Making blinds

[UCM]

I have got loads of fabric and need to make some roman (think) blinds for my bedroom windows. Is it easy or not and has anyone done them. They are the ones with the rods in aren't they, that sort of droop/fold over themselves.

Only made tab tops before so grateful for help in advance. Ta

Go for it, if I can make them anybody can. You just get one piece of fabric, line it. Then you make the pockets for the rods out of the same material (extra) that you made the lining out of. The first RB i Made I got the kit from JOhn Lewis, but it is much cheaper get the rods from B & Q or similar and just cuting down to size, you'll also need wood to put on top of the window to hang it from and some velcro to attach to the wood and blind.

I am thinking about making curtains for my bay window and was just about to ask the same question - is it easy or not to do?

Let me know if you need any more help. I got a book out from the library and could type out the step by step instructions if you want.

Funny they are for my bay window. I may get you to type instructions out as I am not an avid sewer but will have a bash at most things

Oh and the curtains were easy to do as they were tab tops. I cheated by buying a fabric with stripes in though as easier to cut the squares out.

I also got some lined full length curtains in a sale for my bay windows downstairs and took them up from the top. That was easier than taking them up from the bottom and the tape which the plastic hooks attach too, was really easy to sew back on. Good luck

Calculating the fabric.

Measure the required finished size of the blind and add 10cm / 4in to both the length and width for seam allowances. The lining is the width and length of the finished blind, plus 6cm/2.5in for each casing added to the length. The nylon cord is four times the length of the blind plus twice the width.

**

You will need

firmly woven furnishing fabric
lining fabric
pencil
quilters rule (optional)
velcro
7mm / 5/16in-wide wooden dowel
3mm x 2.5cm/ 1/8 x 1in wood lath
small plastic rings (2 for each casing)
nylon cord
sewing kit
screw eyes
2.5 x 5cm / 1 x 2 in wooden batten, the width of the blind
fixing brackets and screws

Cut the main fabric and lining. Draw a pencil line horizontally across the lining fabric, 25cm/10in from the bottom edge. Mark a casing line 6cm/2.5in above it. Continue marking the lines and casing lines 25cm/10in apart. A quilters rule is ideal for accurate marking

Press under a 2.5cm/1in turning down both side edges of the lining. With wrong sides together, fold the lining, pinning each pencil line to the casing line above it. Stitch along the pinned line, reverse-stiching at each end for strength. Press the casing to one side.

Press under 5cm/2in down both sides of the main fabric. Pin the lining in the centre on the reverse side of the fabric. Stitch on top of the previous casing stitches, reverse stitching at each end.

Turn over 2cm/3 quarters of an inch along the top edge and pin a strip of loop velcro on top. Stitch the top edge of the velcro, then slip-hem the lower edge to the lining fabric only.

Slip-hem the side seams of the lining, taking care not to stitch through to the right side.

Trim the lining 8cm/3in from the bottom edge. Turn up and press a double 4cm/1.5in hem along the bottom edge of the blind. Hem the blind, stitching the lining only.

Cut the dowel 2cm / 3 quarters of an inch shorter than the casing length. Insert one through each casing, then stich the ends.

Cut the wooden lath 2/cm / 3 quarters of an inch shorter than the blind width. Slot it through the bottom hem, then stitch the ends.

Hand sew two plastic rings on to each casing, each one 10cm/4in from each side. Cut the nylon cord in half. Thread one end of the firt piece of cord down through one set of ringsm and tie it securely to the last ring. Repeat with the other piece of cord.

GOOD LUCK !

I was very pleased with the result, ending up making 3. I said to my mum that I did a good job - she said i did a very good job !!!

I am about to embark on this for DS2s room.

My method? I've bought cheap white ones from Ikea and will add blackout lining and thin coloured fabric on top.