How to Make a Café Curtain Out of Tea Towels

After a few snips and stitches, you'll see tea towels in a whole new light.

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Published on February 24, 2022

tea towel curtains hanging in bright window — Photo: Dane Tashima

If your hunt for a window treatment to fit a tricky space has you ready to throw in the towel, try sewing several together instead. That's how we created this chic and simple café curtain. Cut an assortment of same-size dishcloths (we used semi-sheer linen ones) up the middle, and hem the raw edges; then mix and match the panels, alternating prints and colors. When you find a combo that works, stitch the sections together and attach the finished curtain to a simple rod for a custom creation that's easy—and breezy.

Styling by Lorna Aragon; Illustrations by Brown Bird Design

What You'll Need

Materials

Tea towels (Fog Linen Work Kitchen Cloths in Jenn, Stanley, and Grey Thin White Stripe)
Tension rod (Umbra Chroma Drapery Tension Rod in Nickel)
Clip rings (Rejuvenation Café Pinch Rings in Polished Nickel)

Instructions

Illustration by Brown Bird Design

Measure the height and width of the window to determine how many towels you'll need. Cut each towel in half lengthwise. Fold over the raw edges 1/2 inch; hem.
Illustration by Brown Bird Design

Lay the panels out on a flat surface to test designs. Pin them in the configuration you choose, and sew them together along the long edges.
Illustration by Brown Bird Design

Secure the rod to the window frame. Add clip rings along the top of the curtain and attach.