How to Blackout line Store-bought Drapes - No Sew

This entire guest room has been updated thriftily, and I was also looking for thrifty window options, which is the subject of today's post. 

I already had the blackout Roman shade, but as I explained in my previous post, my husband hated how light kept streaming through the sides of it.

So, the plan was to leave the Roman shade but add drapes to fix the issue of the light coming through the sides. My first thought was to sew a couple of blackout-lined burlap panels, and I even bought the 20 feet of burlap I needed ---> around $60. Yikes. It's not as cheap as I thought. :/ 

Then, luck struck... I won a $50 Home Goods gift card, so I went shopping. I was mainly looking for accessories, but then I saw these oversized drapery panels, 2 pcs for only $30! Of course, I bought them. The price was reasonable, and I didn't have to sew them!

At home, I asked my daughter to hold one of the panels against all the light coming through the window. Ha, it's almost see-through. :)  

Even with the burlap, I knew I had to add the blackout. The good thing was I already had the blackout material from some old drapes.

Before I tell you what was done, I must warn you: This is a Non-Professional way to line your drapes. It works; it's easy, and you don't need to sew it, but if you're a perfectionist, try a different method that works better for you.

I've sewn drape panels from scratch and lined them in a supposedly professional way, but I hated it. Dealing with those big panels and passing them through the sewing machine is difficult, especially when you don't have a good working setup. I wished I had a gigantic table to pin and iron those huge panels at that time. 

Nope. Working on the floor was the only option, even this time around. :(

So, this is how it all unfolded:  

1. The drape panel was placed flat on the floor, right side down. 
2. The blackout panel was placed on top of the drape, right side up.

The drape panel overhangs about 1½" on each side and 1" on the lower part.

This blackout material was taken from a previous drape. I had to cut off the pinch-pleated top it had.

3. Iron both fabrics well, then use stitch Witchery tape to hem both sides.

Working on the floor is unavoidable. :/  

Here I am, pressing those seams, securing both surfaces tightly.

The bolt of burlap is visible in the background; I need to return it.

4. For the curtain's heading, I cut off the grommets, trying to leave as much of the panel as possible. The blackout has to be 4" or 5" shorter than the panel.

5. Drapery tape needs to be added to the header, as it gives structure and a somewhat rigid feel to the top part of the curtain. (I had no tape at hand; I used a somewhat hard material I could find in my stash ).  

Use the stitch Witchery tape to make the first fold from the panel to the tape and then from the tape to the blackout. Remember to close both ends, too.

And that's it! 

I made that header stronger by running a line of stitches across the top with my sewing machine.

Big difference, huh.

Drapery clips were used to hang the curtains in place.

The panels needed to be oversized ---> 96" long. The height of this room is exactly that, 8' > 96", and look at how high they went.

Hey, my husband is happy there's no more light coming in from the sides when he uses this room.

:)


More Guest Room projects:
Final Reveal
How the room looked before, right HERE.
The direction I wanted to give to this room HERE.
Painted Designs on Floor, right HERE.
Diy Daybed from spring box
Old Lamps transformed
Office chair makeover
Old window memo board
Diy Round Mirror
Diy - Tripod side table
Table Makeover