I can't follow your plan. Are the sheer panels you will buy readymade curtains? Why don't you just make curtains and skip the sheers entirely, or are the sheers meant to soften the look of the fabric? Since you are replacing blinds, do you already have curtain rods?

Use a fine needle and polyester thread on the sheers if you sew them. You shouldn't have any trouble. Good luck.

Having been in this situation many, many, times, I would tackle it from a different direction. Sewing something from scratch is a good possibility if you sew. Find some discount fabric and give it a shot. Or shop some stores that sell very inexpensive panels, like Marshalls, Ross, TJMaxx. I've seen panels in these stores THIS WEEK for under $20 each panel. Anna's Linens (look online) has stores in many states and cheap panels. You may not get something that is exactly what you want, but those of us on tight budgets have to look for the best bang for our buck, right?

Red

I've heard burlap is a cheap fabric that looks like linen(heard it on cote de texas).

It sounds like sewing is an option for you. I have used the sheeting fabric found at WalMart in the past. It is very wide (120" I think) and is just heavy enough that you can't see in at night. It is very inexpensive and with the width I had very nice full, but light and airy look to the room. Comes in basic white or cream. You could make basic panels, or get fancy and use it in layers with some acting as a swag.

Are these windows in the same room? Where?
What's the room's decor/paint color?
Because as weird as this might seem, some folks here and on other decorating forums have used the neutral-colored painting dropcloths as window treatments. Sew a hem on one of those, slip an inexpensive rod through, hang on inexpensive rod holders and you're good to go, probably safely within your budget! (Do a search on this forum for "dropcloths"--it's either here or on the HGTV dec forum on its website.)

Also: Have you looked on Craigslist? You might just hit on something you can adapt or use straight out of the package (plus you can try to negotiate the price).

I agree with the others. Buying sheers and lining them is more expensive than just making simple panels.

Another thought is to vacuum and wash the dusty, cheap vinyl blinds and add the Walmart sheers. The blinds would still serve their purpose, but you would not see them behind the sheers.

I've used sheets before - there are some very luxurious-looking flat sheets. And who cares about the thread count? You're not sleeping on it so you can get the very inexpensive ones. They have a built-in pole pocket.

Hang it from a rod on top, then pull it to one side. For two windows you'll only need two twin sheets. You could "balloon" the top part so it's puffy, or you could just let them hang and puddle on the floor.

Hope this helps and that you post pics of what you end up doing!

Hi,

I have used tablecloths bought at Marshalls, Home Goods, TJ etc in the past. You can get some interesting patterns and textures and there would be no need to line. Those or sheets from discount stores would be easy and inexpensive.

I bought some Ralph Lauren tablecloths in a beautiful stipe years ago and made panels out of them. They were gorgeous. Cost a total of $12!

yeah maybe the lined sheer thing was not such a good idea. -The thing is my last curtain sewing project turned out horrible. I think I messed up by trying to sew tab top curtains. I'm going to try just a simple hem on top and bottom. I love the drop cloth and sheet recommendations.

The windows are in the same room and the decor is, i guess like country/cottage type with pale yellow walls, white basic bedding and soft floral prints on the wall. I figured with this decor I could go with a simpler, cheaper curtain.

I'm going for a neutral, clean & crisp looking room in order not "offend" my MIL with anything too bold. LOL.

Thanks ladies! I'll be sure to post pictures when the project is done. Oh yeah, i found this site with no sew curtains in case anyone is ever interested: http://www.bhg.com/decorating/window-treatments/no-sew-windows/easy-no-sew-window-treatments/?page=1 might go for the ribbon panels.
-Melissa

Even if you don't sew - You can do wonderful non sew treatments w/fabrics

http://www.fashionfabricsclub.com/sale_emails/current_sale.htm

I also like the idea of dropcloth & burlap

http://www.barnfabriccenter.com/

No sew ideas
http://www.bhg.com/decorating/window-treatments/no-sew-windows/easy-no-sew-window-treatments/

http://budgetdecorating.about.com/od/littlechangesbigstyle/a/Window-Covering.htm

Good luck - let us know how you made out

Another idea is to get really cheap (like $8.99) roller shades cut to the right size, then take the vinyl off and replace it with fabric. All you do is staple the fabric to the roll just like the vinyl was. Works great, especially with heavier fabrics that don't fray on the edges.

