...at our house by the lake, we have a first-floor bathroom which has a window close to one of the entry doors; you basically have to walk right by this window to get to the door. As you can see in the photo, the window is located right over the toilet which has a little nook of its own in the bathroom. The original house design called for a frosted window, but since I’m not big on frosted windows, I had it substituted with plain glass with the thought that I would eventually make a curtain for the window.
With my ever-increasing to do list at the lake, I hadn't given it too much thought, especially since no one who stayed with us at the cottage up until now seemed to be bothered about; some definitely commented about it and put it down to one of those amusing "quirky cottage things"... However, when I came back to the lake after our July holiday during which we had some guests staying at the house, there was a towel hanging over the window... Hmmmm... So, I thought about it for a bit and, since I had a little seed of a curtain idea which started germinating in my head when I looked at my baskets filled to the top with vintage embroidered linens, I decided to bump up the bathroom curtain-making project to the top of the list.
Yup, I finally decided to cut up some of those pretty works of embroidery I've been collecting forever now... all very liberating! I played around with their placement, sewed them together however which way I found fit and, I have to say, am quite pleased with the way this jumbled patchwork when placed over a window has a bit of a stained glass thing about it. And, last but not least, the question of privacy in the first-floor bathroom has been put to rest. Thanks for the visit and please pop by again soon as my next post coming up shortly is shaping up to be very sunny!...
This is a beautiful idea and great execution! I need to get some vintage linens in my stash, I see.
Posted by: jess | August 24, 2013 at 05:25 PM
i love it, i love it, i. love. it. :) xo
Posted by: leanne | August 24, 2013 at 06:20 PM
Love the ties at the top, now I know how I want to make mine!
Posted by: Patty Radish | August 24, 2013 at 07:49 PM
What a gorgeous solution! I'm defo filing that idea for future reference :)
xx
Posted by: eskimo*rose | August 25, 2013 at 01:50 AM
a very pretty and lovely vintage solution for your privacy problem. must start collecting... Sam xx
Posted by: Sam | August 25, 2013 at 01:59 AM
I love your curtain. How pretty it must look in the house :)
Smiles, DianeM
Posted by: DianeM | August 25, 2013 at 03:22 AM
Absolutely gorgeous!!! I want to make one of those curtains for our down stair bathroom window. Great idea! It will never be as adorable as yours but one can only try... Lets start embroidery hunting.
Posted by: Annette My Rose Valley | August 25, 2013 at 05:30 AM
What a great idea! It does have a stained glass sort of look. Perfect for a lake cabin! Love it!
Posted by: Annette | August 25, 2013 at 07:33 AM
really beautiful! looks lovely with the white washed wood.
Posted by: Heather | August 25, 2013 at 07:35 AM
What a beautiful idea! How did you do the seams on the back? I love this!!
Posted by: Laurie | August 25, 2013 at 09:36 AM
Oooh, nice curtain,so delicate and fresh!
Posted by: Annie | August 25, 2013 at 10:21 AM
What an absolute yummy curtain x
Posted by: Joy Abbott | August 25, 2013 at 11:21 AM
Most charming curtain, a much better solution that frosted windows.
Posted by: erin | August 25, 2013 at 07:06 PM
Such a lovely idea! Just what I need to do in our bathroom. I love how the light lights up the fabric
Posted by: leeanne | August 25, 2013 at 10:01 PM
This is beautiful! Great use of all those pretty fabrics.
Posted by: found and sewn | August 26, 2013 at 01:32 AM
What a great idea for using old linens that have some unsightly stains or holes. You just use the good part. I will consider this permission to cut them up!
Posted by: Liz Messenger | August 26, 2013 at 06:51 AM
Utterly brilliant!
Posted by: Jocelan | August 26, 2013 at 04:14 PM
~ I LOVE it so much! Very individual to you and so very pretty! ~ Hugs and summer kisses ***** Maria x
Posted by: Rosey tinted Spectacles | August 27, 2013 at 01:37 AM
Gorgeous!!!! I LOVE what you have created here!
