How to Make Roman Blinds

If you want style and simplicity tied together, then you might make Roman blinds. Roman blinds can be used as the sole window treatment or combined with a swag or valence. Either way, their elegance is well worth the effort.

Things You'll Need

• Lining fabric
• Blind/Shade fabric
• Dowels or wood lath
• Thread
• Sewing machine
• Pins
• Tape measure
• Fabric chalk or pencil
• Plastic rings
• Straight edge
• Wooden batten
• Nylon cord
• Eyelet screws or ceramic guides
• Angle brackets
• Ornamental pins
• Acorn or metal cord connector
• Cleat

Instructions

Make the Shade

1. Choose a lightweight material to make the blinds. Lining the blinds is usual, so you need to purchase the lining material also. You need to measure the area the blind is going to cover from top to bottom and add 2 inches for the seam. Do the same for the sides.

2. Cut the lining and the primary fabric to the measurements. Lay them right faces together and pin. Stitch down the sides and across the bottom one inch from the edge. Trim the corners at an angle so the fabric lays flat when turned inside out. Be careful not to cut the stitching.

3. Remove the pins so that you can turn the fabric right side out. Press the fabric, flattening the seams as you do.

4. Flatten the material with the lining face up and pin it all over to make certain that it stays free of wrinkles as you work. Measure down two inches from the top raw edge. Make a line straight across using a straight edge and a pencil or chalk.

5. Divide the remaining blind into equal sections that are between 8 to 12 inches, allowing for the bottom section to be half the size of the panels but not smaller than 4 inches. Draw lines at the points measured.

6. Cut the lining fabric into strips 4 inches wide and as long as the width. Cut as many as you have marks on the fabric. Don't count the line 2 inches from the top; the batten goes in there. Turn the right sides together and stitch 1/2 inch from the edge. Turn them right side out. Press them flat. Stitch the folded side onto the lines drawn on the lining for sections below the 2 inch line. Use thread that blends with the front.

7. Insert 1/2 inch wood lathe or dowels that are 1 1/4 inch shorter than the width of the blind, into the pockets and fold the raw edge in, using an overcast stitch to close the ends. You will sew 1/2 diameter plastic rings onto the pockets. Measure 2 inches from each side and position the first two. Divide the remaining area into equal intervals that are no more than 16 inches or less than 8 inches, and stitch them on making certain they line up from top to bottom.

Hang the Shade

1. Cut a 2-by-1-inch batten the length of the window. Install the angle brackets in the appropriate area to hold the batten.

2. Tuck in the top 1 inch of both the fabric and lining on the shade and pin. Slip stitch the material closed.

3. Secure the blinds to the front of the batten using ornamental push pins. Make certain that they are held on tightly. This is extremely important. Flip the blind and batten over so the back side of the batten shows and the lining of the shade shows.

4. Line up eyelet screws or ceramic cord guides with the plastic rings and screw them into the bottom of the batten. Add one more eyelet screw close to the edge that is used to pull the string.

5. Hang the blind on the bracket and make certain that it's lined up. Attach blind cord to the bottom plastic ring and run it up through the others and the eyelet screws at the top. As you do each one bring it over to the side that the cord will hang and rung it through that screw also, leaving enough cord so it hangs three quarters of the way down.

6. Check the movement as you raise and lower the blinds. Pull the blinds up half way, line the cords up and insert them into an acorn or metal cord connector. Knot to secure.

7. Install a cleat to the side where the cords fall.