Laurie...you have a marvelous machine! The Featherweight is one of my favorites (if not THE favorite). They have a stitch that the new machines can't come close to achieving. Bronwynsmom...Say it isn't so! Someone stole your Featherweight? They have been red hot the last couple of years, but you can still find them on eBay. I know where there are two of them in a local antique shop. I keep telling myself I don't need another machine, but..... Justmeinsd...Good advice from the above posters! I don't think I've ever used a pattern to make a WT. If you pick up a couple of books from the library on window treatments you can get all the info you need. Singer's "Sewing for the Home" is a good series. Start on smaller projects like valances or pillows. I figure that if you make something and it doesn't turn out the way you want it to, you've only lost a few dollars and a couple of hours. Give it a try!!! I've never taken a class in my life, but do have a family full of accomplished seamstresses. My grandmother does some of the finest French hand sewing that you'll ever see and my aunt teaches classes for Bernina. My Mom designs patterns that are sold throughout the US. And then there's me. LOL Mom taught me the basics when I was really young, but it was torturous for a tomboy like me to be stuck inside sewing. I wanted nothing to do with it until DH and I bought our first house and I paid to have the first WT done. I decided right then that I could do that, so I bought a used machine and started sewing. Haven't stopped since. I now have 6 machines and the sewing room is the biggest room in the house. :o)

Pretty view! What are your goals with the window coverings? Here are some things that clients typically ask me for: Light Control Temperature Control Privacy Add Visual Interest If you can give me a little more information, I'd be happy to come up with some ideas. :)

Hey There: Function before design is the key for you. Figure out what you expect from a window treatment - it might be different in each room or priorities are different from each family member. When it comes to functionality only, pleated blinds that operate bottom up and top down are a great choice. They are very minimal in depth and can install in side mount most of the time. They are available in hundreds of colors and textures and you can perfectly manage privacy and light. If you want to dress up your windows further, you can frame the blinds in with either design curtains or black out curtains for the bedrooms... Here are some ideas you can check: www.PleatedBlindsStore.com

I'm trying to figure out what that wall is behind the table. It looks like there's a narrow shelf above it. It's both strange looking & yet interesting. Why is there? Is it some kind of wainscoting? Since you want to retain the home's character, I'm assuming you want the wall to stay as opposed to taking it down completely & putting windows in its place. Not sure what to do with that wall but I"d leave the windows mostly uncovered. If anything, & for some privacy, I might install top down/bottom up shade just on those 2 long windows.