How to Hem Curtains with Hem Tape

Learn how to hem curtains with hem tape in 5 simple steps - no sewing machine needed. I'll show you how to measure and cut your curtains, apply iron-on hemming tape, and get a clean finished edge at the length you want.

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Let me introduce you to your newest home shortcut. Iron-on hemming tape uses heat-activated adhesive to hold a folded hem in place, so you can shorten curtain panels without stitching them.

This was one of those projects I'd put off for way too long. Our living room and bedroom curtains were way too long, and not in a cute, slightly pooled kind of way.

The white liner constantly showed at the bottom, and there was so much extra fabric on the floor that our robot vacuum would catch it.

I finally decided to shorten them with hemming tape instead of sewing them. It ended up being a really simple project, and I was able to keep the slightly pooled curtain length I love!

Can You Hem Curtains with Hem Tape?

You sure can! Iron-on hem tape is an easy way to shorten curtains without sewing. The tape goes between two layers of fabric and bonds them together when you apply heat with an iron.

I like this method for a few reasons...

• You don't need a sewing machine. The entire hem is held in place with the adhesive.
• It's pretty quick. Once your curtains are measured and cut, the actual hemming doesn't take long.
• There are no visible stitches. The tape is hidden inside the folded hem.
• It works with lots of curtain fabrics. You just need to make sure your tape and iron temperature work with the material you're using.

For this project, I was working with fairly heavy polyester curtain panels and used ⅝-inch iron-on hemming tape.

Before you start, check the care label on your curtains and the instructions on your hemming tape. Different fabrics and brands of tape can need different heat settings.

How to Use Hemming Tape on Curtains

The basic process is pretty simple. You'll decide where you want the curtains to fall, cut off the extra fabric, attach the hemming tape, fold up the bottom edge, and iron the hem in place.

Here's exactly how I did mine!

Step 1: Measure the Curtains for the New Hem

Start by hanging the curtains on the rod exactly as they'll be used. It's way easier to figure out the right length when they're actually hanging in the room.

Decide how you want the bottoms to fall. Curtains can:

• Hang slightly above the floor
• Barely touch the floor
• Break slightly at the floor
• Pool on the floor

I like mine to have a little bit of pooling at the bottom.

My curtains originally extended about 8 inches past the point where they first touched the floor. I wanted to leave about 3 inches of fabric past that point before hemming, so I needed to cut about 5 inches off the bottom.

Since I later folded up a 1-inch hem, the finished curtains ended up with about 2 inches of fabric resting on the floor.

Step 2: Cut Off the Extra Curtain Fabric

You can absolutely do this with regular fabric scissors, but I found a cutting mat, quilting ruler, and rotary cutter much easier.

Lay the curtain panel flat on the cutting mat and straighten the bottom edge using the guides. Measure out the amount you figured out in Step 1.

Line up the quilting ruler across the curtain and use the rotary cutter to remove the excess fabric.

You'll probably need to work across the curtain in a few sections. Just go slowly and make sure the curtain and ruler are lined up before every cut.

The main goal here is to get the new raw edge as straight as possible so your finished hem doesn't look crooked.

Step 3: Apply the Iron-On Hem Tape

Once the extra fabric is cut off, it's time for the hemming tape. I used ⅝" iron-on hem tape because these curtain panels are on the heavier side.

Place the tape along the raw edge on the back side of the curtain, following the directions that come with your hemming tape.

With the tape I used, I first ironed one side of the tape onto the curtain fabric.

Then I peeled off the paper backing, leaving the adhesive behind. Try to position the hemming tape close to the raw edge while still leaving a tiny bit of fabric below it.

The heat setting is going to depend on both your hemming tape and your curtain fabric. Follow the directions on the tape package and check your curtain's care label before turning up the heat. This is really important with polyester and other synthetic fabrics.

Loving this tutorial so far? You'll also love my Faux Crown Molding and Blanket Ladder tutorials!

Step 4: Fold and Iron the Curtain Hem

Once the hemming tape is in place, fold about 1 inch of the bottom edge toward the back of the curtain. The tape should now be sandwiched between the curtain panel and that folded section of fabric.

Measure every so often as you work across the panel to make sure the fold stays close to 1 inch.

Press the folded hem with your iron according to the directions for the hemming tape you're using. Go slowly and give the adhesive enough heat and pressure to bond.

With mine, I found that pressing the iron in one spot for a few seconds worked better than quickly moving it back and forth.

Again, don't just crank your iron all the way up. Use the temperature recommended for your tape and make sure it's safe for your curtain fabric. And don't use steam!

I checked the width of the hem about every foot or so to make sure it stayed close to 1 inch.

It doesn't have to be exact down to the millimeter. You just don't want the fold gradually getting wider or narrower as you move across the panel.

Once you're finished, let the adhesive cool for a few minutes before pulling on the hem or moving the curtain around too much.

Step 5: Finish the Corners

Once you get to the ends of the curtain panel, you might have a small bit of folded fabric sticking out at the corners.

Use fabric shears to carefully trim that extra fabric at an angle.

You'll probably never see the back of the curtain, but trimming those corners keeps extra fabric from peeking out along the sides.

The Finished Hemmed Curtains

Here's how mine turned out! I wanted the curtains to pool slightly on the floor, so I intentionally left them a little longer than floor length.

If you'd rather have your curtains just brush the floor, cut off a little more fabric before making the hem.

The biggest thing I learned from this project is to be conservative with that first cut. If you're not sure, trim a little less than you think you need to, hang the curtains again, and check the length. You can always take off more, but you can't add back.

Have you used hem tape to hem curtains in your home? I'd love to hear about your results! Let me know how it went in the comments. 💭