| The simple yet elegant Roman shade is a favored | | | | quilter’s ruler, a steel tape measure, marking |
| window treatment in many countries and in many | | | | pins, a seam ripper, a rotary cutter, fabric shears and a |
| styles of house. It is easy to construct and can be as | | | | carpenter’s square.Mounting |
| decorative or plain as you wish. The Roman shade is | | | | board-manufacturing tools – A screwdriver, a |
| made up of several parts: the cloth panel, the lift cord, | | | | hacksaw, an ice pick, a hammer, wire cutters, a |
| the drop cord, the lifting mechanism and the head rail. In | | | | C-clamp, a staple gun, a metal file and a hand |
| its simplest terms, here’s how a Roman shade | | | | saw.Manufacture: Cut fabric panels for the shade and |
| works: The lift cord is fastened to the bottommost ring | | | | the lining. Hem the bottom of the two together. Sew |
| in each column of rings then threaded through the | | | | side seams of the fabric and the lining together so the |
| balance of the rings, through the same side-pulley, | | | | panel is finished along both sides and the hem edge. |
| across the mounting board and out one side of the | | | | The panel is like a pillowcase at this point. Glue the |
| shade. The shade is lifted by pulling on the lift cord.The | | | | battens—wood or plastic strips to stiffen the |
| lifting mechanism may be as simple as a screw eye, a | | | | panel—in place at each planned fold line on the |
| pulley, a cord lock pulley or a continuous or clutch | | | | inside (hidden) of the panel. Mark and sew lift rings in |
| system. The fabric of choice is 100% cotton and a | | | | place at every-other batten. Attach the head rail to the |
| lining should be used for sheer or lightweight fabrics. | | | | shade using Velcro. Thread the lift cord from the |
| Upholstery weight fabrics don’t do well as | | | | bottom-most lift ring up through all the rings, across the |
| Roman shades.Measure and Design: The shades may | | | | top of the head rail and then down beside (not |
| be mounted inside window frame, outside the window | | | | through) the lift rings on the opposite side. Cut and |
| frame or as a hybrid. The mounting board can be | | | | install the weight rod along the bottom of the |
| placed either flat or projected for each of the above | | | | panel.Mounting: Place the mounting board in position on |
| mountings. Measure the length, width and depth of the | | | | the wall, using screws. Thread all cords in place. Make |
| window, allowing for hems and seams. Determine the | | | | sure the cords pull correctly, lifting the entire panel |
| amount of stackage desired. Stackage is the width of | | | | smoothly. Loosely braid the lift cords together and |
| the folded panels of the shade when the shade is in | | | | finish with a knot in below the cord.To save yourself |
| the open position. Plan the number of folds, which will | | | | thousands of dollars by learning all the shortcuts, tricks |
| appear in the finished product. This will determine the | | | | and techniques of making your own Roman Shades |
| number of screw eyes required for the lift lines.Tools: | | | | and to subscribe to the free ezine "Creative Window |
| Two groups of tools are needed: Fabric measuring | | | | Treatments" visit and click on the "How to Make a |
| and cutting tools -- a cutting mat, an aluminum rules, a | | | | Roman Shade" link. |