Original plastic tape carrying the curtain track hangers, sewn onto the inside top and bottom of each curtain

Firstly, the stitching holding the plastic tape along the top and bottom of the curtains was unpicked and the tapes with the attached "hangers" were dispatched to the "shed" where the eyelets securing the hangers to the tape were drilled out.   "Curtain header" (from a haberdashery shop or Bunnings) was then cut into appropriate lengths and widths approximating the length and width of the original plastic tape.

Curtain "header" material, cut into strips

These were then sewn into the curtains along the top and bottom, and over locked as shown in the photograph below.   This provides some stiffness along the top and bottom so the curtains hang nicely.

The original plastic tape hangers were then "pop rivetted" back onto the curtains in approximately the original positions as shown in this photograph.

Hangers pop rivetted on the inside top and bottom of each curtain

Screw head "cups" (from Bunnings) with appropriately sized brass washers on the insides are placed on the other side of the fabric to the hanger, and the rivets clinch the hanger through the fabric and the brass washer in the cup.   Aluminium rivets and brass washers ensure there will be no rust stains when the curtains are washed.   "Caps" on the cups complete the modification

Front view of curtain, with and without the screw cup cap

Curtains drawn back during the day

Curtains drawn together.   Note press studs to keep the two curtain halves together.
The clothes pegs we have been using for this over the last 9 years have been pensioned off!

Pam Thomas
E-mail: ekthomas@ozemail.com.au