French door curtains are an easy way to add privacy, color, and style to your home. In this step by step tutorial, I will show you how to sew custom French door curtains that fit perfectly and give your doors a polished, finished look.
This might sound like an ordinary project. Did you just yawn? It is actually the perfect beginner sewing DIY to build your confidence.
It is simple and relatively quick to make, requiring only two basic skills: ironing and straight stitching. Depending on the fabric you choose, you can keep it classic and subtle or have fun with bold color and pattern.
These curtains are perfect for French door windows in a kitchen, office, or living room, or on patio doors where you want a bit of privacy without blocking natural light. Choose sheer curtains for an airy feel, or a heavier opaque fabric to cover the glass panes. They are less complicated than Roman shades or other detailed window treatments, yet they still give your space a finished and custom look.
Why Make Your Own French Door Curtains
DIY French door curtains are a simple way to add color and personality to your home. Custom curtains can soften a space, hide a less than tidy area, or provide privacy behind closed doors with blackout fabric when you need more light control.
The hardest part of making your own is choosing the fabric! You can keep it simple and subtle like I did, or go bold with a fun patterned or colorful fabric that makes a statement.
Either way, handmade curtains give you a perfect fit and a polished, custom look that store bought panels just cannot match.
For curtain ideas see below or for another home decor upgrade, check out this ottoman cover tutorial.
Materials Needed
Here are all the supplies you need to create this project. Shoppable affiliate links are included below.
Fabric
Thread
Ruler
Sewing Scissors or
Rotary Cutter
Safe Cutting Surface
Sewing Machine
Iron
Window Hardware 11-19″ or 21-38″
(top and bottom rod and hardware)
Cordless Drill and Drill Bit
Phillips-head Screwdriver
Measuring Tape
Level
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Variations
There are a number of options to choose from, depending on the french door(s) you have.
Flat Panels
Smooth, simple, and perfect for large patterns or vertical stripes.
Gathered Panels
Full and soft, ideal for solids or small patterns. The width should be about double your window measurement for nice fullness.
Single Layer Panels
Quick and easy, use sheer or opaque fabric. Make sure the fabric looks good on both sides if it will be visible from either side of the door.
Lined Panels (Optional)
Adds opacity or blackout qualities. Use two lightweight fabrics to avoid bulk, and choose fabrics that coordinate if they are visible on both sides. Try mixing different colors or patterns on the front vs the back of the curtain.
If you enjoy simple sewing projects, you might also love making a kids hobo bag, a crossbody bag, or an easy DIY dog bandana.
Prepare Your Fabric
Before cutting, decide on the panel type you want: flat, gathered, or lined. Measure the windows on your door(s) to plan for the curtain width and height. Add extra for seam allowance, rod pockets, and lining if using.
Flat Panels
Add 3 inches to the width (1.5 inches on each side) and the height (1.5 inches at the top and bottom).
Gathered Panels
Add 3 inches to height and extra width for fullness (doubling your window width for the gathers is a good guide).
Lined Panels
Use the same measurements as a single layer. When sewing, place the main fabric and lining right sides together, sew the vertical sides, turn right side out, fold the top and bottom edges, create rod pockets, and topstitch the vertical sides. Leave the rod pocket ends open.
Refer to the drawing above for a visual guide. Double-check dimensions before cutting.
Instructions
Before you begin, be sure to wash and dry (or hang dry) your fabric to allow for any shrinkage. Next, press your fabric; this makes it so much crisper and easier to sew.
Sewing Side Seams
1 Fold the left and right edges twice toward the wrong side of the fabric. Press. Double-check the width covers your window (for gathers, extra width isn’t a problem). Topstitch both vertical sides.
Create Rod Pockets
2 To create the curtain rod pocket, turn the top and bottom raw edges under once, press, then fold again to form a pocket wide enough for the rods. Stitch along the pocket edges. Press as needed.
Add Lining (Optional)
To make lined French door curtains, follow the same steps as the single layer panel with one difference.
Instead of pressing the side seams first, place your main fabric and lining fabric right sides together. Sew both vertical side seams.
Turn right side out, fold the top/bottom edges, press, create rod pockets, and topstitch the vertical sides, leaving the rod pocket ends open (basically your top and bottom hem).
