Made to measure blackout roman blind not blackout at the bottom

[Reastie]

I've just picked up my first ever made to measure roman blind. Requested blackout as this was the main important point to the blind. I know there will be lights around the edges but the blind I've got as got a few cms of light at the bottom where the fabric actually is. It looks like the lining has stopped too high in my naive opinion (I could be wrong).

I hadn't actually expected this and I'm feeling a bit disappointed. I paid around £300 for it and paid more for it to be hand made rather than machine made as was told this would make it better blackout qualities.

Could anyone advise as to if this is just what to expect for a blackout roman blind or if it's something I should expect them to remedy?

I'm also disappointed you can see behind the fabric a little the stitching marks of where the blackout blind is sewn in the rows when I was told if I had it hand sewn this wouldn't be the case. I'll attach another photo of this later when I can get dh to take a picture whilst I hold it up at the window (dd took these ones whilst I held the blind to the window and she is moaning at taking anything else).

What did the person you bought it from say?

Fwiw I have a handmade blackout blind and the blackout went all the way to the bottom, as it should do. I would think the fabric has migrated because it's wonky.

It looks like the person who sewed it forgot to stitch the fabric together at the bottom.

Yes looks like the lining wasn't secured properly. £300

Moving you think this one is wonky? .

I got it from brewers made to measure. I didn't see it until I got home as it was all packaged up.

Take it back and ask them to put it right.

Can you take a picture of the other side and also mark out where the hand stitches are 'visible'? What is the size of the roman blind? £300 is very expensive (w/o knowing the size & fabric). What did the order form states? Did you pick your own black out material? They come in different shade and thickness. When I did my own curtains, the only stitches (machine) seen were at the top which is inevitable and my hand sewn stitches at the bottom unseen. Just a teeny tiny prick if you look hard enough.

Did you pay with card or cash? I would go back to the shop to ask them to redo the black out lining. Since it's hand sewn, it shouldn't be that difficult to unpick compared to machine stitches. The alternative is how much discount your willing to accept to either live with it or get someone else to redo.

In order for the shop staff not to fob you off, could you go to other made to measure curtain shop as a 'prospective' client to see how theirs is done or have a look at their shop floor sample.

Here is the back bottom nameusername.

I didn't get to pick out thickness of blackout, just that it should be cream not white blackout lining. The fabric is around £25 per metre and the blind is roughly 1m 20 by 1m 40. Thinking about it it actually cost nearer £250 because they had 20% off made it measure blinds, but originally would have been £300.

I paid with card. I don't want a discount on it tbh as I need it blackout! I'm hoping they'll remedy it without any issues. I'll go back tomorrow and will let you know. These things always seem to happen to me!

I'll get a picture of the row line where the blackout blind has been stitched once dh is home.

That's not a great finish. The blackout must be an interlining.

My dmil returned her custom Roman blinds to John Lewis two or three times before she was happy. (They were faulty.) I channel her whenever I have to deal with shoddy workmanship as my instinct is to suck it up!

The blackout lining is wonky.

Moving what ninja power do you have to see its wonky? Looks fine to me!

It's the technique they've used that's at fault. They've used a blackout lining at the back that is stitched up to the lathe pocket. When I used to make black out romans I used a product inside that was blackout and interlined. Then I used a standard lining on the back. This meant the product was nice and stable and blackout from top to bottom.

You need to take it Bs m and say you are not happy. Are they members of the AMU at all? If so you should be able to ask them to assess the quality of work for you and I suspect they would find in your favour.

*take it back

No ninja powers. In the photos you posted in the op, the blackout lining looks higher on the left side than the right. Particularly in the third picture. Or to phrase it another way, the gap at the bottom on the left side looks larger than that on the right... or in common parlance it looks wonky to me.

Wish I hadn't mentioned it now!

That is pretty shocking.

As an amateur with a £50 sewing machine I can do a better job. It's wonky and not blackout. Send it back

SleepFree what is AMU? I've tri d googling but just get acute medical unit! It's interesting what you say. I was very clear about wanting it a blackout roman blind and I asked about interlining but was told I shouldn't need this. Indeed, I was told to get handmade not machine made to avoid the horizontal stitching lines to make it as blackout a step possible.

In good news the stitching lines through the fabric are only visible when you stand close to the fabric it turns out when dh held it up to the window for me, so that's not an issue any more.

I'm going to have to be assertive in actual real life aren't I .

I hadn't even spotted the wonkyness until yu pointed it out .

And there was me thinking I'll pay to get made to measure to save me the stress of trying to make one myself (I've made one once, it wasn't professional standard at all, but then I'm ok with that seeing as I made it and I'm not a professional!).

Update for those interested.

Have left blind with shop and sent a copy of the photos for them to investigate. The lady there seemed to think the blind is finelike that at the bottom but should go further down the window (so the bottom of it is on the window ledge rather than finishing at the window ledge). she looked at th blind and said visually everything was as it should be to look at and she didn't seem to understand why I was having the problem .

I really hope they sort it out.