Folk Song Nursery Curtain

I did it!  I finally buckled down and made the last nursery projects on my baby makes list - a simple patchwork curtain for the nursery closet.  I've never used a curtain on a closet before, but I'm optimistic that this will be a good solution for a tight space.  Plus, it helps the closet double as the toy shelf, as you'll see.  Okay, and it might be an excuse to bring in more cloth.  Just maybe.

I had the pleasure of working with Anna Maria Horner's Folk Song collection for this project, with fabrics provided by Free Spirit Fabrics.  The Folk Song collection is a reprint of some of Anna's most popular lines and is due to release this month. 

Just like my dining room curtains, I wanted large, dramatic cuts of fabric pieced together somewhat randomly.  I cut one row of 20" wide cuts and two rows of 15" wide cuts, arranging them on my floor to keep the colors and patterns balanced.  I did throw in one lilac polka dot fabric not by Anna Maria just for color and for a shot of simpler pattern.

All the patchwork is joined with French felled seams.  With French seams, you first sew pieces wrong sides together. Then you sew the same seam right sides together, encasing the raw edges.  To give the back of the curtain a flatter, more finished look, I also "felled" the seams - sewing down the seam allowance flat.  It's really easy sewing, even if it sounds complicated!  Just do a quick search for a real tutorial if you want to try.

Once my columns were joined together, the body of the curtain was complete.  I finished the edges with a rolled hem, using this foot that came with my Juki.  A rolled hem uses the very littlest bit of fabric, which was key in my case.  Since I just thrown things together without much planning, I found that my curtain best not get any smaller!

The top is finished with tabs for hanging from a spring-loaded shower curtain rod.  We'll need to install a fixed rod though, as I'm afraid this is too easy to pull down.  That said, don't you love it?  I think it's an interesting mix of casual and luxurious.  It may not get better than random patch sizes cut in Anna Maria's glorious prints.

We had already installed a tie back hook so that I can usually keep the curtain open like so.  I want the option of closing it, but expect to keep it open most of the time.  At least until little baby hands begin taking down all the toys and books, the inside of the closet is about as fun to look at as the curtain itself!

Today I'm 36 weeks pregnant and feeling rather ready, emotionally, to get on with things.  Fortunately, I have been doctor-approved for our home birth!  Soon we'll have our last key prenatal with the entire birth team (midwife, midwife assistant, doula) and all who plan to attend (my mother, children, two close friends and Brandon, of course!).  After that we're officially ready to deliver.  Hoping this baby arrives sooner rather than later.  Now that I've finished the nursery, she has no more excuses to delay, haha!