My DIY French blackout roman shades in progress
I started a few other posts with my current project of making roman shades for my whole house. I have little sewing experience other than hemming pants, but I watched a ton of tutorials, made three practice shades, then made two "real" ones for the dining room.
Now I've started on the family room shades, which need to be blackout. I tried using blackout fabric, but since I'm using iron-on rib tape, that didn't work. The fabric puckered and the tape didn't adhere well at all. I decided to try the French blackout method of using a layer of black sateen in between the face fabric and the cotton lining. My face fabric is dark so I didn't need the flannel interlayer that is common with French blackout.
I'm tying the rings in place instead of sewing. I found that tip in this video. The first knots came undone and my rings fell off, so I realized I have to triple-knot them.
I'm using fiberglass ribs from Rowley, because they end up being <50 cents per rib and are so much nicer than wooden dowels.
I've found all my fabric at fabricguru.com. Great selection and prices! I have a bazillion samples.
I'm using a continuous loop kit, also from Rowley. The EZ Rig system. I have to do an outside mount for most of the windows, and that system seems to have the smallest projection. I like that I don't need a header/dust board with it. I install the brackets, and the metal header clicks into it like blinds you would buy from the big box stores. This makes it easy to take the shade down for whatever reason. Also, you can adjust the centering. LOVE this system.
By making these myself, I'm saving 400-600 PER SHADE. I'd gotten several quotes and they were so out of budget! I figured I can draw straight lines, cut on a line, and sew pretty straight... so I could do this.
I love making these! It's been so fun. I spend the most amount of time deciding on pattern placement and trying to line things up when I have more than one shade to make. After that, it takes less than 5 hours to complete a shade. I haven't been able to finish one in a single day, so I don't know for sure. But once I get sewing, it's blazing fast. The layout/cutting takes the longest! Not to mention the math and measurements!!
Here are some pics of these shades in progress. I didn't have enough fabric for four identical shades, so I had to find two different layouts. I settled on these:
Lining up the layers:
Tying on the rings:
Sneak peak of nearly-completed shade!
Comments (29)
pippiep
7 years agoRelated Discussions
Wood Blinds OR Roman Shades in vintage/cottage kitchen?
Comments (47)marcolo, that's the plan!! athomeinva, they can look chunky pulled up, but on these small window... not so much! Wood blinds are definitely classic and period appropriate! thanks everyone.. all the responses have been very, very helpful! We have been living in the house for over a month now, and living here is what really finalized my choice. I see I need some light control as well as privacy - yet I do want to be able to pull them up - if I desire (I may not even feel I need to). I usually sacrifice function over looks... but in this case, I am picking function over what I desired for looks! I'll post pictures when blinds go up!...See MoreMore on my DIY roman shade project, & need help!
Comments (10)When I make blackout lined draperies, to decrease the amount of fabric/bulk in my double folded hems, headers & side seams, I don't fold the lining into them. I fold & press the drapery fabric, but do not stitch it. Then, I lay the blackout lining on to the drape fabric & cut the lining (to meet up with the edge of the finished edges). Then, I tuck the lining under every folded side & header, pin & stitch. I leave the lining un-tucked along the bottom hem...the lining will not need to be stitched inside that hem. When all done, each of my side seams and the header have only one layer of blackout lining inside of them. I don't know if this strategy will help in your situation, but it's worth some thought. Below are some photos that might help explain what I am trying to say. Ignore how wrinkled the blackout lining is. After pleating & hanging these drapes, the wrinkles all went away. This shows the right side seam and lower hem double folded & pressed. Lay blackout lining on top. Cut blackout lining to length & width - up to the edges so you can tuck them inside the side seams & header. Header on the left, bottom hem on the right. Lining inserted into folded header & side seams. Ready to pin & stitch. Lower hem of lining does not get tucked in....See MoreI need your help with window shades
Comments (0)Our newly constructed house has an open plan. Sunroom, living room and tv area. I am up there alone 4 nights a week. There are 3 large windows and French doors in the tv area on the left of the fireplace. I have been looking for roller shades that are blackout in style. A porch runs along the front of the house with stairs on each end. We have seen unknown men on our property several times. I had thought I could put Roman shades but my husband realized that if they are interior mount, they will hang down and cover at least a foot of the window. We are on the coast and don’t want to interfere with the view of the ocean. Does anyone know of a textured roller shade that is cordless and opaque?...See MoreFrench door panel?
Comments (48)Lyfia, As far as the barn door hardware, a few things. First, even while i live here, I don't want a door swing in my way or anything blocking views and light. Second, a door hung in this way is not the same size as a standard inset door, so I'd have to ditch this custom door with hand blown imported glass and get a new one. All of my doors are custom and pretty pricey so even if I didn't do glass, that'd be pretty wasterful. Lastly, I asked a realtor friend about barn doors because our front door is a set of barn doors! They open into a vestibule and double french doors into the foyer, but still. Her view was that a barn door in a McMansion is out. A barn door in a 1904 Connecticut farmhouse is not. So they stay. As far as resale: "What to do --or not do-- for staging/resale is totally a judgment call. One thing I learned from all the open houses we have been to, in exploring where we might want to move next, was that, even when I knew better, I totally responded to decor and details that do not really matter. I don't imagine my home has many/any dealbreakers but that is not the standard I'm aspiring to. I look at it as maybe honing its features. Allison, that is very clever! I think I will do nothing unless I come across a way to affix something that I think would enhance the look....See Morepippiep
7 years agopippiep
7 years agolast modified: 7 years ago
beckysharp Reinstate SW Unconditionally
7 years agopippiep thanked beckysharp Reinstate SW Unconditionallypippiep
7 years agoFirst one is completed and installed! I love the way it came out!! I have two more that just need rings and cord, and I just got the additional black fabric that I needed to finish the fourth shade. (I was sold 7 yards, but it was only 6.2!) We are waiting to install the tension devices until all the shades are ready.
pippiep
7 years agobeckysharp Reinstate SW Unconditionally
7 years agopippiep thanked beckysharp Reinstate SW Unconditionallypippiep
7 years agoThank you all so much! I am so glad that I was able to do this. I'm still in a bit of shock, actually. I'm very proud of these!
I got two more up today. Later, I have to start sewing the last one. Then I'm going to want to take down all that horrible paneling!! But I must be patient...
And here you can see the two different pattern/layouts I chose. In the above pic, the two on the corners are identical. The two on the flat wall are not. It took me days to decide on the layout!
Boopadaboo
7 years ago
cyn427 (z. 7, N. VA)