How to Make Simple, Inexpensive Roman Shades
Roman blinds are generally made of fabric and do not operate with slats, as many traditional window treatments do. These blinds can be made with light- to medium-weight fabric. They can be hung to fit outside the window frame by themselves or inside the window and framed by outside curtains. Roman blinds can be expensive depending on the fabric choice, but it is possible to make simple, inexpensive blinds yourself by following a few instructions. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Measuring tape
- Scissors
- Fabric
- Lining
- Pins
- Sewing machine
- Pencil
- Clothes iron
- Strips of wooden or plastic dowels, 1.25 inches less than the blind's width
- Small plastic rings, 1/2 inch in diameter
- Wooden or brass acorn
- Nylon cord, 3 times the length of blind plus the width
- Wall cleat
- Stick-and-sew Velcro, enough for the width of the blind
- Wooden Batten 1 inch by 1 inch by the width of the blind
- 4 screw eyelets
Instructions
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1
Measure the window with a measuring tape. If blinds fit inside the window, measure inside the window frame, or from wall to wall of the window, for the width. Measure from the top of the window to the top of the window sill for the height. Add 2 inches to the height and width to account for seams.
Calculate the height and width for shades outside the recess. Measure across the window and allow 2 inches of overlap onto the wall and add 2 inches for the seams. The height of the blinds should not be more than 6 inches above the recess and measure down to the sill if it sticks out from the window. If it does not, add 2 inches for the blinds to hang down. Add 2 inches to the height to account for seams.
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2
Cut the fabric and the lining with scissors according to the measurements. Place the fabric flat on a table face up. Set the lining on top of the fabric with the face down. Smooth out the fabrics and make sure they are aligned at the edges. Pin the two pieces together. Use a sewing machine to secure the sides and the bottom. Leave 1-inch seams from the edges.
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3
Pull out all the pins and turn the fabric the right way out. Place the blind on a flat surface with lining facing up and pin the edges together again. Make a line with a pencil across the blind, 2 inches from the raw edge. Divide the remaining part of the blind equally into 8-to-12-inch sections, leaving 4 to 6 inches at the bottom. This section should be smaller than the others.
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4
Make the pockets that hold the wooden dowels. Cut strips of 4-inch lining and make as long as the blind is wide. Construct as many of these strips as you made lines on the blind.
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5
Fold the width in half, with the fabric facing out. Pin the open edges together. Use a sewing machine to secure one side along the length and leave 1/2 inch from the edges. Turn right side out and smooth the creases with a clothes iron.
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6
Secure the folded side of the pockets to the pencil lines with pins and leave 1/4 inch from fold. The pockets should be 1/2 inch from each side of blind. Sew the pockets, with thread matching fabric, to the blind along the pencil lines 1/4 inch from the crease.
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Place a wooden dowel in each pocket and sew the ends shut. Use your hands to sew plastic rings to the outside edges of the pockets. Place the rings down each side of the blind 8 to 10 inches apart and 2 inches from the edges.
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8
Cover the wooden batten with fabric and glue Velcro to the edge of the batten. Place batten in the brackets on the wall. Screw the eyelets under the batten and make sure they line up with the plastic rings. Place an additional eyelet on the side for the cord. Fold over 1 inch of the top edge of the blind between the fabric and the lining and pin. Pin the Velcro and sew in place near the top of the blind. Secure the blind to the wooden batten. Make sure the blind hangs straight before you attach the cord.
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9
Tie a nylon cord to each ring on the lower pocket. Wind the cords through the rings and in the eyelets on the batten. Let the cord hang partway down the blind.
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10
Screw on the cleat on the side of the wall that the cords are on. Feed the cords through the brass acorn and tie at the ends.
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Tips & Warnings
Make sure all the pleats hang correctly and are even on the blind.
If the fabric has any patterns, take this into consideration when cutting it and make sure it is centered.
