If you're like me and you fell in love with the Chevron pattern immediately after getting a Pinterest account, then you've probably tried either purchasing or making your own Chevron something or another.
Of course, I did also. Sometimes I think I can make everything.
(This is sadly not true...because I cannot make my own mini Cadbury eggs. Very, very unfortunate.)
The first Chevron pattern that I attempted was on a curtain for my room. The curtain was cheap so I wasn't really worried about perfection - it was more of a trial run.
And THANK GOODNESS for that.
I about pulled my hair out with my first try!
I weighed the pros and cons of each possible technique, and somehow thought that
drawing out my own pattern without measuring was a "smart" idea, and that using
Martha Stewart acrylic craft paint would be genius.
It was NOT genius.
The acrylic paint was too thin, so the finished curtain is slightly iridescent on some parts;
but that is not the biggest downfall.
It took foreverrrrrrr.
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| My Chevron Room Curtain |
Besides all that, I really do like the way the Chevron pattern looks as a curtain, so I decided I would brave another go at it.
Believe me, this is the EASIEST, fastest way to do it!!
HERE'S WHAT YOU WILL NEED:
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| Frogtape or any Painter's tape - If you'll be doing smaller Chevron stripes, it's best if you pick your tape to be the size of stripes you would like - I chose to use 1.88" (Walmart or any Home Improvement Store - Approx. $5-8) |
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| Speedsquare - DON'T think you can just use a ruler!!! This is what made the whole process SO much easier! - I used 12" (Any Home Improvement Store - Approx. $8) |
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| Latex Paint. The person helping me at the Home Improvement store would not dare tell me that it would be OK to use Latex paint. She was afraid that it would peel right off and I would blame her! Don't worry - the Latex is excellent on fabric made with a canvas-like material - especially on curtains that can be cleaned easily, without throwing them in the washer. The type of finish is irrelevant (flat, gloss, semi-gloss, etc.) (Walmart or any Home Improvement store) |
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| Foam Roller, or better yet... |
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| Foam Brushes - they're best to fill in between the tape, and they use up less paint (Walmart or any Craft or Home Improvement Store) |
- A Pencil
- Plastic or Drop Cloth (to lay under your curtains)
And finally...CURTAINS!!!
Of course!
The curtains I used were on sale at Lowes.
I forgot to take a picture of what kind I used (whoops), but the fabric is a linen/canvas-like material. The paint will be thick, so sheer or thin curtains wouldn't be good!
Step One
Lay your speedsquare so the straight line is parallel to the top of your curtain.
Mark a pencil line along the left side of your speedsquare and tape along that line.
I found that the easiest way for measuring was to cut two pieces of the painters tape and lie it where I need the empty space to be.
Align the speedsquare up with that first piece of tape, remove the 'temporary' tape, and mark along speedquare with your pencil. Tape along pencil line.
Step Two
Line up your speedsquare so the the triangular tip is right at the top of your curtain - make sure that the straight line is again parallel with the top of your curtain as well.
Mark the other side of the speedsquare, and stop wherever you would like, depending on how large or small you'd like your triangles to be. I chose to mark right below a seam at about 10" so that I find that same spot below the seam throughout the marking process.
Be sure to tape ABOVE pencil marking, otherwise your triangles will be uneven.
Step Three
Once your first triangle is set, turn your speedsquare upside down and align it with the BOTTOM edge of your tape. Keep the straight line of your speedsquare parallel with the top of the curtain. Mark a line along the speedsquare to the top of the curtain.
As your tape overlaps once they come to a point, you can use scissors to cut the excess tape. Mind the tape width or else the point will be deformed!
Continue this process across the first row of your curtain.
And don't worry...everything else is pretty quick after this!
Step Four
Starting with the empty triangle above your tape, take your two pieces of painters tape and line them up with your taped triangles.
It is not important that your two pieces of reference tape touch. It will not matter with your speedsquare!
Align your speedsquare with each piece of tape and mark along sides of the speedsquare - remove reference tape.
Continue this process across the entire first line of taped triangles
Do the same on the triangles below - Mark your points directly below the triangle point above
Step Five
Once you've marked and taped the entire curtain, it's time to paint!!
I didn't want to get a paint tray so I just put plastic over a plate with a slight basin and poured my paint into it.
It's okay...you can call me lazy.
It's definitely a good idea to rub along the edges of your tape to ensure that the paint doesn't seep underneath. I didn't have much of a problem with the paint getting underneath - which is why Frogtape is superrrrb!
Paint directly along and over the sides of your tape.
After the first layer is finished, wait 5-10 minutes and add a second layer. The paint should dry quickly on the fabric, so you may not even have to wait if you start the second layer where you began the first.
You can definitely add more layers of paint if you think that it might intensify your color.
Because my paint is such a light color to begin with, it barely needed a second coat,
whereas colors such as black or red may need additional coats.
Step 6
Leave your lovely curtains to dry overnight.
If you're impatient (like me), you can remove the tape once you're certain that the paint is dry.
At first, I used a hair dryer to create a smooth removal of the tape, but I found that it was
not necessary and appeared to even create a more jagged edge.
The tape should remove smoothly, with no paint taken with it.
When you wake up in the morning, as you're blinking on your brain and avoiding hitting the snooze button for the third time, lay back and down and then suddenly JOLT up because you remembered your awesome project you finished the night before!!
Well...that last part wasn't necessary, but that's what I did and it was great.
So really, the next morning, hang up those lovely things and admire the great work you just did.
That part IS necessary.
I know, I know.
The picture quality is terrible.
I'll get a camera one day.
Maybe.
Craft on, little birdies
