Things You'll Need:
- Decorator and lining fabric
- Scissors
- Ruler
- Lead pencil or air-soluble marker
- Staple gun
- 1 inch thick by 2 inches wide mounting board that is 1/4 inches shorter than the shade coverage area
- 1/4 inches in diameter dowels each 1/4 inches shorter than the shade coverage area
- Screw eyes
- 1/2 inches in diameter shade rings
- Blind cord
- 1 cleat
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Step 1
Measure the length and width of the window. If your material isn't wide enough, seam two pieces together.
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Step 2
Allow enough material length to place a wooden dowel or rod horizontally in an encased fold every 6 to 9 inches. You will need 1 ½ inches of additional material length for each fold, and leave 1 ½ inches at the bottom for a rod.
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Step 3
Increase the material by 6 inches for a header.
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Step 4
Add 1 inch to the width of the material to allow for a ½-inch seam on each side of the shade.
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Step 5
Purchase lining material the same size as the decorator fabric to make a window shade.
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Step 1
Cut the decorator and lining fabric according to previous measurements to make a window shade.
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Step 2
Put the right side of the decorator fabric and lining together. Pin and sew the sides and bottom together using a ½-inch seam allowance.
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Step 3
Press the seams open. Turn the material right side out and press the shade.
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Step 4
Use a ruler and mark straight horizontal lines across the width of the decorator material front and make folds to encase the rods. Start by marking 1 ½ inches from the bottom of the fabric length.
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Step 5
Place lining sides touching on the marked lines, and pin the material together on the right side of the material to form the rod casing.
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Step 6
Stitch on the right side of the material over the marked lines.
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Step 1
Cover the mounting board with lining fabric. Staple the fabric to the top of the board on the back edge.
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Step 2
Position the screw eyes in the board parallel to the ends of the board so the cords will run through them. Put the two end screws 4 inches from the edge of the board's bottom side.
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Step 3
Space the remaining screw eyes equally and no more than 12 inches apart.
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Step 1
Check the length of the shade against the window by placing the board in position with the eye screws down. Fold the shade over the front of the board mounting.
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Step 2
Adjust the length and mark the top so you will know where to put the seam. Allow for ¼-inches seam allowance and cut the material to the correct length.
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Step 3
Pin and sew the top seam with a 1/4-inches seam allowance.
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Step 4
Staple the shade to the front and top of the mounting board with the lining against the board.
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Step 5
Slide the rods into the casing folds.
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Step 6
Place the entire shade unit on a flat working surface with the lining side up.
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Step 7
Use a ruler to measure and mark the placement for the rings along the dowel casing seams. Line up the rings with the screw eyes in the mounting board, and sew the rings on to the lining with a machine or by hand.
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Step 1
Determine whether you want the draw cords on the left or right of the shade. Install the cleat on the same side of the window casing as the draw cords so you can wrap the cords around the cleat.
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Step 2
Start on the side of the draw cords and feed one cord through the first screw eye in the mounting. Feed the cord down through all of the rings in the first row next to the draw cord, and tie the cord to the bottom ring.
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Step 3
Repeat the process for the rest of the cords and rows of rings. Leave the cords hanging down the side of the shade longer than the cleat so you can tie up the cords.
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Step 4
Attach the mounting board and shade to the inside of the window frame using a drill and wood screws.
