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Roman Blinds in Twelve Steps

Roman blinds have become a trend in window treatments.  This is because they are stylish, sophisticated and clean.  Aside from being standalone window dressing, they can also be mashed up with other treatments like curtains to give your windows a more layered appearance.  They usually have a lining and are made from fabrics that range from light to medium weight.  Furthermore, you yourself can make an elegant set of Roman blinds for your house.  It doesn’t take too much effort and materials to make a lined plain Roman blind that can be fitted into a batten made of wood.

For a DIY Roman blind project, you will need:

• Lightweight to medium weight fabric – try to choose fabric that is coordinated to the design theme of the space where you want the blinds to be installed in
• Lining
• Batten made of brass or wood
• Wall cleat
• Dowelling strips made of wood or plastic, which should measure one and a quarter inch less than the width of the blind
• Plastic rings that measure half an inch in diameter
• 4 screw eyelets
• A wooden batten with dimensions 1” by 1” by width of the blind
• Nylon cord which measures three times the sum of the width of the blind and twice the blind’s width
• Velcro, the stick and sew variety, measuring the entire blind width

Procedure:

• First, secure the wooden batten in the chosen position.  Attach the adhesive side of the Velcro to the side of the batten facing you.
• Calculate the fabric required by measuring the batten from top to the length you wish.  Be sure to remember the allowances for the hem, depending on the look you want the blind to have.  The length of the lining should be the same as the length of the fabric.  As for the width, measure the batten from one side to the end, also allowing for some space for the seams.  The width of the fabric and lining should also be the same.
• Cut the fabric to the measurements desired and add 2 inches to allow side seams and 2 inches to the length for the hems as well.  Remember that the fabric should be at the center, and the seam allowances should be equal on both sides.
• Cut the lining to the same measurements as the fabric.
• Lay the fabric on a flat surface with its right side facing you and lay the lining on top of the fabric with the wrong side facing you.  Stitch down both sides and along the bottom, an inch in from the raw edges.

1. There now would be a space between the two stitching, and this is where you insert the dowel.

• Turn the blind with the right side facing you.  Iron the blind to flatten the seams out.
• Sew the plastic rings to the dowel, at around 5 inches apart from each other.
• Position the batten onto the window frame and stick the Velcro to the front of the batten.
• Stitch the loop strip of the Velcro across the length of the blind’s top.  Then, secure it to the batten through the stick side of the Velcro.
• Screw the three eyelets into the sides and center of the batten so that the rings will be aligned.  The 4th eyelet is for the side where you want the cord to be pulled from.
• Now put the cord to each of the rings on the sides and put it through all the eyelets on the batten.  Knot the cord and trim it.  Put the cleat to function as security of the blind when it is raised up.

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