If you’re looking for an inexpensive interior home upgrade, then there could be no better way than upcycling your home window treatments. Once made practical, this home renovation idea will bring a noticeable, positive change in your home interior.
Having that said, one of the most worthwhile ideas in this regard is recovering your window treatment and particularly roman shades. So if that’s your concern, then you’re really fortunate for being in the right place. Today what we will talk about at Dubai Curtain is the sew and no-sew recovering methods for roman window shades.
A Complete Guide On Sew & No-Sew Recovery Methods For Roman Shades
These DIY recovery methods that we’re going to describe for roman shades will not only transform the look and feel of your home interior but also prove to be economically beneficial for you. However, you’ll have to put some effort and spare some of your precious time besides following the steps carefully and precisely to efficiently complete this DIY task.
1. An Easy No-Sew DIY Method For Roman Shades
First, we’ll be discussing the no-sew method for DIY roman shades. Before any further explanation, you’ll have to arrange for the following supplies for this project.
- Old Binds
- Fabric Of Your Choice
- Scissors
- Fabric Glue
- Measuring Tape
- Pencil or Marker Pen
1. Take Measurements Of Your Window Dimension
The first step is to take measurements of the window which is to be framed with roman shades. In this concern, the best method is to remove 1/4th of an inch and add two full inches after taking the measurement so as to have some extra fabric for any amendments. Also, adding two more inches will make you able to attain that finely seamed, desirable appearance of your roman shades.
2. Mark The Edges For Folds or Hems
Lay the fabric on a flat surface, mark the edges by taking advantage of the two inches added before in the measurement, and fold the fabric over from the marked points. Now, you have to make the folds look prominent and that can be done by ironing the fabric folds.
3. Attach The Fabric Folds Using Fabric Glue
Now, comes the time to glue the fabric. This can be efficiently done but one should avoid any seepage of the glue because if that occurs, you may end up gluing the surface below. And that means creating a mess of the situation besides putting extra effort into your project.
4. Alter The Old Blinds Before Adding Fabric
Remove the complete set of blinds from your windows, place the blinds on a flat surface, and cut the cord that doesn’t run through the slats i.e. there are two cords in blinds.
Now, remove the extra slats from the blinds, in accordance with the length of your window. In this concern, if you can’t decide on the number of slats required, then try spacing them for at least 8 inches to get the exact number of slats needed.
Currently, you should be gluing these slats to the fabric by placing them 8 inches apart on the fabric as well. Always glue the curved sides of the slats and not the other way around.
Take care not to glue the cords because it won’t let your roman shades function. Also, let the glue dry completely before moving any further.
5. Hang The Roman Shades Onto The Window
When dried, you can hang your DIY roman shades onto the window and test their pleating function. Well, there won’t be any irregularities if you have followed the steps precisely but if there are any, then look for the errors and correct them.
2. A Step-By-Step Guide To DIY Roman Shades | The Sewing Method
Before we start explaining the steps, you’ll have to arrange for the following supplies to efficiently complete this project.
- Fabric Of Choice
- Yardstick Or Measuring Tape
- Sewing Machine
- Scissors, Pins, Screws
- Metal Rod
- Cord Lock (Optional)
- Multiple Wood Dowels
- Sewing Rings
- Stitch Witchery Or Fabric Glue
- Eye hooks
- Curtain Rod (To Be Used As Headrail)
Also, there are some other household items like iron, needles, thread, etc and since they are most commonly found in all homes, you should not worry about them.
1. Take Your Window Measurements,
Of course, you’ll start by taking window measurements to cut the fabric precisely and accordingly. After doing so, add extra 3 inches to the width and up to 6 inches to your measurement of the length.
2. Add Fabric Lining To Your Roman Shades
Lay the fabric upside down (so that the printed surface faces down), lay the fabric liner on top of the fabric, hold the liner in place by pinning, and sew the liner and the fabric together. You can iron the fabric for creating smooth edges at the end.
3. Create & Attach Rod Pockets To The Fabric
In this concern, cut the wood dowels up to an inch narrow as compared to the window frame. Cut fabric liner strips, fold the strips, iron them, and create rod pockets out of them. Keep in mind that the rod pockets should easily fit the dowels.
For attachment purposes, you need to evenly space the rod pockets at about 8-10 inches. Then you can either glue the rod pockets or use a fusible bonding web like Stitch Witchery for the attachment of the fabric and the rod pocket.
4. Secure The Sewing Rings & Finish The Hem
You should measure 2 and a half inches from the edge, followed by marking the point with the help of a pencil. Now, make use of a needle and thread to secure the sewing rings on the fabric liner at the marked points.
For the bottom hem, you should fold 2 and a half inches and sew the fabric unto itself. This creates a pocket to contain the metal rod that will weigh the bottom hem down.
5. Screw The Eye Hooks In Place
To finish the top part of your roman shades, you need to screw the eye hooks into place for attaching the fabric to the curtain rod. The number of eye hooks to be screwed will depend on the length of the window frame.
Also, you can install the cord lock right next to the eye hook on either side for locking your roman shade at the desired height. However, this is an optional step and can be skipped if not needed.
6. Run The Thread Cords Through The Sewing Rings
With everything else in place, you can make your roman shades functional by running the cords through the eye hooks on both ends and cord lock (if installed). At the bottom end, the non-tied thread cords should be secured by putting a knot at their ends.
7. Install The Roman Shades
The last step is to install the roman shades by drilling holes in the window frame and using screws to secure your window coverings. Make the roman shades function a few times on a trial basis to look for any errors and to make the pleats fall in the desired place. And, you’re done with this procedure.
The Conclusion
In this article, we’ve described DIY methods for recovering roman shades for an effective and appealing interior change. The first part of the article describes a no-sew method and the second part explains the sewing method for roman shades. You can make use of any of these two methods depending upon your liking to uplift the aesthetics of your home interior, that too, without needing to spend a fortune of money.