Learn How to Sew Roman Shades in 12 Steps! (2024)

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Are you looking for a creative way to spruce up your home decor? Roman shades are the perfect window treatments that offer both style and function. Whether you’re trying to block out light or just add some personality, DIY roman shades can be an excellent choice.

Making your own custom-sized roman shade is surprisingly easy with deconstructed blinds or wooden dowel rods! In this article, we will guide you through all the steps necessary to make your very own DIY roman shade from start to finish.

Determine the Final Dimensions of Your Roman Shades

Decide on the final size of your shades to ensure a perfect fit for any window. Be sure to measure twice for an eye-catching result! When making Roman shades, fabric selection is crucial. Choose lightweight fabric that won’t be too heavy or bulky once hung on the rod.

For measuring tips, use a tape measure from top to bottom of each side of your measured window width. Then, add two inches extra if you want it wider than necessary. This will allow trimming down after cutting the length of the shade.

When sewing seams, consider dowel types. Flat slats require seam placement at the very bottom, while round rods need additional allowance below the slats’ lowest point so they don’t bind up in their casings during operation.

Thread selection should also reflect fabric choice. Cotton thread works best on most fabrics, but pick something durable enough for frequent adjustments without snapping easily when pulling cords through finished hems.

Cut Your Fabric and Liner

Once you’ve determined the final dimensions of your shades, it’s time to cut out the fabric and liner that will be used for your window treatment. When selecting a fabric for DIY Roman shades, consider pattern matching as well as color coordination with other elements in the room.

Liner types can vary depending on how much light-blocking capability is desired. Hemming techniques may also need to be taken into consideration when cutting fabrics. Make sure you measure twice before cutting! The length should equal the measured window length plus four inches at the top of folds and two inches at the bottom back of the shade for dowel placement.

To ensure accuracy in this step, take care when measuring each piece by hand or using a ruler or template guide along an edge trimmer if available. Use sharp scissors or a rotary cutter tool with a mat board so edges are cleanly cut without fraying over time (if needed).

Assembling all pieces together correctly from the start is key to achieving success – remember, accuracy counts! Using chosen fabrics and following steps carefully will create custom-made Roman shades unique to any home decor style while providing privacy and light control benefits desired.

Sew Rod Pockets

Now, it’s time to create pockets that will hold the dowel rods in place. This is an essential step in sewing Roman shades as it enables you to control how flat or gathered your fabric appears when raised or lowered.

To start, measure and mark pocket placements on the back of your shade according to rod size. Use a sewing machine to stitch along these lines with right sides facing each other, leaving both ends open for inserting dowel rods later on.

Trim any excess fabric close to seams and press raw edges towards liner attachment before finishing off with decorative trim options if desired.

Sew Trim to Fabric

Gently press the trim into place on your fabric, ensuring that it is properly adhered and securely attached. Select a trim style that complements the pattern of the home decor fabric to add an extra level of sophistication to your Roman shade.

When sewing along edges or at intersections, use tight stitches with short thread lengths for a neat finish. Be mindful when placing patterns by avoiding any cuts in prominent areas such as near mounting boards and bottom hems.

If you are using left cords, make sure you leave enough excess length so they can be moved up or down without compromising aesthetics when adjusting light levels within each room! Lastly, remember to cut trims slightly shorter than fabrics before mounting board attachment.

With careful selection of both fabrics and trims combined with precise sewing techniques, there’s no limit on how creative you can get with enhancing home decor projects like making Roman shades!

Sew Liner Onto the Fabric

Continue attaching the fabric to the liner by pinning it in place and then stitching it together.

To ensure your Roman shades fit perfectly, consider alternative liners such as cotton quilt batting or foam core board when selecting fabrics for sew-in rod pockets. Mounting boards can help add stability along with precise measurements when hemming techniques are used.

Sewing a lining fabric is one of the last steps before installing your Roman shade onto an end of the top bracket using 7-inch intervals for mounting screws. Begin sewing from one side of where you would like to hang down all throughout its length until reaching inches away from where you started at the first point.

Use straight stitches that will hold up through time and use scissors to clip off any extra threads afterward if needed. This will give a neater look overall too! Take care not to pull on any thread while doing so since this could cause uneven pleats once hung up on the window frame afterwards.

After finishing sewing along the entire length, carefully mount brackets and ensure tightness before testing out the final product.

Insert Your Dowels

Insert your dowels now to create a beautiful, long-lasting frame for your custom DIY Roman shades. Choose stiffening rods that are the same length as the width of the window and use clothespins or eye screws to mark appropriate spacing between each rod.

Select fabric with care; make sure it is heavy enough so that when hemmed correctly, it will hold its shape around each dowel slat of wood and allow you full control over light entering into any room in your home.

When inserting rods into hemmed pockets on both sides of each shade panel, ensure they fit snugly but easily slide within their pocket for quick adjustments if necessary.

If done properly with careful consideration given towards selection process and proper techniques used during installation such as precise hems, correct pocket shapes/sizes etc.

Turn the Shades Inside Out

Now that you’ve inserted your dowels, it’s time to turn the shades inside out. This process can be a bit tricky and requires patience and precision, so take your time.

To begin, lay the shade on a flat surface with right sides together. Then, sew along the edges using straight lines of decoupage medium. Hemming techniques will help keep everything in place, but make sure to use small cabone rings for extra security.

Once complete, reach into one side of the blind hem or seam allowance at the top edge and grab the dowel end from the other side.

