How to Make a Fishtail Kitchen Curtain
- 1). Measure the width of the kitchen window from one edge of the window trim to the other, as well as the length of the desired drop of the fishtail curtains; this could be from the top of the window to the bottom of the window apron, or from the top of the window to any point between the window sill.
- 2). Add the width measurement plus two times the length measurement plus 12 inches to achieve the required length of your curtain fabric. For example, if your kitchen window is 30 inches wide, and you want the length to be 40 inches, then the final length of the fabric will be 30 + 40 + 40 + 12 = 122 inches.
- 3). Cut the fabric to the appropriate length and lay it out wrong-side up on the work surface. Measure in 10 inches from each end of the fabric and mark the edge closest to you with straight pins at each 10-inch point.
- 4). Fold the corners of the fabric at the pin marked points to create a trapezoid shape, with the long edge of the trapezoid furthest away from you. Hand-baste the folded flaps of fabric to the wrong-side of the fabric using a needle and thread.
- 5). Fold the three sides of the trapezoid closest to you over into a 1/4-inch seam them sew down on a sewing machine. Turn the fabric so that it is right-side up.
- 6). Fold the fabric into accordion pleats around 4 to 5 inches thick, starting with the second longest side of the trapezoid, and folding until you reach the longest side. You will end up with a thick bat of material.
- 7). Drape the bat of material over the curtain knobs or curtain rods on the kitchen window, with the longest point of the fabric toward the outside edge of the window trim. Gently pull open and allow the center of the curtain to droop, and arrange the sides of the curtain so that the fishtail pleats are even on both sides and are sitting in an attractive manner. If necessary, tack the longest point of the fishtails to the wall to help it sit straight.
Source...