E Craft Classes Blog: FREE Split Panel Shower Curtain Tutorial

I hope you enjoy making this fast and easy Split Panel Shower Curtain. This is so easy to make that you can make one for every holiday and season! Great weekend project! When complete, this shower curtain will measure about 72” W x 72” L. Use ¼” seam allowance to sew panels together. I have included several photos to assist you with the step-by-step instructions. However, if any instructions aren’t clear, feel free to leave a comment and I will be happy to try and explain any step better. We would also love for you to leave a comment if you like the tutorial. Please tell your friends about us so they can make their own shower curtains as well.

Keep in mind that these do not have to be waterproof. These are shower curtains, not shower liners.

Supplies:

Sewing machine with zigzag and button hole attachments and settings
Cutting mat
Scissors
Rotary cutter
Straight edge to use with rotary cutter
Thread
Seam ripper
Straight pins
Pencil or wash away marker
1” diameter button
Ruler

Fabric 1: 42” W x 2 yards (72”) L (Middle strip)
Fabric 2: 42” W x 2 Yards (72”) L (Side strips)
Fabric 3: 90” W x 1/2 Yard (18”) L (for a seamless Top strip)
For Fabrics 1 and 2, I used two prints from the Waverly Inspirations screen print collection. I bought mine at Walmart. I used bleached muslin from Hobby Lobby for the top strip. You may also be able to find any of these fabrics on Ebay, Etsy, Amazon or other online stores.

Instructions:

1. Press fabric before cutting.

2. Trim off selvage.

3. Trim top and bottom edges to assure they are even.

4. From Fabric 2, cut (2) 17 ½” x 72” panels. Hint: Double the fabric so you only have to cut once.

5. Sew the 17 ½” panels to each side of the 42” panel that you didn’t cut. Hint: Some people in the fabric dept. will cut fabric a little longer so as to allow for those uneven edges you trimmed off earlier; thus, these lengths may not be the same. So be sure to sew both panels onto the same edge (top or bottom) of the middle fabric. That way, you only have to trim the other edge after side panels are attached.

We cut these to straighten the edges earlier. It's easier to make them all the same length after the panels are sewn together.

6. Press the seams toward the outside of the shower curtain.

7. Zigzag over the seams by using the joined edges on the front as a guide. Hint: If you have a computerized sewing machine, set the top zigzag setting to 2 and the bottom setting to 7 for a wide zigzag like mine. You now have a 76” wide shower curtain that we will hem later.

8. But for now, we need to measure the length. You likely had to trim quite a bit of the length off AND we have to account for hemming the length as well. So follow this part carefully. In the event the person who cut your fabric was stingy, you will need to add quite a bit to the top of this panel in order to get the 72” length.

Measure the length of what you have now. Subtract 2” that will be needed for the bottom hem. After subtracting, how much do you need to add to make a 72” long shower curtain? Once you have that, add 4 1/2” to that measurement because you will need that extra amount for seam allowance and the top hem. See example below that illustrates how this is done.

Example: 71” (measurement before any hemming)
               -   2” (for bottom hem)
                  69”
               +   3” (is needed to get the required length of 72" - yours may be different depending on
                           the original measurement)
                  72”
                + 4 1/2” (needed for top hem and seam allowance needed to sew this to the bottom
                                   section of the shower curtain)

Add together the length needed to get the required length and the length needed for the top hem. For this particular shower curtain, you would need to add 3” to 4 ½” and cut a 7 ½” long section from the 90” wide Fabric 3. (7 1/2" x 90")

9. Sew this strip to the top of your shower curtain. Your unhemmed shower curtain will measure 78 1/2” long.

10. Press the top seam towards the bottom of the shower curtain.

11. Zigzag over the top seam by using the joined edges on the front as a guide.

12. Turn bottom under 1” twice. Pin to hold. Hint: Start pinning hems in center and work towards the edges for better alignment.

First turn Second turn hides raw edges

13. Turn top under 2” twice. Pin to hold.

14. Measure your shower curtain after pinning.

72 1/2" Long - Close enough to 72"!

15. If the length is about 72”, straight stitch along the edge to hem.

Showing back and front view of straight stitch in 2" hem. Other hems will be similar.

16. Turn sides under 1” twice as seen in step 12 for bottom hem. Pin to hold.

17. Straight stitch along the edge to hem. You now have [about] a 72” wide curtain.

18. Now, we have to make the buttonholes to hang the curtains. Cut a 6 1/2” x 2” strip of paper. Clearly make a 1” mark on each side (centered between top and bottom) of the paper.

19. Fold the paper in half so that it’s 3 1/4” x 2”. Fold the shower curtain in half lengthwise and crease the top.

20. Unfold the paper. Place the paper fold over the crease on the back side of the 2” shower curtain hem.

21. Lightly mark the first two buttonhole placements.

22. Use your paper to measure out five more buttonhole markings on each side of the original markings so you will have 12 buttonhole markings on your shower curtain when finished. Note: The end buttonholes may not be exactly 6 ½” from the previous buttonholes but that’s ok.

23. You will need the button to use in your buttonhole sliding attachment on your sewing machine. Set the top number of the buttonhole to 0.8 so that ripping the fabric will be easier. Bottom default number, 5.0, is fine. Follow the directions in your sewing machine manual to make the buttonholes or better yet, watch a YouTube video if this is a new process for you.

24. Use your seam ripper to carefully tear the fabric in the center of the buttonholes. Tip: You may skip the buttonhole process if you wish to use grommets instead. Simply mark as directed above and attach grommets.

26. Trim excess seam raveling for a neater appearance.

You may print this tutorial for your own personal use. However, please do not upload to any other website or attempt to sell this tutorial. You may, however, share the link to this tutorial with others if you wish. If you sell the finished product online, please give credit to Sew Practical or eCraftClasses.

Have a nice day!
www.ECraftClasses.com
www.ECraftClasses.blogspot.com
www.RagQuiltClassroom.blogspot.com