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Sunday, April 23, 2017

#CRAFTS WITH ANASTASIA--WINDOW STREAMERS

Window treatments have come a long way from grandma’s heavy velvet drapes. Today many people opt out of any form of window covering if they don’t need them for privacy. However, sometimes a little something is just what a window needs.

This whimsical window treatment is made from jute twine and a few yards of 1” wide cotton print ribbon. It requires absolutely no crafting skills other than being able to use a pair of scissors and tie a knot.

First, head over to your local craft or fabric store to buy the ribbon in colors that go with the color scheme in your room. Mix and match patterns. A yard of ribbon will make three streamers. You’ll want to space them about 2” apart. So you’ll need to measure your window(s) ahead of time to figure out how many yards of ribbon you’ll need. For example: a window that is 24” wide will have twelve streamers, which equals four yards of ribbon. If you want your streamers longer or spaced closer together, adjust the amount of ribbon you purchase accordingly.

While you’re at the store, grab a ball of 2mm or 3mm jute twine. If you don’t have any thumbtacks, grab a pack of them, too.

Once home, measure the window width to determine how much twine you’ll need to cut. Add a few inches for knotting the ends of the twine and for a slight dip. You don’t want the twine taut against the window. Determining the length of the twine works best if you have an extra pair of hands or two to hold the twine while you step back and decide how much of a dip you’d like. Keep in mind the ribbons will hand down about 6”.

Cut the twine and knot each end. Place the cut twine on a flat surface.

Cut 12” lengths of ribbon. Decide on color/pattern placement, then knot each ribbon to the twine using a larks head knot (see diagram at left).

Using thumbtacks, attach the end of each piece of twine to the inside edge of the window.

Tip: You can also use this technique to decorate a covered patio by tying the twine between the pillars of the patio roof.

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