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.

I have made them. They are not difficult to make. Do a google search for how to make them, they have some tutorials with step by step instructions and pictures. :)

They are really simple to make. I made some for my bathroom in my old house. I'm sure as Shadow mentioned there are plenty of tutorials out there. Good Luck

Tisha

I'm getting ready to start a pair of them soon. I have a book just on window treatments and they don't seem all that difficult. I know I can get the hardware from Hancock's.

I'm off to JoAnn - gotta price a new iron, buy I Spy fabric, and I wonder if they have kits. Guess I'll have to ask. Thanks for all the answers.

I'm sure the kitty boys will be right in the midst of things.

I helped a friend finish some....she had them sewn, but broke her arm before getting the "pull-ups" done. I dont' remember much, other than it seemed pretty simple. Maybe try google for simpler instructions that what you found already?

I took some classes at a drapery school in North Carolina along time ago.
They are very easy. I can email you some instructions. A really neat idea for them is to only put a row of rings down the center. Your wieght bar at the bottom must be cut in two pieces. When these are drawn up, it makes a fan shape (or a Half circle) at the bottom. Really easy and looks neat, and you don't have to sew on all those rows of rings. PM if you need any more help. Linda

I made 17 for the windows on my first floor. They are really easy. There are strips with the rings already sewn on, you just sew on each side of the rings. I am planning on making roman shades for my BIL's kitchen and living room as soon as I find fabric that is just right. Good luck and definitely go for it!

Jo

If you've never checked out the Terrell Designs site mentioned above, take a look!!! It uses QUILTED shades. You can make your own. I've got a dream about attempting it for my family room French doors sometime next year.

Hi Tisha,just wanted to say hello as you are from my home city. I was there only two days ago to join in the celabrations of my brother's 80th birthday. Letty.

So if I understand it correctly, I can either sew all those rings on individually, or I can purchase premade ring tape. Regardless of which option I select, the rings will be visible from the outside.

Did you use liner material on yours, joann? .

..and is the ring tape a neutral color so it doesn't stand out when the shades are down and one looks at the window from the outside? (I was going to use a white or off-white liner fabric.)

:roll: Martina,

I made several of them and they are really easy. I even found brass eyelets online somewhere to sew on the back for the cords to be strung thru and they were really nice.

Peggy

I used a light blocking liner, I sewed the rings on individually when I made mine, then found the tape later (of course!!). The tape is white or off white.
I just ordered fabric for my BILs windows and I'm planning on using the tape this time.
As long as the liner is the same color as the tape I don't think you will notice the rings from outside. You don't notice the rings on mine, my liner and rings are both white.
Jo

You state that you paid almost $30.00 per yd for insulated backing. Next time look for blackout drapes. They are less expensive. I have used the blackout drapes for lining Roman shades and it works great. :roll:

I have made these about 4 times, they are not hard to do. I did the first set just by looking at how they were made in the store, but after that I got a book from the library on window treatments and it was very helpful. I sewed my own rings on, but have since discovered that they sell tape with little loops on it at the fabric store and would do it that way if I did them again.
I have never bought curtains in my life, have always made them, you get the exact fabric you want and it is nice to have it coordinate with the rest of the room.

Just in case . . . if you're making them for a child's room, find a way to cover the length of strings on the back . . . perhaps some wide ribbon or something that could be ironed on down the edges of it.

Literally millions of roman shades have been recalled over the past year due to being a safety hazard. Sadly, a number of children have gotten their heads caught between the back side of the shade and the string, and died of strangulation. (Like if the shade was in the down position and the child tried to see out the window by putting their head behind the shade.

Just in case . . . .

Your style of Roman shades seem to be somehing I would be interested in learning how to make. I live is S.C.

Forgot to note this message is to ONE & ONLY. Her shade pattern is interesting with the folds at the bottom

LOVED making the Roman Shades for my daughter....E-A-S-Y !!!

I used dowel rods across each row for a neat effect. DO try it.

OK...forget the pattern that you tried....go for another pattern.

Luck to you.

I made them without a pattern Was very easy.

Thanks for posting that link to the Terrell Designs website. I got stuck watching three of the videos! The ones shown in her galleries are really beautiful. I've been toying with the idea of making some for my bedroom and now I think I can actually do it. Doesn't look that hard, really.

All those wonderful comments - thank you all so much.

One more silly question: Did you sew yours to fit INSIDE the window casing or OUTSIDE the window casing so it slides up and down the wall?

I would think that if it's inside the dimensions have to be right on, whereas outside gives a little room for a fudge factor.

Oh - and not kids in our house (I'm allergic - lol) But I did catch one of my cats getting tangled when he played with a pull string, so the same rules apply.

I've made them a couple of times. The last time was about 3 years ago. I got my directions on line (free). I had made a quilt top for the window and then double backed it so the roman shade sewing lines did not go through the quilt. Soon I will be taking apart the roman shade and enlarging for a twin bed.
I sewed the rings on with the machine. Just be careful to measure accurately :!:
Plan the distance between folds, it let's you balance the appearance when pulled open.
I used hook and loop to attach the shade to a piece of wood attached to the wall which I also covered with fabric.
I used a thin nylon cord which was designed for roman shades. It is much better than fishing line like I used the first time around.

There is a notion that makes the spacing and the rings on roman shades much much easier. There are spools of twill tape with the rings already perfectly spaced for sale by the yard at most fabric stores, especially the stores that have a home decorating department. My fabric shop sells curtain tie backs, curtain rods and these type of 'roman shade ring tapes' all together for the enterprising sew-it-yourself-er. If you can quilt, I'm sure you can make them.
Best of luck.
-C

I did mine to fit outside the molding. I preferred the look as well as it would cover up anything that was not plumb.

OK - I am now thoroughly confused:

The instructions say to use some sort of a stabilizer across the fabric at the fold line. Apparently dowels work well. My confusion is that I can sew a channel into the fabric to put the dowel in BUT how do I attach the loop tape? If I sew it on first, I will sew the channel shut. If I sew it on after, I need to sew over the dowels. Sometimes, I feel so dense.

I made two for my kitchen. I thought they were pretty easy. I did use dowels at the fold line and they fold up nicely. I put two brackets on the side of my window. One is for the shade all the way up and the other one is mid way down and lets the shade catch the afternoon sun.The brackets are like for venetian shades and you wind the cord around it. I did line mine with a sun shield lining. Good luck. I know you will be able to do it.

I am thinking Martina that you will have to sew the rings on your backing material first then sew the two pieces of fabric together and sew you channels for the dowel rods- that should work fine

Elle

I totally forgot about this thread. Results: I picked the version with the ring tape and Pat really likes his "pull-up curtain" Me - a little upset because the math came out wrong. It's a little smaller than I had expected but still usable. The shade does pull up one more rung but he likes it this way better. His room - his choice.

Looks good Martina, You have me wanting to make one now.

Made tons of them. My mom and I ran a drapery business for many years. They are not that difficult. The main thing is to be accurate with your measuring. I think they are fun to make. I actually have some on my list of things to accomplish soon.

Good luck!