Need to hem curtains without sewing? Learn how to hem curtains without a sewing machine using curtain hemming tape and iron with this easy step-by-step tutorial.

Are your curtains too long? No sewing machine? No problem!

Did you know that you can quickly and easily make curtains shorter even if you don’t have a sewing machine?

In this tutorial, I’m going to show you how to use curtain hemming tape and an iron to make curtains the perfect length – just barely touching the floor.

A woman wearing jean shorts and a black t-shirt sits on the floor next to a window with floor-length white curtains. A navy blue box with text is imposed over the image, it reads "how to hem curtains without sewing: an easy no-sew method using fusion web and an iron"

Let’s Talk About Curtain Length: Frequently Asked Questions About Hanging Curtains

I often see curtains that are way too short or way too long.

Curtains too long: There is a scenario where long, puddled curtains are beautiful and that’s when you’re going for that look. Think of a French country romantic type space. I don’t feel like there is another scenario in which that is the goal.

Curtains too short: This happens all the time and it looks kinda like the walls are wearing high-water jeans…and not in a good way.

Also, people will hang curtain rods to match the length of their curtains. I wouldn’t do that either.

How high should you hang a curtain rod?

To get that “interior-designer” look, your curtain rods should be hung high and wide. You do NOT want to hang the curtain rod at the top of the window frame, which is typically where most people put them. If you’ve done this, don’t worry. It’s a very common mistake!

To make the room feel taller and larger, aim to put the curtain rod closer to the ceiling. A good place to start is 4-6 inches from the top of the window frame.

However, if you have taller ceilings, you may want to go even higher than that.

How wide should the curtain rod be?

Another common mistake is getting a curtain rod that is too narrow for the window. Aim for 8-12 inches wider than your window.

Most curtain rods have adjustable widths, so just make sure it can be adjusted to be 12 inches wider than the window.

Related Reading: Learn how to update an old curtain rod & how to make an industrial curtain rod here!

How long should curtains be?

In general, curtains should just barely touch the floor or hover just slightly over the floor.

Most curtains come at standard lengths (usually 63 inches, 84 inches, 94 inches, 108 inches, or 120 inches).

I want to challenge you to hang your curtain rod high and wide and then either find curtains that fit that or get bigger ones that you can sew. Doing this simple change will make such a difference in how the room looks.

Hanging Before Hemming

We’ve been working on miss Evie’s room for quite a while now.

When hung her curtains from IKEA and they were about 4-5 inches too long (which I knew was going to happen). I had planned on asking my mom to hem them with her sewing machine because I don’t have one.

Here’s the before shot:

Long floor length white curtains hang over a window, and pool on the carpeted floor.

But, then I had the idea to try to hem the curtains myself using a no-sew method!

As crafty and creative as I feel like I am, your girl cannot sew! I don’t even own a sewing machine!

I had done some research googling how to hem curtains without sewing or using curtain hemming tape. They were just curtains from IKEA so if I messed them up we were only down a little money, not like hundreds if they were custom curtains.

It turned out that making the curtains shorter was way easier than I expected and is totally doable for anyone with a household iron and about an hour’s worth of work!

How to Hem Curtains without Sewing: No-Sew Curtain Hemming Tutorial

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No-Sew Curtain Hemming Supplies

Curtains
Scissors
Fusion Web Curtain Hemming Tape
Iron
Ironing Board
Measuring Tape
Pencil
Level

How to Hem Curtains without Sewing: Step-by-Step Directions

Step 1: Determine how much you need to cut off the bottom of the curtains.

The curtains were already hung and you could see that they were way too long.

First, I pulled the curtains pretty tightly (but not so tight that I stretched them or pulled the rod). Then, I pushed the curtains flat on the floor and smoothed the excess in front.

I measured the distance from where the curtains reach the floor to the end of the smoothed-out section as shown below.

While linen curtains that drape to the floor, with a few inches of fabric laying flat on the carpeted floor.

I did this in several sections, just to be sure I was going to cut the right amount off.

Remember, you can always cut more off. You can’t add more on if you cut them too short.

For me, this was 5 inches.

A measuring tape shows five inches of white curtain fabric laying on a carpeted floor.

Then, you subtract 2 inches from that number to account for the new seam you’re making with the no-sew tape.

This meant I needed to cut 3 inches off the bottom.

