How weird would it be to have a Roman blind hanging from a curtain rail?

[DitaVonCheese]

I am in the middle of making a Roman blind. It will possibly take me the rest of my life. Anyway, in anticipation of the happy day when it will be done, I was wondering how weird it would be to have it hanging from a curtain rail. It seems fine, nice even, in my head, but it doesn't seem to be the Done Thing, so am wavering.

Would be for the following reasons:

1. We already have the curtain rail, as were originally planning curtains.
2. All the instructions I've read on the web suggest using velcro to hold it up, which just seems weird to me. Or staples, so couldn't take it down for washing etc (not sure why this is concerning me though, don't think I've ever washed curtains in my life ).

I would just sew a few fabric strips to the top of the blind which would go round the rail and fasten closed in some clever way. Is that mental?

Tum te tum ... Back to the sewing ...

Loads of light would presumably escape round the edges of the blind if it was hanging from a pole. I think it would look a bit odd to be honest. Sorry.

You can get Roman blind rails, which are basically static rails with velcro on - so that would be effectively the same thing.

However - do take note of the instructions on the web, and attach to curtain rail with stick and sew velcro. I know it sounds wierd, but it works, and it won't hang right if just tied on at intervals.

The velcro actually works fine. You sew it to the top of of the blind and also to the fabric-covered wooden batten you made earlier(!), then you attach it to said batten when it's finished.

I've also never washed a curtain in my life, but I once made a roman blind .

No no no damn you, you were all supposed to agree and say it would be fine

Fine, velcro it is. DH will be beside himself, he loves velcro ... Will need a batten too (fabric-covered? Really?)

What is stick & sew velcro? Does that mean it has glue on it already? I hate that stuff, it makes my needle all gummy :(

Thanks for the replies! :)

Stick & sew Velcro has one half sticky (just stick, don't sew) and the other non-sticky (just sew).

I attached the blind to the batten with tacks, then screwed the batten to the wall - not sure if that was more or less than a fiddle than the velcro option

Really weird - sorry. Very impressed that you are making a roman blind, as I remember my mum swearing for hours over similar.

It will be fine.

If you type "tabbed roman blind" into Google images you will see lots of examples.

I can't say I have ever bothered covering the batten with fabric - if it is lucky, it might get painted the same colour as the wall....

I used to make Roman blinds quite a lot as they use LOTS less fabric than curtains, but I haven't done it for a while because they don't really work in our windows. I did wash DS's one, though, and mend it (worn through at corners ) - but I have now lost the flipping rods so it is not put back together properly

are you going to screw the screw eyes into the underside of the curtain pole? If so and the pole is no wider than the finished blind, (excluding finials if you have them) and not too far away from the wall then i think you could get away with it.
But the batten is not so scary, really. You buy a length of 21mm x 21mm batten from a builders merchant (they may even cut it to size for you) and screw the eyes in one side (i do 7cm from either end, one in the middle and an extra one on the side you are drawing up the blind - usually RHS) and then stick the velcro - or staple gun it - to the opposite side, which becomes the top. You make the blind up 2cm longer than you want it and wrap the top over - so your sewing is hidden and it looks finished.

having said that you could wrap the blind over the curtain pole in the same way so velcro is hidden round the back and that could look quite fancy too.

sorry not very helpful but understand desire not to take down existing fitting!

Callow, you are a genius. That is exactly what was in my head. It would also help with the slight issue I have re having made them about 2 cm too short

Although I am now thinking that a batten might be easier ...

Ooh x-post. The curtain rail isn't actually up yet but it has been purchased, whereas it seems to take us more or less forever to make it to the timber merchant. Also it is a different colour from all the other rails in the house so won't get used elsewhere.

Not sure why I am worrying about washing the blind anyway as I have now realised that I have sewn a stick into it so it's never going to happen!

Also forgot to say thanks for the explanation of S&S velcro.