S&B Roman Blind Tutorial

Last weekend was amazing for 3 reasons, firstly Mr P took part in and completed the Berlin marathon in 3:22 (so proud I had to share, my brother also ran in 3:44, amazing), secondly I got to spend the weekend with the most gorgeous 7 week old Master F and thirdly I hosted a Roman Blind Workshop for a special Sunday S&B.

I thought I would share the process with you and offer you a 'Roman Blind Tutorial'.    

You will need:

• Fabric (This should include enough material for the window measurements, adding 4' (10cms) to the width and 5" (12.5cms) to the length to allow for turnings).  Also add allowance for the pockets for the rods, you will need to allow another 2 to 2.5 for each pocket for each.  

• You can alternatively use tape especially for making roman blinds which you sew onto the fabric, although this can work out more expensive)

• Plastic rings

• Metal screw-in rings

• Self adhesive velcro 

• Wooden batten of 2.5cm x 5cm 

• 1/4" (0.6cm) wooden or plastic dowel rods (how many will depend on your window size) wooden are cheaper and available from B&Q

• 1 x 1" (2.5cm) D-mould rod for the base weight

• Cord, how much will depend on your blind size, but a guide is one and a half times the length of blind plus width, and should be between 20 and 40 cm across the blind.

• Coordinating cotton thread

Step 1

Measure your window very accurately.  A metal tape measure works best.  

You have the choice of fitting your blind in the recess of the window or outside.  It will depend if there is enough room in the recess to secure the batten that your blind will be secured too.  Also bare in mind that if you are fitting it inside there is even more pressure to get your measurements exact.

Step 2

After carefully working out your measurements for the blind for your window and worked out where the rods are going, which should be equally spaced going across, by making a drawing.  The bottom rod should be placed at least half the measurement of the rods spaced above.

Step 3

Cut the fabric plus hems for length and width.

Step 4

Iron hems at side,  finished width should be the width of the blind required.  Then machine side hems.

Step 5

Turn bottom hem to make pocket for bottom D-mould rod, turning 1.5 cm and then 3.5 cm then machine making a pocket for the rod.

Step 6

Cut strips of fabric for the rod pockets 5 cm wide and the length should be enough for the width of blind

Step 7

Iron 2cm allowance each end, then iron in half length wise

Step 8

Stitch pocket across back of blind where marked on your drawing, centre-fold should be towards bottom

Step 9

Check length of blind, then turn top over, iron and stitch Velcro along the top

Step 10

Sew plastic rings equally across, for small blind you will only require 3 across

Step 11

Fix the batten to window with the metal rings for all the cords will come through, these rings should be in same position as on the fabric blind

Step 12:

Place the sticky back Velcro on top of batten (you can secure with staples)

Step 13:

Cut your dowling rods just short of the width of the finished blind, then insert into the pockets.  Sew ends secure.

Step 14:

Tie cord to bottom ring thread each length of cord through rings on blind and on batten,  all cord should meet through the final ring.

Step 15:

Fix blind to the top of batten 

With the blind fully down, make sure all the cords are even and tight, make a knot, then plait the strands for approximately 10cm.  Then thread onto a pull.

Step 16

Attach a cleat to the wall, to wrap the cord round

Congratulations - Your Roman Blind Tutorial is Complete - Well Done

With special thanks to Granny G for all her help preparing, planning and leading the Roman Blind workshop. Sarah-Lou for taking the pictures.  And another special thanks to Mrs W for the fantastic fabric, I hope you like it.  

Nice to see you again
Xxx.