You guessed this day would never come, amirite? You thought I might not EVER finish my family room window project. Or share it with you.
To be perfectly honest…ME TOO! Looks like I surprised BOTH of us!
These are the original Roman Shades I made more than 10 years ago:
Solid fabric, trimmed with a contrast band of decorator print,
with three matching, pleated, shaped, and trimmed valances for the lower bank of windows.
Making those treatments was a large job, but not complex. I even pattern-matched the contrast banding, but it wasn’t really difficult.
Once we changed the colors in the room it was time for new window treatments! (And actually, I should’ve ditched the dated valance a long time ago, but I tend to develop an emotional attachment to anything I make.)
Design Variables
This time around, it would have been nice to do something completely different, like floor to ceiling draperies… isn’t this a beautiful look?
But… we have wood posts projecting from the wall to hide steel reinforcements for the windows… To properly hang drapes, the rods would have to come out pretty far into the room to clear the posts…or would have to be mounted between the posts.
That’s why we originally chose Roman Shades.
One really important thing for us…they have to be room darkening. Hey, we TV… ALOT!!!
Another variable was that decorator fabric tends to come in widths, generally, of about 54″… our windows are 57.5″ wide and about 70″ deep. I know it’s done often, but I didn’t want to piece the fabric for the extra width on this particular set of windows My solution is to add a border.
Since I chose a busy print for the shades, I selected a subtle herringbone pattern for the contrast trim. The herringbone fabric was a little weighty for a roman shade, so I had to be careful to minimize the bulk.
Without border trim….Roman Shades are a fairly easy sewing project. But I also complicated things this time by choosing a large print for the main fabric. With three columns of upper and lower windows, I had to be very careful with my measurements to pattern match when cutting the fabric, and later with sewing the rows. If I was off, it would be noticeable…so the print had to match horizontally and vertically.
(Okay…enough whining!)
I’ve made Roman Shades for other windows in our house and have used different techniques each time. If you’re looking for a tutorial, my favorites are from Sailrite (although I would be reluctant to use glue as they do); design blogger Laurel Bern, who recommends this one; and Kristi at Addicted 2 Decorating, who posts one as well. There are many more…including a popular Pinterest shortcut that repurposes mini blinds.
Having made plenty of shades, I kind of did my own thing. If you have questions, I’ll be happy to answer them, but I’ll spare you my step-by-step and get on with it. I’ve listed pros and cons about the process below for anyone who likes to read lugubrious prose or wants to know the deets. (Number 5 is the most important one.)
(And sorry for the Christmas Decor…I finished hanging these the day before Thanksgiving… I’ll add other photos after the holidays are over.)
Ready? You have been VERY patient! Here we go:
Lessons Learned, Pros, and Cons (in no particular order)
1. Two to six thousand dollars. That’s an estimate of what I saved by making these myself. I’ve been sewing for nearly 40 years, and while I am not a window treatment professional, I think I’m fairly competent behind a sewing machine.
I am NOT dismissing the value of professional training, equipment, adherence to industry standards, safety details and the skill of an experienced workroom staff…those are important ingredients to the to the outcome of a beautiful and safe window treatment. But I know our budget priorities…and that was NOT going to happen. (Mr. D&D still wonders why I “don’t just pick up some curtains at Bed, Bath, and Beyond.”)
2. One of the reasons I really like using Roman Shades for this room is because I can draw them waaaaay up and hide most of the fabric behind the top row so it looks more like a valance and I can see more of the yard in the prettier months. I don’t actually like leaving them down AT ALL…but it does keep the glare off the television (….priorities 😂).
3. Remember above when I mentioned the thickness of the herringbone fabric? Mitering the border corners was beastly! In fact, I tried several different techniques with different results.
Truth be told, I prooooobably could have gotten away with them and hung them as is. But when it comes to those details, I am a perfectionist and it would have been all I saw every time I looked at them. So I gave my seam ripper a very big workout and redid each one. Aren’t you proud of me?
4. Most workrooms install their valances and Roman Shades using velcro at the top of the heading. I have never done this because I think stapling the shade directly to the top of the board gives a cleaner look.
HOWEVER…I did use velcro this time and while I stand by my earlier statement, the velcro makes them much (much, much) easier to hang and adjust.