I have used sheets before and then made my own valance with a complimentary fabric. Easy to do and you can switch out the valance if you want a change for seasons or if you paint. If you really are tight for money, just make the curtains shorter, not floor length. That will help with the amount you need.
OR
Depending on the width, vinyl blinds are cheap at Wal-mart and then you can use the sheers. Later add panels if you want on each end of the rod.

I was going to say sheets too. I have used them MANY times when I've needed something to go on the window but was pretty much broke - twin flat sheets (which are 66" wide, full enough for a 47" window) can be super-ultra-cheap in the clearance bins, and great prints and colors abound. I've even seen sheets still in their original packaging at Goodwill and Salvation Army for just a couple of dollars apiece. Just run the rod through the top hem, tie back to one side, and tah-daaah, instant curtains! If you want two panels per window for a more traditional look, get one full or queen sheet per window and split it down the middle, hemming the raw edges. Since you sew, hemming them up would be easy (I strongly dislike puddled WTs, it always looks to me like [extra polite mode on] someone didn't get around to hemming their WT's to the right length!), but I always just used the iron-on hemming tape because me and sewing are a bad combination. LOL Tied back to one side on a cup hook (and they can be tied back with any number of things; I often used scarves I liked but didn't wear), they can be "released" at night to completely cover the window, although I'd try cleaning those blinds too and using the fabric WT to pretty-up the vinyl blinds (or distract the eye from them until you can afford to replace them LOL). Scrungy vinyl blinds can be cleaned in the bathtub.

Low-thread-count sheets - and I'm talking down in the 150 range, the really cheap ones that feel like sandpaper to sleep on - can look surprisingly like linen especially when you use white, and that's what I've usually used. Starch them lightly when you iron them for an extra-crisp look.

A random thought though - does MIL have anything she could bring along? My grandmother lived with my mother for a few years and brought along many things from her old house to decorate her room in Mama's house. It made her more comfortable to have her own things around her, and less like she was living in "someone else's house". (She eventually got her own teensy little apartment in an in-town elder housing complex - her old house had been way out in the boonies, as is Mama's - and is happy as a clam at high tide to have her own place again.)

I love the link you posted and I think the ribbon no-sew curtains will look wonderful. Sure to impress the MIL with your creativity. What will you do for blocking the window? Could you use the ribbon idea with panels instead?

I have used sheets on more than one occasion and agree that they can have a nice linen look. I usually do two twin sheets with the top hem at the bottom instead of running it through a rod. I cut the bottom of the sheet (which I use as the top) to the right height so my curtains don't puddle on the floor and then hang the cut part with small clip curtain rings.

Take a look at the window mistreatments on this site. I stumbled across this blog while searching for curtain ideas. I'm still not sure I agree that hot glue can be peeled off fabric. I had an unfortunate mishap with hot glue and some curtains that I made for my Bible class. We'll leave it at that. However, you could use her ideas for hanging curtains (bunching the fabric, using clips, using tacks) with sheets.

(Warning: The entire blog is beautiful and will eat up hours of your time!)

Here is a link that might be useful: The Nesting Place

You can go with sheers w/o lining. Buy 3 panels so that you can make them really full. Doing so will make them semi-sheer and no one will be able to see through them.
Also, in a pinch, take a look at your Goodwill or other thrift shops.

These panels are on sale at Target this week for $7 each.
They're available in 40"x63" and 40"x84"

$7 panels at Target

Go to big lots.