Dying drop cloth to make curtains is super easy and inexpensive. All you need is dye, water, and salt to create a beautiful color on the drop cloth.
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A Bright Project
If you have been following along for awhile, you would know that we are restoring our old farmhouse. Well, one of the first rooms I decided to tackle was the mudroom. It is in the back of the house, so my plan is to use this room as the kids entrance. They can come in drop their muddy shoes and wet coats without tracking it throughout the house. The mudroom was pretty dingy when we first moved in, so I wanted to spruce it up with some paint and curtains to break up the huge wall of windows. I decided to go with a navy blue color, because I know if I put anything close to white curtains, they would need to be constantly washed. Usually I like nice and bright curtains, but a navy was a practical and pretty solution as well.
Drop Cloth
Usually, I buy a brand of drop cloth that is a 100% cotton canvas off of Amazon because I find that it dyes and bleaches really well, but I was in a hurry to get this project done so I just picked up two packages of drop cloth from my local hardware store. It actually took pretty well to the dye.
The drop cloth came in 9 foot by 12 foot fabric pieces. I cut the 9 foot by 12 foot fabric pieces in half, so that I would have 4 fabric pieces each 4 1/2 foot by 12 foot. I didn’t want to crowd the washer, so I dyed them in four separate loads.
The Dye
I was hoping to have three 8 ounce containers of dye for each package of drop cloth, but my local craft store did not have six bottles of the navy blue dye that I was hoping for, so I just grabbed two blue denim dyes and three navy dyes. I wanted the color of my drapes to be consistent, so I combined all five containers of dye in a mason jar, and then separated them into two mason jars. This made it easier to split them into four equal parts for four different washing sessions. I just put half of the divided dye into each load of wash. This was just my simple way of dividing five containers of dye into four wash cycles, all while keeping the dye even.
How to Dye and Sew Drop Cloth Curtains Video
How to Dye Drop Cloth – The Process
- Turn the washer on the small load setting and the temperature to the hot setting. Allow the washer to fill.
- Add a large stock pot of boiling water.
- Add about a cup of iodized salt.
- Add the dye and allow the washer to swish around a few times to incorporate it.
- Add the drop cloth. (Don’t overcrowd the washer. I only added half a drop cloth at a time.)
- Allow the washer to swish around a few minutes to make sure the drop cloth is fully submerged in the dye/salt water.
- Allow the drop cloth to sit for 30 minutes in the water.
- Finish the cycle.
- Hang to dry.
Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.
When you are all done dying your drop cloths, run your washer through one rinse cycle to remove any excess dye.
I really love how the color turned out. It is actually the color I was going for. I didn’t really want a super dark navy. I just wanted something that would hide stains and I think it all came out in a really beautiful color.
How to Sew a Drop Cloth Curtain
First, I measured the window from floor to ceiling. I wanted my curtains to go all the way above the windows and all the way down to the floor, so the length measured right at a 100 inches.
Now the cool thing about drop cloth, is that the side seams are already completely hemmed and the bottom of the fabric as well, so all I add to do was sew a hem down the sides of the fabric that I cut in half. I wanted the curtains to be 50 inches wide, so I made sure the width of each fabric was cut about 52″ wide so that I would have room to sew a hem. I just fold the fabric over an inch and then again another inch, ironed it flat, pinned it in place, and then sewed all the way down the fabric to create a hem. I show you how to sew a hem in this video tutorial.
To make sure that I had enough room to sew a casing for the curtain rod, I cut the fabric so it would be about 104 inches long. To create the casing for the curtain rod, I folded the fabric over an inch and ironed it flat. Then I folded the fabric over 3 inches and ironed it flat. Then I sewed all the down the fabric to create a rod pocket for the curtain.
And that’s it
It was super basic and all it took was a some dye, a side hem, and a little pocket at the top for the curtain rod. I really love how the curtains add a little color to the mudroom and a little bit of warmth. Plus, the curtains break up the huge wall of windows in the mudroom and make them look a little less awkward.
Other Simple Sewing Series Posts
Basic Sewing Essentials for a Beginner
How to Thread a Sewing Machine
How to Sew a Hem
Simple Sewing Tutorials
Simple Fall Peasant Dress for Girls
Easy Girls Dress Sewing Tutorial – Bow in the Back Summer Dress
How to Dye and Sew Drop Cloth Curtains
Dying drop cloth to make curtains is super easy and inexpensive. All you need is dye, water, and salt to create a beautiful color on the drop cloth.
Materials
- drop cloth/100% cotton canvas
- sewing machine
- salt
- RIT dye
Instructions
The drop cloth came in 9 foot by 12 foot fabric pieces. I cut the 9 foot by 12 foot fabric pieces in half, so that I would have 4 fabric pieces each 4 1/2 foot by 12 foot. I didn’t want to crowd the washer, so I dyed them in four separate loads.
THE DYE
I was hoping to have three 8 ounce containers of dye for each package of drop cloth, but my local craft store did not have six bottles of the navy blue dye that I was hoping for, so I just grabbed two blue denim dyes and three navy dyes. I wanted the color of my drapes to be consistent, so I combined all five containers of dye in a mason jar, and then separated them into two mason jars. This made it easier to split them into four equal parts for four different washing sessions. I just put half of the divided dye into each load of wash. This was just my simple way of dividing five containers of dye into four wash cycles, all while keeping the dye even.
