Roman Blinds in your home

If you want to update your windows with clean and sophisticated blinds, Roman Blinds are the way to go. You can choose to use them by themselves or with top treatments or curtains. Fit them to your window however you want them to hang. These blinds are normally made with light or medium weight fabric and have a lining.

You are going to need the following materials: Fabric of your choosing, lining, wooden or plastic dowel strips in width minus 1. 25 inches, plastic rings that are about 0. 5 inches in diameter, wooden or brass acorn, nylon cord, Velcro that is the width of the blind, wall cleat, wooden Batten about 1 inch x 1 inch the width of the finished blind and 4 screw eyelets.

Attach the wooden batten or track where you want it to go. For a blind that hangs inside the window, attach it underneath the window frame. For blinds that hang outside of frame, attach it to the top of the frame or above.

Use the sticky side of the Velcro, attach it to the front edge of the wooden batten.

To know how much fabric and lining you need, measure from the top part of the track, or batten, to the desired length. Make sure to allow enough fabric for hemming.

For the width, measure the length of the batten or track. Include any seam allowance in your measurement. Add an additional 1inch for the seam.

Cut the fabric and lining to your measurements and add an additional 2 inches to the width and hem.

Place your fabric with the lining, wrong side facing you. Smooth out all wrinkles. Pin them together. Sew down the sides and along the bottom 1 inch from the edge.

On the bottom corners trim the fabric. Add another row of stitching. 25 inches from the trim. Add a dowel between the two sets of stitches.

Take out all the pins and turn the blind right side out. Iron the blind.

With the lining showing, pin the layers.

Take a pencil and draw a line 2 inches from the top edge. Mark out sections between 8 to 12 inches, in equal portions, through the remaining length. Mark a half section at the bottom. Draw lines at the marks across the blind.

For the dowel pockets, cut strips of lining 3 inches wide and as long as your blind. If it is possible use strips from the length, this will provide for better wear. For each pleat, cut 1 strip. Fold the strip in 1/2 width wise. Sew one end 0. 5 inches from the edge. Turn right side out and iron.

Pin the folded side of the pockets 0. 5 inches above your marked lines and from the side of the blind. Sew the pockets along the marked lines.

Place a dowel into each pocket and sew the ends closed.

Attach the plastic rings by hand sewing them to pocket edges. Make sure to place them 2 inches from each side and about 8 to 16 inches apart. Turn down 1 inch to the wrong side at the top and iron.

Attach the other part of the Velcro, with pins, to the top of the blind on the wrong side. Fold over to close the fabric.

Attach the Velcro pieces together.

Attach an eyelet above each ring and 1 at the bottom on the side that will have the string to open or close the blind.

Cut 3 sections of nylon cord and knot each piece to each bottom ring. Run the cord through the lines of rings and eyes on the batten. Take all three cords to 1 side of the window.

Trim the cords to where they are even. Thread them through the acorn and tie them in a knot. Place a cleat at an easy to reach height on the side of the window and attach it. Pull the blind up and wind the cords around the cleat in a figure 8 to keep it in place.