Posted by: Marianne | August 27, 2013 at 08:08 AM
This is so pretty...what a neat way to use some beautiful pieces of vintage linens!
Posted by: marie | August 27, 2013 at 11:21 AM
It is the cutest thing! Can you give us the info on how you sewed it please? It looks pretty easy on some pieces, but the ones with lace I am not sure about.
Posted by: Lin | August 28, 2013 at 08:06 PM
this is so adorable :) did you serge the seems? if not how did you take care of that?
Posted by: May | August 28, 2013 at 08:22 PM
Beautiful! Please tell me, how did you sew the pieces together?
Posted by: Elizabeth | August 30, 2013 at 05:55 PM
#oh I absolutely love this! And I am too wondering how you sewed them together, did you do it by hand and just edge hits edge?
Posted by: Pat | September 01, 2013 at 11:25 AM
I have been sitting on this idea for a while and seeing how beautiful your curtain has turned out Im inspired to go through my stash and make one for my laundry window this weekend!!
Thankyou for sharing this, its wonderful...good for you!!!
Posted by: Irene | September 04, 2013 at 12:49 AM
Thanks so much for this idea. It will look lovely in my attic room and I really must clear out some old embroidered tablecloths as well. Thank you for sharing x
Posted by: jeanne joss | September 04, 2013 at 06:27 AM
Oh my that IS gorgeous! (Blog hopping and ran across yours, so glad!)I've made café curtains before from embroidered pillowcases, never thought of this (with a large collection myself...the mind is racing. Thanks for sharing. :)
Posted by: Angela-Southern USA | September 05, 2013 at 11:12 AM
Super pretty, cottagy and just perfect!
Posted by: krista - Poppyprint | September 12, 2013 at 09:09 PM
Just love your curtain , very creative.
Posted by: Barbara | January 31, 2014 at 12:14 AM
I couldn't pin this to my "Anything Stitched" board fast enough. http://www.pinterest.com/beebleberries/anything-stitched/
I've thrifted a number of vintage embroidered dresser scarves. Taking a scissor to them might take a little bit of bravery. But it's better that they shine in the light of day than be kept stashed in a bin.
Posted by: Helen in Colorado | May 18, 2014 at 09:57 AM
I am in love and inspired by this
Posted by: Jessie | July 16, 2014 at 04:39 AM
Very sweet looking.
Posted by: Jessica | August 29, 2014 at 04:35 AM
Maravilhosooooo <3
Posted by: maria tereza | September 03, 2014 at 06:18 PM
Love it. Just the inspiration I need for doing something with all my grandmothers hand made tablecloths.
Posted by: Jane | May 03, 2015 at 02:59 AM
Hi ... how did you connect the patches when the edges were crochet? Help please ... it's a lovely curtain ... great job!
Posted by: Holly Gleason | June 14, 2015 at 06:06 AM
Did you ever respond about how this was finished off on the seams?
Posted by: Elizabeth Perry | June 14, 2015 at 07:49 AM
This looks lovely, but I fear for the vintage embroidery. I suspect it will be destroyed by light damage. I hate to see beautiful old needlework sacrificed in this way. Maybe you could line it or protect it in some other way.
Posted by: Sue | September 25, 2015 at 08:46 PM
LOVE this and want to carry thru to MY bathroom curtains for window and shower... would LOVE a how-to... or where you found the way to put them together with out a fabric backing ...
Posted by: gaydeane | May 29, 2016 at 12:38 AM
I really wish you shared how to sew this together. I have collected a bunch of vintage linen and now realized I am unsure how to sew it because of the edging :(
Posted by: Madiso | September 29, 2016 at 05:52 AM
I think French seams would be perfect! Where there are lace edges just use tuck the unedged seam under. I’m going to do mine like that so it’s just as pretty on the back.
Posted by: Judy | February 19, 2019 at 05:23 AM
How are they sewn together?!
Posted by: Deb | August 14, 2021 at 12:38 PM