Making a Roller Blind...

[rockinhippy]

I need to make a Black Out Roller Blind for DDs room - turns out its an odd sized window & it's looking cheaper to make something to fit the window, rather than have one made to measure, besides I can get a bit creative & make it match her decor better than whats available

Would anyone have a good tutorial for making one of these from scratch please -

TIA :)

[UniqueAndAmazing]

I think.there's a couple on YouTube

byt can I just say in response to your thread title "I didn't know rollers could see in the first place!" boom boom

[UniqueAndAmazing]

would it be easier to make a roman blind from blackout fabric?
www.channel4.com/4homes/how-to/decorating/how-to-make-a-roman-blind

[rockinhippy]

Thank you Unique - lol - poke its eyes out [grin -

I tried but couldn't find any full Roller Blind tutorials on Youtube, just ones showing how to recover an existing blind, which wont work because of the odd size

& thanks for the link, you are right, it will be easier, I've made those before - but unfortunately a roman blind wont suit the window its needed for, it needs to be very simple to look at IYSWIM

[UniqueAndAmazing]

I see.
theproblem with roller blinds is the mechanism to roll is complicated. it has to be all cog-like.

[fossil971]

I've made a roller blind from a kit. You spray/soak your fabric with stiffening solution and then I actually hung it from a wooden batten outdoors to dry flat, then it's just cut and stick. That was ordinary furnishing fabric though.

The difficulty would be the blackout, you can only do one layer of fabric or it would be bulky/crinkly. Can you get blackout fabric in a colour you like and will it take stiffening?

It's fairly easy to cut down roller blinds in both width and drop, are you sure you can't get an oversized one and cut it down?

[rockinhippy]

MMmmm - thanks :) - I figured it might be so, as googling brings up roller blind making kits - thanks for your help though, you've sort of answered my question & reminded me we have a local shop that probably sells the kits too - Think I will go & have a chat with them tomorrow to see if they can be used or adjusted to fit any width - I'm okay with complicated making, so long as I can get the stuff I need for it - thanks again

[rockinhippy]

Oops. X post Fossil :)

Yes, you can get a black out type fusible/interlining, it will iron on, so that bits easy enough, its just the roller mechanism - I was hoping I could do something with wood dowling/broom handle.


I like what you are saying about them being easy to cut down though, I can get the colour I need in a wider width, maybe I need to save myself the headache & by the sounds of it probably expense too - thank you

[fossil971]

you just need a small hacksaw to cut the metal tube

It is great to have a blind made in your own choice of fabric, when I get round to it I want to do some for DS's room, so I'm quite interested in the blackout fusible lining... thanks!

kit I used

[UniqueAndAmazing]

of course, we've got a roller blind in the cupboardthat couldn't be cut to exact size of the window. it's been in there about 18months.