5. I tried a new product this time…well, it was new to me. For the Roman Shades I made before, I sewed rows of one inch twill tape across the back of the shade to form a pocket, inserted acrylic dowels in each pocket, and hand sewed brass rings to each row to raise and lower the shade.
Hand. Sewed. Thirty. Rings. Per shade. Times six.
This time I used roman shade tube tape.
It’s a sew-on tape with a ready-made pocket for the dowels…so I only had to sew it across the top…AAAANNNDD…it has little loops sewn in at regular intervals across the tape, so instead of hand-sewing rings, you just thread the cord right through the loops as needed to raise and lower the shade. What a timesaver!!!
The fabric stores I shop at do not always stock the tape, FYI. Since I wanted a LOT of it, I ordered it online.
6. Speaking of raising and lowering the shade…for mine that’s done by hand using cords. To hold them in place I wrap the cords around a cleat on the side of the window trim. (Actually, I use a decorative drawer-pull instead of an actual cleat.)
Having automated shades would be BOSS!!! No lift cords on the side of the window…just press a button and raise three at a time…. I spend way too much time on the Somfy website dreaming about their motorized lift systems (which now include wireless and voice-controlled options). I called a rep once, but they wanted to sell me custom shades in addition to the system. SO…no. And there’s also the cha-ching factor.
But I hope to someday find a nice DIY option that I could try. What a convenience THAT would be!
7. And now, true confession time. I love this fabric…close up. The colors are perfect for the room. I chose it because I thought it had a modern feel and looked a little like a grayish batik print.
I do think they look nice, but I find the print to be a little “meh” when I stand across the room and see it on all the windows. Pretty enough, but not the modern vibe I was hoping to achieve. Am I severely disappointed that I chose it…no. But, just a little.
But guess what…that feeling is completely drowned out by the fact that these freakers are FINALLY done, installed, hanging and functional (and do still look kinda pretty).
I have cut the cord from this millstone around my neck and can MOVE ON to the next thing on my list…for now there are three priorities…living room window treatments, recovering our kitchen chairs, and redoing the cushions in the back hallway. But I’m also anxious to make some jewelry/accessory organizers, sew new throw pillows for the family room…redo some closets….
I am also considering a whole new bank of reasons for procrastinating, because it’s a new year. Besides, you are SO nice to visit and read my posts–you deserve new excuses (wink wink).
I am a beginner at sewing. I would like to make roman shades for some of our rooms but the width is a bit daunting, 73″. Do you think it is a good idea for a beginner to make these roman shades? Any recommendations to make my life easier would be appreciated. Thank you.
Hi, Karen! I think making this kind of shade, lined and with the trim band as I did it, would be complex for a beginner.
However, roman shades in general, like the ones in my narrow back hall windows, are not too complex at all; just straight sewing.
You could try a narrower window first to see how they work.
Sailrite.com has terrific instructional step by step videos for simpler shades.
For a large window, you can piece fabric to make it wide enough and NOT use banding, which would be much less complex. But i would definitely try a smaller one first.
Beginner patterns from Simplicity or McCall might also be an option.
Susan Woodcock, aka The Home Dec Gal, has a step by step book: “First Time Sewing Window Treatments – The Absolute Beginner’s Guide.” And there may be romans in there.
Ive purchased one of her online video courses and it was great!
Singer’s book, Sewing for the Home was my beginner’s bible from the days before youtube, but i still have and refer to it.
Hope that helps!
Email me Em@dustanddoghair.com if you have any questions!
roman shade tube tape?!! Mind blown!!! Loved this tutorial, thank you for taking the time to share. I’m looking to do my kitchen window but it’s 55″ wide, doh!! Might need to do a trim too!
Hi, Diana! That tape was WAY easier than sewing on all. those. rings. It’s held up great as well, which is especially important bc these are south facing windows.
Wish there was a larger selection of oversized fabric! It would be nice to NOT have to trim them…I may consider sheets or tablecloth for the fabric next time. Plenty of width for those!
