How to Make Roman Shades
If you want to cover windows with something lovely, but you don’t want to use regular shades, one option is to use roman shades. It’s not very hard to make this kind of covering, and you just need very basic materials. Here’s how to make roman shades.
What You’ll Need:
Two fabric layers (they should be big enough to cover the window’s opening)
Roman shade tape or several metal or plastic rings
1×1″ board that’s as wide as your window
Thin wooden or plastic batten strips, as long as the window’s width
2 to 3 pieces of Screw eye bolts big enough for the rings (if you’re using them)
Wood glue or fabric glue
Needle and thread
Velcro tape as long as the window’s width
Staple gun (optional)
Flat iron
Battens (mini blind slats, 1/8 metal rods, paneling trip strips)
Procedure:
Get the 1×1 wood and cut a length, big enough to fit horizontally on the window opening’s inside top. Attach it properly to the window frame, either by screwing it or gluing it.
Pick out the lining material and fabric you’re going to use. It’s good to use lightweight materials for these, but you can also use decorator weight (this is at least the weight of a a pair of chinos or a table cloth.
Measure the fabric, according to the size of the window opening. Add an inch for both the height and weight for seam allowance.
Pin the two layers together, their right sides (the printed part) facing each other.
Start sewing around the perimeter, leaving some inches open. You’ll need this to turn the fabric “right” side out when you’re done. Cut off the allowance at the corners, so it will turn cleanly, and will not bunch up. Turn the fabric the right side out, then iron it.
Use slip stitches to sew the opening close. Afterwards, sew a Velco strip across the top of the material’s edge. You now have the basic shade, and you can now proceed to make it neatly fold up in pleats.
Measure, then mark the horizontal lines where the horizontal folds or pleats will fall. Get some “battens” and glue them across the fabric horizontally, just at the pleat marks. If you want, you can unpick the seams at the shade fabric’s sides, then slide the battens in between the layers, keeping them hidden. Let the glue dry.
Sew plastic loops to the battens, putting even space in between them, in at least two vertical lines. Make sure the loops are securely fastened to the shade. If you can, find a cotton tape that have pre-attached plastic loops, so you won’t have to go through all this trouble.
Measure two lengths of cord, making sure they’re twice the height of the window. Cut these cords, then tie them securely to the bottom loop on each vertical line of loops. Vertically thread the cords through these sewn on loops, then insert a screw-eye bolt to the 1×1 at the points where the vertical lines touch.
Using either staples or Velcro, attach the shade’s top to the 1×1.
Thread the pull cord through the eye bolt. Gently pull on the cord, training the fabric to fall in neat, lovely folds. The battens keep the fold lines neat and clean. If you want, you can iron it again.
Roman shades will give a lovely look to your space. With these easy steps, you can make one without having to spend a lot of money.