Hanging Your French Door Curtains
3 Gather your tools: curtain hardware, screws, a drill, a level, and a curtain panel. Grab an assistant if you can, too. It makes things easier! 😃
4 Slide the drapery rods into the pockets to be sure all looks okay.
5 Gather the drapes on the rod to check fit.
6 Install hardware according to the package instructions. Drill first to avoid splitting wood, then screw in brackets.
Hang the curtain by sliding rods into brackets. Congratulations, you did it!
Looking for more beginner friendly home decor sewing ideas? Try my easy DIY pillow covers, cute basket liner, or these Easter basket liner ideas (with free pattern). See more sewing projects for your home here.
Tips & Tricks
Small details make a big difference in the finished look of your curtains. Here are some ideas to improve your final results.
Prewash your fabric.
This prevents shrinkage after your curtains are finished and hanging.
Press as you go.
Crisp seams make such a huge difference in how professional and finished your curtains look.
Measure twice, cut once.
I always double or triple-check the width and height before cutting my fabric.
Use lightweight fabrics for lining.
Two heavy fabrics can feel bulky and may not hang smoothly.
Test your rod pockets.
Slide the rods through before installing hardware to be sure everything fits easily.
Install hardware carefully.
Drill small starter holes first to prevent splitting the wood on your doors.
FAQ
Most French door curtains use small curtain rods mounted at the top and bottom of the door. The curtain slides onto the rods through rod pockets and stays neatly in place. They are inexpensive and easy to install.
Lightweight cotton, linen blends, or home decor fabrics work well. If you want more privacy, choose an opaque fabric or add a lining to your curtain panels. For blackout options, use a special blackout lining fabric.
Not always! Single layer panels work well if the fabric looks good from both sides and provides enough privacy. Lining is helpful if your fabric only looks good on one side or if you need light blocking.
A good rule of thumb is to use fabric about twice the width of your window for soft fullness. You can adjust depending on how gathered you want your curtains to look.
If you’re building your sewing confidence, don’t miss the easy elastic waist skirt pattern or my drawstring skirt for more simple and rewarding project.
French door panels can change the feel of your space, like curtains on a regular window. By choosing your preferred style of curtains, different colors, and patterns, you can create a unique, tailored look that feels custom and intentional. This super-simple project will add personality and polish to your home!
Please comment below on how your curtains turn out! I’d love to hear from you. Be sure to subscribe or follow me on social media for more inspiration!
xo,
Cindy
Did you try this project?
I would love to hear all about it! Let me know what you thought by leaving a comment below and sharing it on Instagram, Facebook, & Pinterest!
Thank you!
About Bloom
Cindy Munson is a lifelong sewer, pattern designer, and former graphic design studio owner. She shares approachable, stylish sewing projects through her blog, Be Brave and Bloom. Her mission is to help others discover the joy of making and live a more creative life. Cindy works from her sunny sewing studio in Minnesota, where she lives with her husband of over 30 years.
Hi, I’m excited to try this out on my french doors to my office! I was wondering if any adjustments need to be made if I want to add a tie in the middle that would make the curtains an hourglass shape. My thought was that I could fasten the tie when I don’t need as much privacy and unfasten it when want more. Would I need to add length to the curtain?
Hi Melissa! That’s a great idea and yes hard to figure out. 🤔 I don’t think you’d want to add a lot of length because then it would bag when you have it completely closed. When I return home this afternoon I will tie a ribbon around the center of my door curtains and send you a picture of it. I’m guessing I’ll be able to get a little light on each side but not much. That might help you determine what to do. I assume you doing a gathered look – not the flat style?
This is exactly what I was looking for! Thank you. What is the hardware you use for your curtains? Thanks!Â
Hi Jen! My hardware is like this one: https://amzn.to/3Nsn6gY
It gets pretty good reviews. (affiliate link) I bought the actual hardware years ago, so I can’t remember where I bought it unfortunately, but it looks exactly like this. Most rods will probably do the job as long as your fabric is not too heavy.
Good luck! Hope it works great.
Hi,
Thank you so much for this- I was wondering what brand you used for the Window Hardware Set- I’m trying to find something similar but it keep getting flimsier net curtain wire sets. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
Best,
Roxanne
Hi Roxanne, I sent you an email with a link to my window hardware. Hope that helps! 🙂
Thank you for this! I have a set of French doors leading into a den we also use as a guest room. I’ve been hesitating buying window covering like pleated shades because of the cost. This is perfect! They will be so easy to remove when we don’t need the privacy. Picking the fabric should be fun!
Yay! Martha, I am thrilled that it inspired you! Enjoy your project. 🙂