Anyone know how to make a roller shade?

12 years ago

I've been searching online for this project, getting frustrated.

I have a small skinny window in the bathroom that I want to put a roller shade there. Just a simple one --the kind you pull on and it goes up or down, like the old white vinyl ones BUT here's the catch.

The kits come in big sizes. my window is only 17" wide and 45" long, and of course the roller shade will be recessed/inside mount in the window frame, but it's not super deep. only 2" deep.

I want fabric (actually a sheet) on the roller shade so either have to glue it to the vinyl or make the fabric super stiff. It will roll up under a valance. I just want more privacy at night when lights are on and maybe during the day at times.(window is bubbly opaque but you see outlines indoors if you are outside looking in) and directly outside the window 16" away, is a driveway, i don't want to stand naked with my neighbors waving "hi".....

so how do i go about this. the biggest problem is how to find or make a roller with caps and all (like a kit would come) but for my dinky window. any ideas?? would love any help or advice :)

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Comments (7)

clt3
12 years ago
The kits are much easier and can be cut to fit any window.
madtown_2006_gw
12 years ago
I'm not sure what you mean by "a roller with caps and all (like a kit would come)" so please disregard my post if it's not helpful at all :-)

Anyway...I just made some fabric-covered roller shades for my sons room. I bought the shades at my local home improvement store and had them cut to width right there in the store. They had three options to choose from and I chose the heaviest duty because a) they were blackout and b) I read online that the heaviest shades would have the best spring sytem so they would/should last longer.

I used fabric glue to glue my fabric to the shade. I just cut the fabric slightly wider (1/2 inch or so on each side) than the shade and wrapped the fabric around it. Glued it in place and it was good to go. The one thing I learned along the way....for the first shade I only glued the edges of the shade/fabric so when it rolls up the tension sort of "pulls" at the fabric and warps the shade a bit. So for the second shade I used spray glue to adhere the entire piece of fabric to the shade. It was a little trickier because I had to make sure there were no wrinkles, but it doesn't "pull" when the shade rolls up, so it looks better than the first shade.

Hope this helps!
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erinsean
12 years ago
I was going to add that big box stores (Lowes/Home Depot) will cut roll up shades to the size you need. I am fairly sure you can buy just the roller with caps and the brackets needed to put it on/in the window. Sounds like you want to use fabric instead of the vinyl shade...should be doable or gluing the fabric to the vinyl shade would work also.
cottagecindy
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks guys for the tips!! (and yes, I was trying to just describe the normal kit for a diy --don't know why i said roller caps and all..lol) Basically yes-I need to have one cut down to my skinnier width, and then glue fabric-- didn't know how easy it would be to have someone cut them shorter. :)
gsciencechick
12 years ago
Just saw this yesterday on RetroRenovation!

Here is a link that might be useful: make your own roller shades
lindac
12 years ago
I have done it....years ago!
Buy a shade, remove the vinyl, measure your fabric and apply fusable iron on interfacing to the back. cut to fit, using the old vinyl as a pattern, fold up the bottom to insert a wooden slat or glue on any trim, tack or use double stick carpet tape to attach to the roller and put into the brackets.
You may want to apply a thin bit of clear fabric glue to the edges so it doesn't ravel, and spray some scotch guard on the area you will touch to pull it up or down.

I have also known one person who made roller shades out of wall paper. I asked her why it didn't curl....she replied..."it just doesn't"....she used very high quality wall paper.
Linda C
rafor
12 years ago
I've also done this. Fabric stores sell a specific iron-on window shade interfacing. It's done like Linda C described. You can also buy the wooden rollers to staple it to.