Lastly, flip down all hems onto the wrong side before pressing them neatly with an iron for perfectly finished edges.

Hem the Roman Shade

Finally, it’s time to give your Roman shade a polished finish by hemming the edges.

Start by measuring and marking the placement of your fabric before cutting it to size and placing it on top of cardboard or other stiff material.

Then, use fabric glue or pins to secure along the edges so you can begin sewing evenly-spaced hems around all sides for a neat appearance.

When selecting fabric for this project, consider purchasing more than necessary as allowances are needed when creating customizing options such as scallops at either end of each side edge.

Take the dowel construction into account when determining where to place these hemmed areas – they should run parallel with any slats in order not to disrupt its function later on!

Use basic hand stitches like whipstitch, ladder stitch, slip stitch, etc., depending on how well you can sew.

Take extra care while making precise measurements for ideal window treatments that will fit perfectly in your space!

Sew on Your Rings

Grab your rings and let’s get to work attaching them! There are many different ring options available, depending on the fabric type you chose. If you’re using a set of deconstructed blinds, make sure to measure the dowel size so that it matches with your mounting boards.

You’ll also need to be aware of cord lengths when sewing blackout Roman shades as this will affect how they hang. To attach the rings onto your shade, start at one end by making a small notch in the top of the blind for each ring – just enough room for it to fit through snugly without being too loose or tight.

Then loop part of this cord around each individual ring and sew securely into place until all have been attached along both sides evenly spaced out from one another.

Attach Roman Shades to Mounting Board

Take your mounting board and attach it to the top of your roman shades with a few stitches for a timeless look.

Measure the fabric you have chosen, making sure it is large enough to cover both sides and leave room for hemming edges.

Install any hardware that comes with the shade at each marked 7-inch interval along its length before beginning construction, if necessary.

Choose whether or not you would like a liner on either side of your shade. Then, cut out two pieces from lighter fabrics such as cotton voile or linen in a custom size based on measurements taken earlier.

Hem all four edges when using heavier fabrics such as canvas so they do not fray over time when exposed to natural elements like sunlight and wind.

Tie one end of cord securely onto the backside near the bottom edge. Thread through rings placed seven inches apart while pulling until the other end emerges from the front side near the top edge before knotting firmly into place at the desired length between rings.

Finish by attaching dowel rods evenly spaced across the width depending on the amount needed (usually no more than three).

Attach Pulleys and String the Chord

Now that you’ve attached the Roman shade to the mounting board, it’s time to attach pulleys and string your cord. It’s important to note that different fabric weights require different pulley placements, as well as various cord lengths.

For lighter fabrics, such as cotton or linen, use a shorter length of cord and place your pulleys closer together to effectively lift heavier materials. Thicker strings should also be used for heavier fabric types, like velvet or thick canvas, to prevent them from becoming damaged by stretching too much when pulled up into their highest position.

When purchasing hardware, such as cord locks, make sure they match the weight of both your chosen material type and any additional components being used, such as dowel rods.

When making our own Roman shades, we can achieve an extra degree of customization, which will help us add personality to our home’s decor while still achieving all the functional benefits associated with standard blinds! With these tips in mind, enjoy creating something beautiful out of something ordinary!

Mount the Shade

Securely mount the shade to your window frame for a stylish and functional finish. Make sure to measure the space where you plan to attach hardware and ensure that it’s level. Select fabric with enough width for both sides of each slat, plus extra length at either end of your shade so it will fit in the measured area.

Cut the mounting board slightly larger than the size of the finished shade. Use thin nails or screws to secure the fabric onto the board near the corners and middle areas according to pattern instructions.

Once mounted, string the cord through the top loops, then tie off the tension springs between the bottom edges of the slats using thin nylon string or twine in an X-pattern across the center back edge before tying securely on either side at the corners of your shade.

Finally, press down gently on all cords along the entire length until evenly distributed throughout all slats while maintaining even spacing between them.

Materials Needed for Making DIY Roman Shades

You’ll need a few basic materials to create your custom DIY Roman shades. Start by heading to the home decor section of a fabric store and selecting the fabric you like best. Make sure it is wide enough for your window – usually 45 inches or more – and long enough so that when doubled over, it covers the entire length of your window plus an additional five inches on each side for hems.

Once you have selected your fabric, purchase sewing rods that match its width and trimming material such as bias tape or corded piping if desired. You will also need one piece of liner about four times longer than the length of the window in order to cover both sides with double-sided hem tape once everything is put together.

Finally, buy dowels which are used to give structure throughout each shade. These should be cut 1/2 inch shorter than actual measurements taken from the first hemline at the top edge down until the bottom second hemline at the bottom edge.

With all materials ready, get creative with designing beautiful custom Roman shades perfect for any room in your home!

Benefits of Making Your Own Roman Shades

Making your own Roman shades is a great way to save money, add personality, and customize the size of your window treatments.

Creating a custom shade allows you to choose from a variety of fabric styles that best suit your home decor. You can also make different sizes for each window, opting for slightly billowy folds or tailored pleats depending on the look you want.

Plus, you’ll have complete control over how much light comes through at any given time while still providing privacy when needed.

The cost savings alone make it worth creating DIY Roman shades – not to mention the satisfaction of seeing that finished piece hanging up in place! With some simple tools and pieces of fabric, anyone can enjoy this creative project with ease.

It’s one of the best things about being able to decorate your own space without breaking your budget or sacrificing personalization or style variety options available with fabric choices.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)