Not exactly a quilting question but fabric/sewing-related:

Has anyone here made roman shades?

I am debating whether I should attempt it or pay the price at the home improvement store? One of my books has a pattern and detailed instructions, but whoever wrote the instructions NEVER tried to follow them. Sooooo confusing.

My mother used to make them (before the Alzheimers set in) and thought they were really easy to make. I've never tried them myself, though.

No way would I pay the price!! I'm sure you can figure it out. I'll look for something free online.

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Roman-Shade

http://www.terrelldesigns.com/howtomakeromanshades.htm

If your window is not terribly tall and if you won't be opening and closing them daily I wouldn't mess with the pulleys.

I want to make some too, so go ahead Mad and then you can tell me how!!! Or even better, make them for me.

My mum has made them a lot, she reckons if you can sew a straight line you can make a roman blind. ;-)


All they really are is a rectangle of fabric... I think half the problem is handling the bulk of the fabric, and as quilters, we're used to wrestling armfuls of material through our little machines! lol

I have done roman shades three different times. they really aren't difficult but take time especially to sew the little rings on the back but I used the machine for that the last two times. I was pleased with the results. I got the instructions from a singer home sewing book - (about 15 years old)

I made some from a kit. Didn't particularly enjoy doing so. My cat, however, loved them. After picking them up off the floor several times, they're long gone. The shades. Not the cat.

I got the kit at some massive chain store.

I have made many roman shades....honestly...they are not difficult. If I can give you any advice, don't hesitate to ask. In fact, I just purchased a new home, and I'm getting ready to make a bunch.

Just read the post about the rings....which is truly the most time consuming part of making roman blinds. I used my machine to sew them on....much much much quicker. But I just saw a post where they used the buttoneer to put them on.....really quick.

I've made insulated Roman shades without the kit. I made a quilt with insulated batting in the center. They were bulky, but very effective for keeping the Florida heat out/AC cool at Matt's house.

I would not do it without the kit again, even though the insulating liner for the kit was nearly $30 a yard. Also, I used the rings already sewn on twill tape - make sure both ends of the ring tape were cut in the middle, and not where the length ended.