HOW TO DYE DROP CLOTH – THE PROCESS
1. Turn the washer on the small load setting and the temperature to the hot setting. Allow the washer to fill.
2. Add a large stock pot of boiling water.
3. Add about a cup of iodized salt.
4. Add the dye and allow the washer to swish around a few times to incorporate it.
5. Add the drop cloth. (Don’t overcrowd the washer. I only added half a drop cloth at a time.)
6. Allow the washer to swish around a few minutes to make sure the drop cloth is fully submerged in the dye/salt water.
7. Allow the drop cloth to sit for 30 minutes in the water.
8. Finish the cycle.
9. Hang to dry.
Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.
When you are all done dying your drop cloths, run your washer through one rinse cycle to remove any excess dye.
HOW TO SEW A DROP CLOTH CURTAIN
First, I measured the window from floor to ceiling. I wanted my curtains to go all the way above the windows and all the way down to the floor, so the length measured right at a 100 inches.
Now the cool thing about drop cloth, is that the side seams are already completely hemmed and the bottom of the fabric as well, so all I add to do was sew a hem down the sides of the fabric that I cut in half. I wanted the curtains to be 50 inches wide, so I made sure the width of each fabric was cut about 52″ wide so that I would have room to sew a hem. I just fold the fabric over an inch and then again another inch, ironed it flat, pinned it in place, and then sewed all the way down the fabric to create a hem. I show you how to sew a hem in this video tutorial.
To make sure that I had enough room to sew a casing for the curtain rod, I cut the fabric so it would be about 104 inches long. To create the casing for the curtain rod, I folded the fabric over an inch and ironed it flat. Then I folded the fabric over 3 inches and ironed it flat. Then I sewed all the down the fabric to create a rod pocket for the curtain.
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alicia says
I have been using your drop cloths for sewing (also loved your sewing beginner series since I’m a new sewer), but most recently when I ordered the drop cloths, bleached and washed them, I was disappointing to find out that they were not even close to the measurements I ordered. Have you ever ran into this? I’m talking OVER a 2 ft difference all ways!
Lisa says
I never have, but I also have never measured them. So who knows! That is disappointing though. 🙁
Pamela says
I have been getting back into fabric painting and I thing these would be fun with some simple daisies or sunflowers painted down the edge.
I have yet to try dying fabric like this. I do like how this color turned out.
Lisa says
Oh yes! That would be so pretty!
Maria says
Love this idea, did you fill the entire washer with boiling hot water? That seems like alot of water to boil and keep at same temperature.
Lisa says
No. I just added a pot of boiling water to a small hot load.
Sue says
The room looks great. I have a question about the dying process. Did you put the hot water and the dye in the washer and then the fabric or the fabric first and then the liquids? Also, are you going to put some hooks up for the kids’ coats? The ones that are there look a bit high.
Lisa says
I put the water, dye and salt in before the drop cloths. Yes, we may find a place for lower hooks in there. That are a stool for the kiddos!
Tina says
If you are like me, and hate to sew, then you don’t have to sew a rod pocket if you use curtain clips to hang them. (Plus, they look so old-fashioned and pretty.) If you use the size of the drop cloth as is, there is NO sewing at all! I just fold the top over, if it is too long, and it makes a cute detail at the top. (Just fold over and clip on the fold.)
I really like how nice your curtains look, Lisa. The color turned out great. Thank you for sharing! 🙂
Lisa says
That’s a great idea Tina! I have seen it done beautifully, especially with really nice curtain rods. It’s a great no-sew option! We used really cheap rods, so I wanted the rod pocket to hide it.
Elsa Macauley says
These look great. In the past when I have done projects dying dropcloth the color fades/bleaches out in the sunlight. Did you come up with a way to lock in the dye so that it holds it’s color? I have stopped dying fabric which will be exposed to sunlight because I haven’t figured it out!
Carrie C Westendorf says
Rit makes a color fixative that works really well
Lisa says
No I haven’t encountered that yet, but maybe I will notice that after a while. We definitely have it in an area to give it a good test!
Jeanne says
What an amazing idea ! I love seeing how your house is coming along !
Lisa says
Thanks so much Jeanne!
Elaine says
I am in love with drop cloths ❤️. I have used them for curtains, a tablecloth, a side table scarf and I have one piece of a drop cloth I have tea stained and plan to stencil it and make a pillow cover with it.
I love watching your show and your family. You have so many great ideas which engages my imagination for decorating my own home. I also like some of the recipes you have shared ie: English muffins, delicious. Thank you for all the things you share.
Lisa says
Thank you so much following along, Elaine!
Jane says
Hi Lisa, Thanks for the tutorial! I want to make some curtains to warm up our guest bedroom that has north facing windows. I’ve had trouble hunting down reasonably priced curtain rods. Can you share where you purchased the ones for your mudroom?
Roxie says
I know you said to hang dry, but can these be put in the dryer?
Thanks!
Lisa says
Yes, they sure can! Just make sure you wash and dry a few times before so they don’t shrink anymore after you measure, cut and sew them.
Susan says
I’m assuming that you have a top loading washer? If so, do you have any suggestions for dyeing big things like drop cloths when you only have a front loader?
betsy says
I am wondering about the front load washer too!
Suzanne says
I’m not sure this can be done in a front loader.
Laura says
These turned out so great and they look perfect in that spot! Your house is beautiful!
Toni says
This is really easy to follow tutorial! I love it! Thanks for sharing!
wilhelmina says
These curtains turned out so awesome! Custom drapes can be SO expensive. These look like a fancy custom order!
Jan says
A beautiful shade of blue you’ve created. You didn’t hear to bleach the drop cloths before dying?
Lisa says
Nope! I didn’t.