Making Roman Blinds

Roman blinds are types of window treatments that, like curtains, hang from the top of a window frame. Bars that are horizontal in orientation are threaded at the back of the blind at measured intervals. To operate the blind, there is a cord that runs at the backside of the blind which are sewn from one end of the horizontal bars to another. Once you pull the cords, the bars are raised to the higher portion of the window which makes the fabric pleated. The cords should be secured if you want the blinds to remain raised. If you want to lower the blinds, release the cords and the blinds go down.

Why choose Roman blinds over any other window treatment? There are actually many reasons to do so. First, Roman blinds can be done by anyone who wants to do a DIY project. They are very economical to use because only a few materials are needed to make them. They also look polished and do not really take up too much space as they are made to fit windows perfectly. Expensive fixtures such as curtain tracks are a thing of the past, since blinds can be fit to the frame just by using Velcro material.

Making Roman blinds is not that complicated. Simply have material (any fabric) and measure it so that you can leave a 5 centimeter (width) and 10 centimeter (length) margin. You will also need five rods that should be thin and trimmed to measure the exact width of the blind. Don't forget to hem the sides of the materials to the width measurement. Hemming can be done by machine or hand stitching. Make sure that the hemming thread matches the color of the material to make it discreet.

Then, you need to make rod pockets for the blinds. Measure the same width of lining material as the main material. Cut strips measuring 9 centimeters of the lining material, and fold the lining in half vertically and fold each side to meet in the center. Now, you have the rod pockets. Stitch them through the open end unto the rear end of the blind. Leave one end of the pocket open so that you can thread the rod in this end. The bottom of the pocket should be hemmed by 2 centimeters. Check the length against the window to make sure that the exact length is followed. Then, attach the Velcro by sewing its rough side across the blind's top. Secure a wooden rod, fix it to the window frame using screws, and stick the Velcro to it.

Go back to the 5 thin rods and sew a tiny ring to each rod's end, measuring up to 2 centimeters in from the edge. In the wooden rod where you attached the Velcro to, put eyelet screws at the same measurement as on the blind. Hang the blind so that you can measure the length of the cord needed. Once you measured the cord, threat it through the rings and attach it strongly to the bottom rod. This can be done by tying to the ring securely. Tie the cords in such a way that they are long enough to hang down and easy to be pulled. Thread a large bead or cord weight to finish the cord. Attach a hook to the sides of the window where the cord could be wound for it to be secured.