I've sewn with quilted fabrics (made a couple jackets that I truly adored) but haven't made roman shades with any type of fabric. I totally love the idea though, if you do it, please post pics. :)

When I bought this house, the 5 windows in what became my office/sewing room had Window Quilts. That's a brand name and I have linked it below.

They were professionally installed, and they run up and down in channels mounted on the trim, so they are truly sealing out the cold. I haven't had a need to price them, and I have since replaced all my windows, but if you have just a couple of windows, you may want to look into them.

Here is a link that might be useful: Window quilts

I made my own version of window quilts in our last home. I did it cheaply, because we only had one more winter there before our new house was done.
What I did was purchase wool batting and a bolt of unbleached muslin at the fabric store. You could use a wool blanket (from good will, or the army surpluss). All my windows were 30x60.

*buy 2 tention rods to fit on the inside of the window trim.
*cut a front and a back out of the fabric of your choice, and the wool batting. Make sure its about 2 inches larger all the way around.
*either sew on a machine or use that no sew tape to make a rod pocket for each tention rod.
*put both layers of fabric and the wool together like your making a qulit and sew, or no sew.
*hang in the window opening.

You want it to fit snug and not touch the window to give you that vapor barrier to keep the cold out. In the day time, I just pulled the bottom tention rod up near the top tention rod to give it the appearance of a roman shade. I also used muslin, because any fabric thats used on the back side will fade from sun exposure.
Hope this makes sense, if not email me and I will try to explain better. Also it cost me about $10.00 per window

daisy

I'm surprised, I didn't expect to get much response. I did look at that link to WindowQuilts, my3dogs, and it is what I remember seeing a long time ago when they were a little more popular. I don't think I want to install tracks. Thanks for the link, though. That helped me make the decision that I want to make something myself.

Daisy what you are describing is exactly what I was thinking of doing! I hadn't got to the point of figuring out to use a second tension rod on the bottom yet, and I was still considering whether to roll them up during the day and tie with ribbon, or use cords in the back, etc. I think the idea of using two tension rods and just raising the bottom during the day to fold it over is a perfect one! I think I am following your directions ok, all except the idea of cutting the fabric 2 inches larger all the way around. I assume you have to add more than 2 inches to the inside measurement of your window in order to make rod pockets and is the 2 inches on top of that addition? And what about the two inches on the sides? Is that seam allowance or is the finished panel, larger than the window opening?

ghostlyvision, I will certainly post photos if I can manage to make these.

Thanks!

I've seen pictures of quilted curtains and they're beautiful. I think a curtain type style would be better for keeping the cold out because you'd have more material at the window, and you can always tie them back in the daytime.

You could use roller shades behind them to keep more air out.

I can't wait to see what you do though!

Praire

Link below to excellent resource on Roman Shades -
I used her step by step instructions - She also is available by phone & email for consult

Good luck

Here is a link that might be useful: Terrell design

Praire,

Yes your final size should be 2" larger all the way around. If you use the no sew tape you can rip out a seam and start over easily to make your ajustments.
Good luck. You wont believe how much heat will be retained with them. I had them in my whole house and it made a huge difference in how warm the place felt.
daisy

I made the warm window quilts using their quilted product....HUGE success! My MIL made them with a generic product and it shrunk when exposed to the sun. The name brand quilted "warm windows" ....never had any problems after they were on the windows. 20 years later I drove by my old house and they were still hanging there. It used magnets on the edges to seal the curtain to the magnet I glued to the wall.

nicole:
the stuff your speaking of is sold at JoAnn Fabric if anyone is looking for it. Great investment if your going to keep them forever

How cow, I love the Terrell Design pieced shades (esp. the Windows of Brazil)! I have two windows in the master BR that get late-day westerly sun and I've been puzzling over what to put on them to help keep the heat out, I'm going to have to seriously think about making something quilted for them (oh I'm so excited! lol).

I'm thinking of making roman shades using Warm Window.
The WW website even has directions to make your own curtains.
(Also available at JoAnn Fabrics.)

Here is a link that might be useful: warm window website