DIYs How to Hem Curtains the No Sew Way

Looking for tips on how to hem curtains without sewing? Here’s a simple tip to hem no sew curtains the easy way.

A woman stands smiling in a bedroom, wearing a navy outfit. The room features a wicker chest, a bed with a blue and white gingham pattern, a blue and white rug, floral decor, and framed feather artwork on the wall.

// this two-piece navy outfit is on sale right now //

Have you ever watched a television show where they demonstrated how to make an easy project?

You know. 

Projects that were “easy” and “took minutes” and were “so simple.”

And the project demonstrator was super cute and her hair was perfect and her nails were shiny and her teeth sparkled and her apron was monogrammed with letters that look like a garden trellis.

And she smiled and made the project in 10 minutes.

And told you that it was easy.

Except it wasn’t.

Because when you tried to make it, the project totally flopped and looked like it needed prayer and you sighed…

…and ended up donating it to Goodwill.

A DIY fail.

This my wonderful friend…..

…..is not that project.

This no-sew curtain project will have giving yourself a standing ovation because all you need is THIS.

A person wearing a dark sweater holds out a round white container, possibly for cosmetics or lip balm, in their open hands. The container has a purple label. They also wear a gold bracelet.

// heat bond hem adhesive //

It’s called Heat Bond hem adhesive and you can see it here.

There are different strengths, but I like the Ultrahold the best.

Go big or go home.

It is SO EASY to use.

And use it, I do. I’ve been using it for years, to hem my pants and my skirts and my curtains.

A roll will last you a long time. If you lived around the block from me, I’d let you borrow mine. There’s enough in a roll for both our curtains.

A bed with a variety of pillows arranged neatly. The front pillow has a colorful floral pattern, while the ones behind it feature blue floral designs and blue gingham checkered patterns. The bedding also has a blue checkered pattern.

// floral pillow cover (similar) // block print pillow covers // gingham bedding // pom pom euro shams //

A white table adorned with a geometric lamp, a bouquet of pink flowers in a textured white vase, two stacked books, a small white rabbit figurine with blue accents, and a blue-and-white patterned vase. A striped curtain is in the background.

// blue and white curtains //

A cozy bedroom with a white bed, blue and white checkered bedding, and floral pillows. Two wicker baskets are at the foot of the bed. A cushioned chair with a decorative pillow is in the corner, and a blue patterned rug covers the dark wood floor.

// blue and white curtains // floral pillow cover (similar) // block print pillow covers // gingham bedding // pom pom euro shams //

Remember this blue and white bedroom makeover?

I ordered the cutest striped curtains for the windows.

You can see them here.

The challenge was that the curtains were way too long.

No worries.

No problem.

This is not my first curtain rodeo.

Here’s how I hemmed the curtains with this no sew method in 30 minutes.

A person pulling a strip of white adhesive tape from a roll. The person is wearing a dark blue long-sleeved shirt and has light-colored nail polish. The tape is held in both hands against a blurred background.

// heat bond hem adhesive //

How to Hem Curtains the No Sew Way

1. unwrap the heatbond adhesive

The heatbond adhesive comes in a plastic package.

Unwrap the package and remove the plastic holding it together.

The tape is so thin you can just rip it into the pieces that you need.

Folded white fabric with dark blue stripes, lying on a surface with a grid pattern. The fabric's corner is turned up, revealing a contrasting pattern underneath. The image has a soft, minimalistic aesthetic.

2. Measure the length

Measure the length you want the curtains to be.

I usually just pin one end of it and then iron the entire hem, pin in place and check the length.

This definitely falls under the category of measure twice, cut once.

Also—I try and just fold over the original hem and try not to cut it whenever possible. It’s so much easier that way. If you have to cut the length, I find it’s easier to fold over the cut side and make a mini hem and then fold over and hem in place.

(total aside: that description might be confusing—if you need clarification, just let me know.)

Close-up of a stack of neatly folded white linens with blue stripes. The top linen features a visible corner fold, highlighting a pattern of alternating thick and thin lines. The overall appearance is clean and crisp.

3. Iron tape in place

Now that you have the length you want, just place a piece of tape between the end of the hem and the curtain and iron in place.

I work in small sections.

It makes it so much easier to keep the wrinkles out.

4. Check to make sure the tape sticks

The length of time you iron the tape depends on your material.

You want to press firmly in place with the iron and then remove the iron, wait a couple of seconds, and check if the tape is sticking the two pieces together.

If the tape is loose, repeat this step until the tape sticks.

A minimalist curtain design with vertical blue and white stripes hangs from a brass-colored rod. The curtain is gathered and clipped at the top, set against a plain white wall, creating a clean and fresh look.

// curtain rods // curtain clips //

These curtains are hung on a curtain rod with clips.

I point this out, because you can always adjust the length slightly with the clips.

You can see my favorite curtain rods and my favorite curtain clips here.

Here are just a few things to note when hemming curtains like this:

  • you may want to test a small area first on the edge of the curtains to make sure the tape works on the fabric you are using
  • curtains hemmed like this are washable, but just be aware that with every washing the adhesive loses a little bit of its stickiness
  • in my experience, the tape didn’t make the hem stiff, but it may be different with your fabric
  • I think that this adhesive tape doesn’t work as well on heavy fabrics like denim or upholstery fabric

White curtains with vertical blue stripes hang in front of a sunlit window, partially covering a white wall. The curtains reach down to a polished wooden floor, casting a soft shadow.

Now you can hem your curtains (and your pants).

That’s it.

That’s all you need to go from glumpy curtains to perfectly hemmed curtains.

All this without a single stitch.

disclosure: affiliate links are used in this post.

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Posted On: March 6, 2025

Written By: KariAnne Wood

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