Thermal curtain lining

Adding a thermal lining to your curtains is an easy way to save money on your bills and keep your home warm.

Free thermal curtain lining workshops

We offer free thermal curtain lining workshops, which are open to all Camden residents:

• to sign up contact Green Camden

Step-by-step guide

By following the simple steps in our video, you can reduce the cold coming in and heat getting out through your windows by around 40%.

All you need are a few materials and an iron

Making and fixing Linings to existing curtains

Most curtains have a curtain tape at the top. This holds curtain hooks that fit to your curtain track or pole above your window. This is what you will attach your curtain lining too by adding hooks to the new lining and hooking it onto the curtain tape on your curtains.

How to make thermal curtain linings

• Measure your drop: from the top edge of the curtains to the window sill, or the full length of the curtains.
• Buy lining fabric (twice the measurement you’ve taken above (for pair of curtains) plus 20cm for hems), or reuse old curtains, blankets, throws or any fabric that catches your eye.
• The fabric you use should be at least as wide as the top width of your curtains. (see below re wider curtains/windows)
• Cut lining fabric in half.
• Hems:  most fabrics will fray when cut, so you need to hem the lower edge of the fabric to lose the raw edge
• Fold up hem 10cm and press to create the bottom edge crease, if you aren’t sure if the fabric will take the heat use a cloth between the iron and the lining fabric
• Fold the raw edge into the crease and press again – the raw edge should now be tucked inside your first pressed crease.
• Pull back folded hem and lay hemming web between the lining fabric and it’s folded over hem, put hem back and press with hot iron & steam as instructed by the hemming web manufacturers, use a pressing cloth to protect the fabric, it also allows you to use a higher temperature if you need too.
• Headers: Fold over the top edge 2.5cm (1”) (to the same side as the hem was pressed) and press with a cloth or pin to hold (you can use more hemming web here to keep the fold in place)
• Cut curtain tape the width of the fabric plus at least 10cm
• Tie off cords that run through tape (as shown in workshop) to stop cord from slipping out when it’s pulled to gather lining.
• Fold in end of tape and pin tape along top fold to other end and fold in excess at other end. (you can also place hemming tape between the curtain tape and the fabric as you pin, press it in sections, as above, to fuse the tape to the lining header- removing pins as you press to avoid damaging the soleplate of the iron).
• Hand-sew tape to lining (if you haven’t used the hemming tape). Sewing through the tape and folded lining fabric layer at top of curtain lining.
• Place hooks at each end and space the rest of the hooks out along the lining. IF you have used hemming tape to attach the curtain tape you should stitch through the tape and lining fabric above each of the hooks to keep them in place.
• Pull cords to gather lining top edge to same width/ slightly narrower of curtains.
• Hook linings to curtain header tape

Please note: if you have wider curtains then you’ll have to make extra drops of linings and hang them side by side.

Step-by-step instructions provided by Andy Piccos.

What else can I do?

There are many more ways you can be energy efficient in your home:

• learn how to draught proof your home
• stay warm and well
• contact the Green Camden helpline