How To Make Roman Blinds

Roman blinds are a stylish addition to any space and if you enjoy a DIY project you can make your own. What better way to show off your creativity.

Here is our guide to making your own Roman blinds:

1.Gather What You Will Need

Before you begin make sure you have everything you need to make your own Roman blinds:

• Fabric - Buy from here, if you haven't done so already
• Lining fabric
• Wooden dowel pieces
• Wooden top border piece
• Fabric scissors 
• Fabric pencil
• Fabric ruler
• Tape measure
• Blind cord
• Blind rings
• Blind handle
• Pins
• Iron
• Sewing machine & thread
• Velcro tape (adhesive)
• Wooden frame
• Tools for installation 

2. Measure Your Window

First decide whether you would like your Roman blind fitted inside or outside the window frame recess. If you wish to hang your blind outside simply measure the width of the frame rather than the window pane itself.

To hang inside the recess measure your window panel height and width. Take half an inch off these measurements and jot the measurements down.

3. Prepare Your Fabric

Grab your fabric ruler, pencil and scissors and accurate measurements.

Lay your fabric flat, using the ruler and pencil mark out the measurements from step 2. Add 5cm around all edges for hemming. Slowly and carefully cut along the lines. Repeat this step for your lining fabric.

4. Preparing The Hems

In order to ensure your seams are straight iron both fabrics along the hem line to create a sharp crease. Fold it in and iron again. Place the fabrics together with the right side facing each other. Hold the fabric in place with your pins.

Using your sewing machine sew a 2.5cm seam along three edges. Fold the fabric out so the right side is on the outside and iron your hemmed edges.

5. Positioning Your Doweling

Lay your fabric out. Using your fabric ruler measure 5cm from the top of your fabric and make a small mark on the fabric. 

Section out your blind into 20-30cm sections, these sections will create the pleats in your Roman blind.

6. Dowel Pockets

Dowel pockets will be created using your lining fabric. Each pocket will require a piece of fabric around 8cm by the width of your fabric. Fold the fabric in half and sew a seam around 1cm in. You are creating a tube like fabric to hold the dowel in place.

7. Attaching Your Dowel Pockets

Pin your dowel pockets along the positions you marked out earlier. Sew carefully along the edges of the pockets ensuring that all of the fabric is stitched.

8. Attaching Blind Rings

Depending on the width of your blind will depend on how many blind rings you will require. Starting 2cm from the edge of your fabric attach a blind ring sewing by hand. Work across the blind in 20-40cm intervals.

9. Wooden Border

Attach your wooden border to your window recess where you want your Roman blind to hang. Add the velcro to the top of the wooden border.

10. Add Screw Eyes to Your Wooden Border 

Mark on your wooden border the measurements where each blind ring is. Add a screw eye to the chosen side you want your blind cord.

11. Securing Your Dowels

Take your blind fabric, turn down the hem at the top and sew along the line. Add the other half of the velcro sew this to the top inside of your fabric.

Cut the dowels 3cm shorter than the Roman blind width. Insert these into the pockets on the back of the blind. Hand stitch the pocket closed on each side to secure the dowel.

12. Attaching Your Blind Cord

Starting at the bottom of the fabric, attach the blind cord with a knot through each of the blind rings. At the top of the blind thread the cord through the eyelets on your wooden frame. The cords should then be threaded through the eye attached on the side. This is where you will adjust the blind. Attach your Roman blind using the velcro.

Add a blind handle to your cord and add a wall cleat to enable your blinds to be held in place.

There you have it. Your own handmade Roman blinds. Or if you didn't want to make them yourself, let Yorkshire Fabric Shop produce your Roman blind for you. Shop today online from the comfort of your own home!