I found this article while searching for DIY roman shades for our bay window, about 72” wide. Our cat loves to sit in the window, so rather than 3 separate panels that fit against each window, we want a single shade that sits outside the window shelf so we can lower the shade, but still allow our cat to get behind it. Do you think this would work for a shade that wide? Or would it be too heavy to pull with only one cord?
Hello, Tonua,
Sorry I didn’t get back to you sooner, I wanted to check my measurements. My shades are 57” wide; so about a foot narrower than yours will be. They are about 71” long. They are also fully lined with blackout fabric, which is somewhat weighty.
Depending on your variables, if you’re lining them, how heavy your fabric is, lining etc, yes, it could get a little heavy for raising and lowering, but I think it’s still quite doable, because you would have two extra vertical cords that help disperse the volume. Plus, if your materials are lighter, that makes it less of an issue.
I agree that it could be a lot for one cord, but you could easily have up to three to share the load.
You could still use a cord reducer, but instead of turning say, seven into one, leave the sides (and perhaps the middle) on the other end of the reducer, maybe even braiding them. I think that would disperse the weight for raising and lowering.
Hope that makes sense. If not, please follow up!
Such a nice blog on diy roman shades for oversized windows and I hope you keep update us with such great tips and information in future too. This is a great post; I will share as much as I can. Do check out this Cedarblinds.co.nz, it has some great and nice ideas to look for.
I love the look of these Roman blinds. Well done!
Thanks, Cathy! I ACTUALLY dreamt last night that I redid them with a blue abstract dot print. UGH…not ready to take THAT on right now, haha.
Oooooh I love those new roman shades! What a nice update.
Hi, Jo-Lynne! So nice of you to pop by AND comment 🙂 I like them SO much more now that I’m not looking at them through a sewing machine.
Hi! Great job!! I have 57″ windows and cannot find 1/4″ dowel that is that long. Your windows look long too. What did you use?? Thanks in advance! 🙂
Hello, Leilani, I used a hollow plastic rod for mine. I got them at Great Lakes Plastic, which is a local company to me, but they may ship. I cut the length using a little pipe cutter, but a dremel or hack saw might work fine.
IF GLP doesn’t ship, I just used a new company for clear acrylic rods for my living room curtains. I bet they have them as well. They DO ship: Nationwide Plastics.
Yay for the big reveal. Absolutely worth waiting for. Your original blinds were just lovely and I can understand why parting with them would be difficult. I feel that way about things I’ve made, too, although I have never made anything anywhere nearly as involved as your blinds.
What a clean look you’ve achieved with the new blinds. Love how you can open them so completely that it is almost as if your room is an extension of the yard. Oh, that snowy view!! Your mitered corners look fabulous. Very professionally done, and having to match the pattern, line up the herringbone trim! Yikes. My mother sewed and she always said that someone who doesn’t sew has no idea what is involved in sewing.
Well done, sweet friend. So proud of your hard work…absolutely worth it!
Thank you, Leslie! If I worked as hard as I complain and procrastinate, I’d have ALL new window treatments and nothing on my to do list.
I think when you make something, you definitely scrutinize it more. (Like when I sew a dress I’m super critical about my zippers, when I buy one, I never even look at them.)
I was so weird about them that before I posted this, I screen shot dozens of “custom” shades to see if they hung 2000 percent perfectly. When I looked very critically at the pics, I thought mine passed the test…but it was dumb that I had to compare to see. 🙃
OMG, girl!! Those are amazing!!
I have to comment on a couple of things…..first, I can’t believe you ripped out those corners. I mean, I get it….I rip out my knitting all the time, but I might rationalize with those corners that if you put them on the upper windows, that no one in their right mind would ever notice.
I absolutely love that you use a drawer pull for the cords. So the upper shade has a way longer cord??? I couldn’t see them, so I was wondering if you put those down??
XOXO
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Thank you, my true blue friend! Believe me, I did hear those same words in my head! I’m sure you already know the answer to your own question…part of making something yourself includes proving to yourself that it doesn’t “look” homemade (which connotates a bad thing unless you’re cooking).
And yes, the uppers have a long, but fairly hidden cord. An easy reach. But we must have darkness or the battle of Helms Deep will be lost in the light of day. (It’s “Lord of the Rings” binge season…regular versions, extended versions, commentaries…the TV gets a workout.)