Tips, Treats & Treasures: Curtain Tiebacks

I created curtain tiebacks for my outdoor curtains that were easy, no-sew, and inexpensive!

After feeling quite pleased with my creative solution I wanted to share it and show how I did it.

I was in need of something simple, easy to use and inexpensive, to be used as tiebacks for our curtains on our covered porch. You can learn more about our inexpensive outdoor curtains project here. We added the curtains not only for privacy, but also for added shade from the sun, and added warmth in the winter when we use our fireplace and an outdoor heater.

They also cut down on the rain that sometimes gets on the porch when it's really raining hard. We had been using left-over clips from the curtain rings we used to hang the curtains, along with cup-hooks secured to the deck rail to hold the clips and curtains in place when we have them closed, and/or when the wind is blowing them.

However when the curtains are open or pulled back and the wind blows, there's also a need for something to keep them gathered and under control. I had an extra set of long black shoe laces that worked as a temporary fix when tied around the curtains. So I purchased a few extra packages of them since I needed several overall, plus they were inexpensive and I was ok with the look.

That works just fine most of the time, but if the curtains have not been tied back and a wind picks up, well I'm out there grabbing them from flight as I think to myself "Auntie Em, Auntie Em!", and I'm trying to tie the laces on quickly! Whew!

I knew I needed to come up with a better plan. A quicker, easier plan! My creative mind was stumped until the "Ah ha" moment arrived, and I had it! I was thinking...bungees? My kids have often called me the "bungee queen", because I can sure find ways where bungees do come in handy and are quite useful in life!

My thoughts are often "I can Tammy-rig it or bungee it!"{wink} Similar to bungees, I've used stretch hair bands for cord control on many different items and I also did a blog page on that, you can see it here if you like.

(OK, back to the task at hand!)
My original idea was to use large buttons and stretch cord. While shopping, I discovered some stretch headbands that were already about the perfect length that was needed, but I couldn't find the buttons that I'd had in mind, or that were just-right with large enough holes for the hair bands to fit through, or without metal, or that I thought would hold up well.

I then decided instead to look for some large hole beads and did find round, wooden beads about an inch in diameter. "Perfect, that will do!" These tiebacks were a cinch to make and inexpensive as well, which is what I was looking for since they are outdoors after all, and they are not unattractive. The best part is how quick and easy these are to use, and they do the job nicely! The cup-hooks secured to the deck rail help to keep them in place.

Now I can add these tie backs rather quickly, and remove them quickly too. Even when it's windy!