Can an existing curtain be shortened if it is too long?
Updated
An existing curtain can often be shortened, usually by removing the hem, trimming the fabric and rehemming it at the new length. How straightforward this is depends on the heading style, whether there are weights sewn into the hem, and whether the fabric has a pattern or lining that needs to be matched carefully. Ask your retailer first.
A curtain that turns out to be too long for a window, or that needs shortening after a change such as new flooring, does not necessarily need to be replaced. Shortening an existing curtain is a common alteration, though it is a job best done by someone experienced with curtain construction rather than a simple hem trim.
What is usually involved
- The existing hem is unpicked.
- The fabric is trimmed to the new length, allowing for the hem allowance to be reformed.
- Any weights sewn into the original hem are removed and repositioned into the new hem.
- The hem is resewn, and the curtain is rehung to check the result.
What can make it more complex
- A patterned fabric, which needs the pattern to still line up correctly after the hem is moved.
- A lined curtain, where the lining and face fabric both need to be shortened and refinished together.
- A self lined blockout fabric, where sewing a new hem makes new needle holes in the coating, and pinholes from the earlier stitching may remain visible.
- A heavily pleated heading, where shortening from the bottom is usually preferred over altering the top, since changing the top can affect the pleat spacing and how the heading sits on the track.
When shortening may not be worthwhile
For a curtain that needs only a small amount taken off, shortening is often worth considering. For a very large amount to be removed, or for an older curtain where the fabric has already faded or weakened, it is worth weighing up whether altering the existing curtain or ordering a new one makes more sense. Because the face fabric and any lining are each altered, a lined curtain involves more work than an unlined one, which is worth weighing too.
What to ask your retailer
Ask your retailer first. Alterations go through your retailer, who can arrange for the curtain to be assessed and altered by the workroom that made it, so the heading, lining and hem construction can be properly accounted for. Tell them if the fabric has a pattern, a lining or weights in the hem, since each of these affects how the alteration is done.
Other ways people ask this
Is it cheaper to shorten a curtain than to buy a new one?
This depends on how much needs to be altered and the complexity of the heading and lining, so ask your retailer to look at the curtain before deciding.
Can a pleated curtain be shortened without affecting the pleats?
Shortening from the hem, rather than the top, generally keeps the pleat spacing at the heading unaffected, which is why this is the usual approach.
Do curtain weights need to be moved when a curtain is shortened?
Yes, any weights sewn into the original hem are usually removed and sewn back into the new hem at the shortened length.
This answer is general information. For your own windows, your retailer's advice and your order with them come first.