Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Newbie Intro & Window Treatments
Hey ladies!! I'm pretty new to crafting and have been on and off the nest for almost 3 years... I hang out on H&F and lurk on a few other boards. I live in Alabama. Married for almost 3 years. Two dogs (<3). A house. No babies yet. I crochet, scrapbook, sew (kind of), in my spare time.
I recently started sewing (really beginner stuff) and I'm wondering if anyone's made their own drapes. Nothing super fancy. Specifically, is it cheaper to just buy drapes? I priced out some fabric last night at Joann's and it almost seemed like it would be more expensive to make them than buy them.
Other random things, I love to read (current reading list: Wicked, Sookie Stackhouse, Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Water for Elephants, The Help)
Anyway, hi, hello! 
Charlie and Carmen - furbabies!
Re: Newbie Intro &amp; Window Treatments
Welcome to the board!
Drapes vary a lot in pricing so it really depends. Do you have really high windows/ceilings that require a custom size/more fabric? Do you want better quality materials? Do you like what BB&B, JCP, Overstock, IKEA, etc. have to offer or are you leaning towards Pottery Barn?
My real problem is finding drapes in a pattern I like (seriously, shopping for window treatments has been the bane of my existence and is so much harder than I imagined). So if I could sew worth a damn, it would save me so much time to buy fabric I like and just make my own.
RNV brought up a lot of great points to consider.
Honestly, if you purchase quality decor fabric and line them (which you should if you don't want them to fade), chances are you are going to spend more than you would if you bought ready made curtains, but less than custom curtains.
If you find fabric at Joanns, they do put their decor fabric on sale frequently and you can (and should) always use a coupon.
Personally, I did not find ready made ones that I liked, had the quality I wanted or that went with the feel of the room so I ended up making all of mine. I don't change decor often at all so I didn't feel quite as sick spending $$ to make quality drapes.
My Valentine Bookends (2~13~13, 2~15~09)
We have standard windows, standard ceiling height. I can find drapes that are fine for the kitchen, but I can't find any I like for the bedroom. I definitely would be fine with JCPenney/BBB/Target for the quality of drapes, if I could find a pattern I liked!!
ex - I found some really nice ones at Target for $30/panel. At Joann's, the nice fabric is $30/yard, on sale for $15/yard. Assume 3 yards to make 1 pane, probably about $45 if I found a fabric I liked on sale....Assuming they're not too hard to sew (remember, beginner) and I don't have to line them with another fabric.
Urgggg. I hate window treatments. Did I mention I've NEVER bought window treatments before? Hah.
Charlie and Carmen - furbabies!
Hi! We newbs have to stick together...
I consider myself a proficient sewer (experienced quilter, but new to tailoring), and I would probably not do my own curtains unless I wanted something really specific that I could not buy AND I could find fabric I wanted pretty inexpensively. I am far more cheap than crafty. Another option would be to find some curtains on sale and then alter them to fit your needs.
Charlie and Carmen - furbabies!
Therein lies my exact problem.
I did manage to find something perfect for my dining room from BB&B (PIB), but that was a rare find.
Stand up for something you believe in.
You can always buy inexpensive panels at a retail store and line them yourself if blocking out light/heat is your goal.
Welcome. This is a great board.
I buy mine on sale. It would only be cheaper if the windows were very tall or odd shaped. I have a friend that makes hers, but she has an enormous cutting board (oversized tall door placed on top of another table, then padded and covered with muslin.) She has very tall windows and likes the puddled look on the floor.
GL