Easy curtain tie-backs

I made these curtains for my sewing room and wanted something to tie them back besides those U-shaped pieces of hardware. I had coordinating fabrics, so I decided to whip up a very simple tie-back that uses Velcro and no hardware at all.

This post is part of my sewing area revamp. See other related posts here:

Pinch Pleat Drapes
Sewing Machine Cover
Covered cork trivets

Supplies

I used 2/3 yard of fabric and 5 inches of Velcro.

The process

A simple tie-back made of complementary fabric is perfect!

For each tie-back, I cut a piece of fabric 24″ long and 8.5″ wide. This tie-back will have Velcro on either end and overlap some. You may need to change these dimensions depending on the heaviness of the fabric you’re using and the size of the panels.

Press under each short edge (for mine, that’s 8.5″).

Then press it in half lengthwise, so the two long sides are together and there’s a fold at the bottom.

Open it back up.

Press either long edge toward the crease in the middle.

Then fold again on that first crease. Now all raw edges are encased. But don’t sew it yet.

Attach the Velcro next. Cut a piece 5″ long. Pin one side of it to one end, but only through one layer of fabric (Actually, it’s two layers because it’s folded, but don’t pin all the way through. See next photo.)

See what I mean? Just pin and sew through that first fold. That way, no stitches are visible when it’s on the curtain.

Overlap the other end to figure out where the other Velcro will go. In the picture above, the right side is folded over.

Open up the sash and sew the Velcro in place. Repeat on other piece of Velcro. Fold sash back up and pin.

Stitch all the way around.

Place on curtain so that overlapping portions are in back. Mine are rather low — I could slide them up or down depending where I want them. I like them like this, though it’s hard to see in the photo as well.