For anyone who has wondered how to make Roman Shades, the process might at first seem daunting. However, with just a little time, patience, and basic sewing skills, beautiful and distinctive window coverings are only an afternoon’s work away.
Materials Used For How To Make Roman Shades
Shade fabric
Lining fabric
1/4″ wooden dowels, cut to width of shade
Screw eyes
Staple gun
1″x1″ board, cut to width of shade
Cording
Plastic rings
Cord lock
Mounting hardware
Steps For How To Make Roman Shades
1. Determining the size that each Roman shade needs to be is the most important part of the process of how to make Roman shades. Measure the window where the shade will hang, then divide that number by 5. For example, a window which is 40 inches in height will be divided by 5, leaving a total of 8, which is the amount in inches of extra cloth along the length. A seam allowance of 4″ should also be added when determining how much fabric will be needed for the width. Thus, a window which is 20″x40″ in size will yield a fabric measurement of 24″x48″.
2. Once all measurements have been accurately determined, cut fabric and lining material to size. Lay fabric face-down, and fold 2 and 3/8″ seam down both sides and along
bottom of fabric, pressing with a warm iron to hold folds in place. Sew hems by machine or by hand, taking care to carefully miter each corner so that it lays smoothly, leaving one corner along the base open with a 1/4″ slit, in which to slide a wooden dowel.
3. Next, lay lining face-down. Fold and press 2 and 3/8″ seams along sides and base, just as in the fabric example above. With fabric face-down, place lining on top, face side up. Stitch lining to fabric, taking care to match hemmed sides of fabric.
4. The next step in the process of how to make Roman shades will be in determining where to place dowel pockets. With back of shade facing up, mark with a fabric pen or crayon at intervals of 8″ or 12″, depending on how wide pleats of the shade are desired to be. In order to know where to place the bottom dowel pocket, divide the distance between dowel pockets by 2, and then add 1. For example, if intervals are 8″ apart, dividing 8 by 2 will yield 4; adding 1 makes the total 5. Thus, the bottom pocket should be 5″ from the base of the shade. The top pocket should be a minimum of 10″ from the top of the shade.
5. Cut strips of lining fabric to the width of the shade, adding 3/4″ of fabric to each side, and making them 4 and 3/4″ in length. Fold and press the lining fabric with a warm iron, taking care to have the wrong side facing inward, then stitch along the length. These will be the channels into which the cording will go. Once sewn, pin these fabric tubes over the marks made in fabric pen, and sew them to the back of the shade. Place wooden dowels in each pocket, including the one at the very bottom of the shade, making a slip-stitch at each end of the dowel pockets to hold the dowels in place.
6. Approximately 6″ from the top of the shade, make a line with fabric pen on the shade lining. With shade fabric-side-down, place 1″ piece of wood just below the top of the shade; pull fabric over to cover wood, and staple in place using staple gun. Continue to fold fabric over the board, until coming to drawn line. Then staple in place. Attach screw eyes to wooden board 2″ in from ends.
7. The process for how to make Roman shades is now nearly complete. Sew rings in three columns to each of the rod pockets, making one column down the center of the shade and one column on either side of the shade, measuring 2″ in from the side of the fabric. Beginning at the bottom of the shade, tie one end of a length of cord to a ring, then thread through remaining 2 rings on that row. Continue until all rings have been threaded with cords. Next, thread cords through screw eyes, then thread through cord lock. Cord ends may be trimmed to length and finished as desired. Attach shade in your window with mounting hardware.
With supplies easily found in craft or fabric stores, and basic sewing skills, it is easy to see how to make Roman shades with very little expense and effort.
Check out this great YouTube video that shows how to make Roman shades.