I've made more window treatments that I can remember Three. Not only for myself, but for family members too. They are one of the easiest things you can make for you home that really make a difference. Have you thought about using table clothes as your fabric? It comes wider than you can find in fabric stores and you can also buy ones made for longer tables to fit the length you need. They still can be lined and faced like any other fabric too. Not to mention you can get coordinating items for you kitchen too!

Three, I just did four of these panels for my bedroom. I was in the same situation that you are - 84" was too short, 96" was too long - and I could not find the right color.
These have their own "header" which if you work according to the pattern, do not come out as deep as they look on the picture. I would do a few things differently. But, all in all, these were great instructions.
I am now making roman shades. Not ready to post a pic yet, as I need to do the romans, but if you need any help, please let me know. The hardest part for me was that I do not have a table large enough to accomodate huge pieces of fabric, so a lot of cutting and pinning was done on the floor.

Here is a link that might be useful: drapery panels

I made quite a few roman shades for my house myself, and now with help from my mom, we are moving to pinch pleated draperies (hung on rings). They really are not that hard at all, seriously! All you need are some good how-to curtain books - I find it useful to have several to compare.

It does get harder once you start using heavier fabric - we got some heavy crewel (plus liner) for my DD's curtains and its hard to sew through with my sewing machine (Husqvarna).

If you can find what you are looking for in ready-mades, it is usually cheaper to alter them then buying everything separately and making them yourself. At least that has been my experience.

The thought of sewing a window treatment scares the bejeebers out of me. I'm harkening back to 7th grade home economics and sewing STAR WARS letter pillows....

I bow to one braver than I!

If you have access to a serger they're easier to work with on large fabric than a machine. They also make a sturdier (washable) product. But they're not essential.

Really you're making a couple of large rectangles so it's not too hard. You are thinking correctly, go ahead and use a bit of a liner in the top (nothing too stiff so they still flow easily). I'd do two panels personally since they look better pulled to each side than one pulled to one side on a window/door of this size.

I'd line them with blackout fabric if I were making them. It gives you a nice finished white back and gives the correct body to the drapes so they look expensive :)

Cut the lining about 2" smaller on each side so that the front forms a frame on the back side and then go about 2" on the top, and give yourself about six inches extra on the bottom. Add your liner to the top and then sew them like a pillow case, bottom side open. (Front of fabric to front of fabric) then turnside out (leaving the correct fabric showing, and iron into shape, then whip sew the hem by hand to the lining for a professional finish.

You'll become addicted and sew for the entire house soon :oP

Even light fabric is heavy in bulk. You'll really want to watch your tension as you sew (hopefully you have a good machine or a serger). What happens often is that people pull their fabric through (never do that) and the tension gets off so that at the very end of the piece, you'll see that the seams don't line up right (one side shorter than the other etc). If possible sew so that the fabic is landing on a table behind the machine verses falling down over the edge of one, which causes the same tension issues...thus causing YOU tension...and making you resort to drinking and sewing...which is dangerous and stuff ;oP

I'll second, its usually easier to modify an existing set, than start from scratch.

I just completed my first sewing project which was drapes for my sliding glass door. I made cuff-top curtains, but I didn't use any sort of header or stiffener. I attached with clips to the rings. I used a pattern from the JoAnn website that was very similar to no-green-thumb's link. Her's actually had more detail about straightening and pinning the fabric which would have been helpful for me as a novice.

I chose to make one panel that pulls to one side because the door opens from one side. I didn't have enough room on the wall for the panel to hang outside the door and be out of the way. I probably could have done two panels and had the option to split them or pull them to one side, but didn't really consider that. I was more concerned about the rod. Many of them require support in the middle which means you would not be able to pull them to one side. You have to look for one larger enough in diameter to hold the weight of the drapes without a center support. I found mine at Lowe's.

I would say the biggest challenge was pinning and getting the liner straight to the face fabric. My liner definitely has waves in it. It does not lay flat to the fabric, but I dont think you could tell unless you were trying to lay the drapes flat. They aren't exactly professional quality in that respect, but I'm happy with them.

Here are some pics...

I'm not sure what the floating white object is, but it was my best pic of them closed.

Dixie, those are pretty much like the ones I made. I need to "train" mine better as I would like for them to fall in better pleats than they currently are, but I want to make sure I don't have any changes.
Yours are mounted high as well. Les had suggested that I mount mine half way between the top of the window and the ceiling which I did --- but they look so high to me. Maybe I am just having trouble getting used to them. So I am trying to live with them for a while. I could probably get DH to lower them - once - we would have all of the holes to fill, then I would have to shorten the drapes. I keep looking at rooms on this site and almost all of the drapes are hung high. Maybe I am just not used to them.
Nice job for a first project - quite an accomplishment.
They are really not hard, the hardest part is just working with such a large piece of fabric.

THat white spot is a ghost. Don't you ever watch tv shows about ghost hunters. :o)

And to train the drapes easily :) Pleat to shape by hand pulling the drapes all the way together as you go. Wrap them with painters tape, folded together tight, and leave for a week. I like to use the tape at the bottom top and in the middle. They'll hang perfectly from that point on.

Have you thought about buying the longer ones and cutting/hemming them to fit? You could have the fancier pinch pleats that you are not comfortable sewing, in the custom size you need.

Thanks for the "training" tip, Igloo. In the past, I have tied them at the top, middle and bottom with strips of fabric - never thought of the blue tape.
I still have to take one down and press it --- and still am not sure about the height. I want to wait until I get the roman shades done before making a decision -- also to post here and see what others think about the height. Thanks a bunch!!

igloochic, can you wrap the tape safely around fabrics like silk?

I made simple panels once and they turned out pretty well. I think the main reason was because I used a good heavy material and sewed in the weights at the bottom. Since I don't have a sewing machine, I did a hem (by hand) on all four sides. Took forever. Anyhoo, I used drapery clips from RH to hang them.

Also, I bought some inexpensive curtains from Target for my FR. I don't like the color and they are very flimsy. (Used the same drapery clips.) I was actually thinking of buying material and sewing (OK, hand hemming) the fabric over the flimsy curtains!? I think it would work (and I have only had one drink tonight.)

Good luck with your project!