From the page: One curtain, a thousand lives
Idea 8
Dish towels and tablecloth
Curtains are usually made of sturdy fabrics with a beautiful drape — exactly the qualities a good dish towel or tablecloth demands. The technique of reusing household fabrics comes from traditional home economies, where nothing good ever sat idle in a drawer: it worked because heavy fibers, like cotton and linen, absorb well and wash without deforming.
What you need
- Old curtain, preferably cotton or linen
- Fabric scissors
- Measuring tape or ruler
- Tailor's chalk or soap for marking
- Needle and thread (or a sewing machine, if you have one)
- Iron
How to make it
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1
Wash and iron the curtain: clean, aligned fabric reveals the usable areas and makes straight cuts easier, which changes everything in the final result.
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2
Mark large rectangles for the tablecloth or 50 to 70 cm squares for towels, using the ruler as a guide — keeping the width-to-length proportion (something close to 2 to 3) makes the piece visually balanced.
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3
Cut taking advantage of the curtain's border as a ready-made hem whenever possible: it saves sewing and preserves the original finish.
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4
Fold the cut edges inward twice (about 1 cm at a time) and baste — this double fold hides the raw fiber and keeps the fabric from fraying through washes.
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5
Press the hems with an iron before sewing them permanently: the heat sets the fabric and the edges stay straight and firm.
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6
Choose the parts with the prettiest patterns or textures for the table pieces and the simpler areas for everyday towels.
Finishing touches
For an elegant table, let the tablecloth drop about 25 cm past the table's edge on each side. If the curtain has details like lace or trims, position them as a decorative finish at the end of the piece.
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