How to Make Simple Roman Blinds

You will learn how to make and hang a simple roman blind. I will have suggestions for modification if you do not have access to a sewing machine and want to make an unlined shade that requires hand sewing only.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Fabric for the shade that is 1" wider and 3" longer than the window.
• Lining, if you want your shade lined, that is the same size as the fabric.
• rings or ring tape
• A board 1" thick and 2" deep, and as long as the window is wide.
• Cord, amount to be determined after measuring and determining how many strips of rings you will be placing on your shade.
• A rod to insert in the bottom of your shade for stability. Needs to measure 1/2" shorter than the window recess width.
• A screw eye for each strip of rings and a cleat for the cords to be secured to when the shade is raised.
• Heavy duty stapler or hammer and tacks to attach finished shade to board.

1. GENERAL PREP. Measure the length and width of your window. Rings should be placed in vertical strips every 9 to 12 inches. Ex. For a window that is 30" wide you will need 4 strips of rings. One on each vertical outside edge, one placed approximately 10 " from the edge, and one placed approximately 20" from the same edge. These rings, placed at the same place across the horizontal line of the shade, are what allows the shade to be pulled up in uniform folds.

2. CUT AND ASSEMBLE SHADE. The first part of this will be instructions for making a lined shade using a sewing machine. Cut your fabric and lining the same size: 1" wider than your recess and 3" longer than your recess. Putting right sides together sew the side and bottom of your shade, using a half seam allowance so that the shade will fit perfectly into your window recess. Turn right side out and press seams flat. Sew straight across top of shade, 1/2" from the edge, to keep these edges together and make mounting onto the board easier. Press under 2" on bottom of shade towards the wrong side of the shade to make a hem and sew across the edge. This will make the shade hang nicely and give it a professional look.
   HAND-SEW INSTRUCTIONS: You can make an unlined shade by using fusible web to hold the edges and hems. Measure and cut fabric as you would for the sewed version above, only you will not be making a lined shade. You will only use one layer of fabric. Using an iron and fusible web turn under the 2 long edges 1/2" and the hem 2". Put the fusible web between the two layers of fabric where you turned under and press with iron to fuse the layers of fabric.

3. RINGS AND OR RING TAPE. Next you will be attaching the ring tape or rings to your shade. Ring tape can be purchased that has rings pre-sewn to twill tape. This ring tape is then sewn onto the shade. This option will be covered first. An alternative is to buy rings and sew them onto your shade yourself. This option will be covered for the Hand-sew version of the shade.
   Ring Tape: Mark shade where tape should be placed. Start at the bottom of the shade with a ring placed at the hem. Take tape up to the top of the shade and stop 3" from the top. Pin and sew tape to shade. Do this for all of the strips of ring tape. Using a zipper foot is helpful to get around the rings easily.
   NO SEW VERSION: For this version you will need to buy rings and hand sew them to the shade at intervals. If you use a heavy duty button sewing thread or embroidery thread you will have less stitches you have to make to acheive a sturdily attached ring. The rings should be placed starting at the bottom hem, heading straight up to the top of the shade, stopping 3" from the top. You will basically be placing rings where the tape would have been. The rings should be around 6" to 9" inches apart, depending on the weight of your fabric. The heavier the fabric, the closer you would want the rings. To attach the rings, place on the fabric, and sew to the fabric, taking small stitches that will hug the rings tightly.

4. SHADE AND BOARD. Now you will attach the cord to the shade and thread through the eyelets on the board.
   Attach screw eyes to underside of board to correspond with the placement of each strip of tape or rings. Therefore, there would be a screw eye at each edge of the board, and in 10" from the edge, and 20" from the edge.
   Tack or staple shade to board. Mark a line 1 inch from the top front of the finished shade, from edge to edge. This line will be used to attach the shade to the board. Staple or tack the shade to the front top edge of the board. ( Keep in mind the screw eyes are on the bottom surface of the board.) Therefore, the shade will be coming out of the space at the top of your window recess, sandwiched between the board and the top edge of your window recess.

5. CORD. Now you will attach and thread the cord through the rings and eyelets. Lay shade and board on a flat surface. Starting with the left most strip of rings, tie the cord to the lower most ring by tying a knot. Take this cord and thread up through that vertical strip of rings, and through the screweye at the top of the board, then through the next screw eye, and so on, until it has passed through the last screw eye. You will need to extend this cord down to the bottom edge hem of the shade and cut it there. Repeat this for all of the strips of rings, with one exception. Each cord will only go through the screw eye at the top of its vertical strip and the eyes to the right of it. In other words, you will not string the 2nd cord through the screw eye on the far left side of the board.
   When you have completed all of the cords you will tie them all together in a nice knot to keep them together. This is what you will use to raise and lower the shade. If you do not like the bulkiness of the cords, you can knot them approximately six inches from where they all gather, and then cut all but one cord. Then, this one cord is used to raise and lower shade.

6. HANG SHADE. Your shade is now ready to hang. Place board in the top of the window recess, with the screw eyes hanging down, and the shade coming off the front of the board. Secure board with angle irons placed on the left and right side of the board to the window recess.
   Insert a rod through the hem to serve as a weight and a straight edge for the bottom of the shade.
   Attach a cleat to the right side of your window recess about halfway down the window edge. Loop cords around the cleat to hold the shade at the height you wish.