Hello again Champagne!
Well, you sound like a practical girl who likes DIY, so I'm sure you won't find curtains hard to make. I've made plenty and you can make them as elaborate as you want. The cheapest way is to get lining fabric and just hem the top and bottom. It comes in various shades. You can add rufflette which is tape with strings that you pull to gather the curtains up, then you put hooks in and hook them to the track. You don't even have to hem the sides as the selvedges don't fray.
You can buy curtain linings in various sizes, but depending on the dimensions of your window you'll have to decide what you can get and how you want them to fit.
Also depends if you want the curtains as insulation too - linings won't keep out the cold and if you want lined curtains then it starts getting more expensive and takes longer.
I got some lovely faux suede fabric on eBay for �4 a metre, in two rolls.
I could go on for hours about curtains. Ask if you want more info!