Remember to subtract 2 inches (or whatever your no-sew tape or fusion web indicates) from the total length that needs cut off of your curtains to account for the seam you’re going to make.

Step 2: Mark the bottom of the curtains in several different spots along the curtain panel.

For this step, I used an ironing board, as you’ll need this for the fusion web or no sew tape. But, any hard, flat surface will work.

Make sure to smooth out the curtains and mark 3″ (or whatever your measurement is) from the bottom of the panel.

Two barely visible pencil marks on white curtain fabric mark three inches from the curtain hem, laid out flat on an ironing board.

I then used a level to connect the different 3″ marking along the curtain with a straight line.

Step 3: Use scissors to cut a straight line along the pencil line you just drew.

White curtain fabric cut with a scissors in a straight line across the bottom.

Even after cutting off the 3″, you can see the curtains are still roughly 2″ too long. Perfect for the no-sew hem!

Floor length white curtains hanging in front of a window, with a few extra inches of fabric falling down on the carpet.

Step 4: Flip curtains over so the back side is face-up on your flat surface.

Long white fabric curtains are bunched up onto an ironing board, ready for no-sew hemming.

Step 5: Adhere fusion web (curtain hemming tape).

Since the fusion web is straight, I used it as a guide to keeping the bottom of the curtain straight. Hopefully, that makes sense.

As you can see from the above picture, my line wasn’t exactly straight. But, I was able to get a straight hemline because I used the fusion web as a guide.

You’re only able to work in small sections at a time. Basically only as big as your iron is.

I placed the fusion web on, leaving a little space between the bottom of the curtain and the fusion web.

Then, I folded the curtain over the fusion web, creating a straight line.

Last, I held the iron (on *wool* setting) over that area for 10 seconds.

An iron creates a new-sew hem along the bottom of long white fabric curtains.

An iron runs across white fabric curtains, creating a no-sew hem at the end of floor-length curtains. A women's legs and feet are visible as her hand holds the iron against the fabric.

From there, you just continue with the same method until you are finished with that panel. Cut off the fusion web at the end and you’re done!

A few things to note:

The size of the hem you make is dependent on the type of hem tape or fusion web you’re using (so check your instructions)
You may need to have your iron on a different setting (read your hem tape or fusion web for exact directions)
My fusion web said to use a cloth in between the iron and the curtain. I did this at first then realized I didn’t need to. But, keep in mind that may be necessary for you, depending on your curtain material

You can see how much of a difference the no-sew hem method made!

The curtain on the left is untouched and the curtain on the right has been “sewn” using this method!

Two panels of floor length white curtains; one panel is too long and pools on the ground. The second panel has been hemmed and just barely touches the carpeted floor.

The hemmed curtain sits just slightly above the floor. And, honestly, since I’m not perfect, some parts are touching the floor a little bit. But, you really don’t see it at all.

Another view looking down at the two panels of white fabric curtains. The long, unhemmed curtains are on the left and the no-sew hem curtains are on the right.

The bottom of two floor-length curtain panels. One white curtain is unhemmed and too long, pooling on the floor. The other panel is hemmed and sits just above the floor.

A young blond woman wearing a black t-shirt and jean shorts sits on a carpeted floor next to white floor-length curtains.

I’m thrilled with how they turned out. It took minimal effort and just around an hour to do both curtains.

If you don’t have a sewing machine or don’t know how to sew, no worries. You don’t need to call your mom! You can totally hem your curtains with this no-sew method using fusion curtain hemming tape.

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AN image of two panels of white fabric curtains, one hemmed without sewing, and one with too much fabric pooling on the ground. Image text reads

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How To Hem Curtains Without Sewing

Need to hem curtains, but don't know how to sew? No problem with this easy no-sew hemming tutorial! Learn how to hem curtains in minutes without having to sew anything.

Active Time 30 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Difficulty Easy

Estimated Cost 10

Materials

Instructions

Determine how much you need to cut off the bottom of the curtains. Remember, you can always cut off more, but you can't put it back on.
Mark the panel for the hem. Use a level to draw a line with a pencil all the way across the panel to ensure an even hem and cut.
With the back side face up on your flat surface, place the fusion web on leaving a little space between the bottom of the curtain and the fusion web.
Fold the curtain over the fusion web, creating a straight line.
Hold the iron (on wool setting) over the area for 10 seconds.
Work in small sections all the way across your panel. Cut off the fusion web at the end and you're done!

How To Hem Curtains Without Sewing