How to make a Roman Blind – a Roman Shade how to

Roman blinds give an elegant look to a window in your period home, in this article we tell you how to make a Roman Blind in ten easy steps, or if you prefer – a Roman Shade how to.

But first let’s take a quick look at what is a roman blind and what types of material you should use when making one.

A roman blind typically hangs flat against a window and draws up into deep horizontal pleats, by the use of tie cords. It has a lower batten that keeps the material hanging straight when raised and is attached at the top by another batten. It’s important to remember when choosing a patterned fabric that large motifs might not give the right effect when the blind is raised. Therefore it’s normally advisable to go for a plain material or a small repeat pattern.

Any good quality medium-weight curtain fabric is suitable for making a roman blind, but don’t choose anything too bulky as the blind won’t sit right when it is drawn up.

How to make a roman blind:

1. Work out the position of the top batten from which the roman blind or roman shade will hang from. Then measure the length from the top of the batten to final drop. Add 14cm to allow for hems.
2. Measure the desired width of the blind and add 6cms for side hems.
3. Cut the material these measurements, don’t forget to use a straight edge and a set square to ensure the cut is straight.
4. Next hem the side edges. Turn the material to the back of the fabric and tuck it under itself to form a double hem of 1.5cm. Pin and stitch.
5. Make a double hem of 2.5 cm at the top of the blind. Pin and stitch.
6. Now work out the number of sections between the vertical tapes that fold up the blind. Divide the width of the blind by approximately 30cm, round the number up or down to the nearest whole number. Eg: If the width of the blind is 90cm then there would be four looped blind tapes, splitting the blind into three vertical sections.
7. Cut and pin the looped blind tapes into position on the back of the blind fabric making sure that the bottom ring or loop is 12cm up from the bottom edge and that there is a 1cm over lap at the top, which is tucked under to remove the raw edge. Place the two outside tapes as close to the side hems as possible and ensure that all of the loops or rings in the tape line up horizontally.
8. Stitch down the sides of each tape to the back of the material.
9. Make the bottom hem by folding the material up 6cm, tucking the top 1cm under itself and pin and stitch across the top of the hem. Slide in the lower batten and stitch together the hem sides.
10. Place the top of the blind over the widest side of the top batten and tack or staple the material to the top.

The Roman Blind or Roman Shade is now ready to have the cord system fitted and be mounted into the window opening.

If you want to have sharper horizontal folds in the roman blind then stitch 3mm tucks by folding the fabric wrong sides together on alternate rows of the vertical tape loops, starting from the second loop from the bottom of the blind. Don’t forget if you wish to do this you will need to add in extra length on the vertical measurement when first cutting the material.