How to Make Blackout Roman Shades
Roman shades are a practical and classic window treatment that can be easily modified to allow for a blackout drapery lining. Blackout Roman shades work exceptionally well in the bedroom, allowing you to sleep in comfortable darkness. Choose outer fabrics for your Roman blinds that coordinate with your decor. While this is a sewing project, the seams are all straight and it is easily managed by a beginner at sewing. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Tape measure
- Blackout drapery lining
- Outer fabric
- Cotton muslin
- Small plastic drapery rings
- Dowel rods
- 1-inch-by-2-inch mounting board
- L brackets
- Hand saw (optional)
- Self-adhesive hook and loop tape
- Sew-on hook and loop tape
- Screw eyes
- Drapery cord
- Iron and ironing board
- Sewing machine and coordinating thread
- Hand sewing needle
Instructions
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How to Make BlackOut Roman Shades
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1
Decide whether you want to hang your Roman blinds inside the window casing or outside. Measure the window. Add 4 inches to the width and 4 inches to the length.
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2
Cut (or have your local home improvement center cut) dowel rods 1 inch shorter than your desired finished Roman shade measurement. Cut the wooden mounting rod to the finished Roman blind size.
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3
Cut outer fabric and blackout lining to your measurements.
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4
Press a 2-inch hem down on each side of the outer fabric. Miter the corners, opening out the hem allowance and pressing the ends under at a 45-degree angle. Bring the two sides together at the corner, creating a neat diagonal join. Allow a 1/4-inch gap in each mitered corner on the bottom edge of your Roman blind to insert a dowel rod. Stitch the hems by hand or machine as you prefer.
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5
Fold under a 2 3/8-inch hem on all four sides of the black-out lining. Hand stitch the lining to the hemmed edges of the blackout Roman shade.
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6
Cut strips of white cotton muslin fabric 3 inches wide by the width of your Roman shade. Fold in half lengthwise, then stitch with a 1/2- inch seam allowance. Leave one short end open.
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7
Position dowel pockets on the wrong or blackout lining side of your Roman blind. Stitch dowel pockets into place every 8 inches to 12 inches, measuring up from the bottom hem. Allow at least 10 to 12 inches above the final dowel rod pocket. Insert dowels into each pocket and hand sew closed.
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8
Hand sew plastic rings onto the dowel pockets. Allow at least 10 to 12 inches between rings across the width of your Roman shade.
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9
Sew on hook and loop tape into place along the top of the Roman shade. Screw eyes into place on mounting board, lining the eyes up with the plastic rings on the blackout Roman shade. Attach self-adhesive hook and loop to the wooden mounting board.
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10
Use L-brackets to secure the mounting board to the window. Attach the Roman shade with hook and loop, then thread drapery cord through the rings and screw eyes. Gather the cord to one side of the shade and knot at the desired height.
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