
those curtains are amazeballs!!
what can you tell me about that rad magazine holder??
Thanks! The magazine holder is a knitting holder that I found at a thrift store. I painted it and added the painted lightning bolt since I stamped my son’s drapes in that pattern. I figured it would be just the tiniest link between the rooms.
ohhh. so cool!! love it!
These are only the most incredible curtains in all of the internet! All the hard work was so worth it!!!
Thanks Brynne! They are pretty incredible. It only took a few failed ideas to finally get to this one, but I knew I wanted something awesome since that wall is really just windows anyway.
These drapes are amazing. The texture just makes you want to reach out and touch them!
I do pet them regularly. Embarrassing confession but I’m all about transparency.
Whoa girl. You have some serious patience. And some serious style. These are so cool.
Thanks Kim! Patient is pretty much the very last way I would ever describe myself, but I feel like maybe I’ve made strides with this project! 😉
you’re back! love your edgy colors!
I’m only partially back. Ha! I need to refocus but I feel like summer is the exact opposite time to do that!
WOW!!!!! I’m pinning this to my WOW factor board. Great job just going for it.
Thank you Kristen! There were several times when I was sure I was insane for even attempting it. Glad I stuck with it!
I’m in love with these curtains! And I do sew-I might have to make at least one panel for my own room. Once again, thank you for sharing your talent! P.S. you are going to need to do a book! I’d buy it!
Lol thank you! You are too kind! I could not imagine doing a book. I helped Jacinda and Jamie with theirs and saw the crazy amount of work that goes into that! My husband is always coming up with book ideas. I just give him the look when he starts talking.
I love this room so much!! Those curtains are SO amazing!!! Total show stoppers!! The new rug is perfect too!!
They really are! I love that new rug. I wish it was just a little bigger, but other than that it’s perfect for her room!
These are so rad. My teenager self would have loved to have a room with curtains like these!!
My adult self kinda wants a pair, but I can’t talk myself into matching my kids’ room…maybe I’ll just steal hers.