How To Make Roman Shades

How To Make Roman Shades

That’s just bananas! I think my price before fabric was closer to  $5 for each window. My fabric was about $9 a yard, so it was about $25-30 per window. Your price will vary, depending on how expensive your fabric is.

How To Make Roman Shades

Here’s what you’ll need for this project. 

1. Fabric. Measure your windows first, then find the fabric you want for your project. Make sure it’s a thick upholstery fabric. I didn’t line my shades, but you could if you feel like the sun will fade your fabric. We change décor so often, that I didn’t worry about it. I’ve had my shades up for 1 1/2 years and I haven’t noticed any fading. 
2. Dowels. How many you’ll need will depend on the size of your window. We needed 3 dowels per window. 
3. 1 1″ x 1″ board. We used this board to anchor the shade into the top of the window. 
4. Thread for sewing your drapes.
5. String. I found mine in JoAnn’s. It was specifically for drapes. 
6. Cleats. I used one cleat per window to secure the string when the shades were pulled up. 
7. Eye hooks. The kind with a screw on the end. I also found these at JoAnn’s
8. Measuring Tape
9. Sewing machine
10. Drill
11. Air compressor with nail gun attachment.
12. Miter Saw, to cut the dowels and boards. 
13. Scissors

• Start by measuring your window. Measure the width and length and add 1 inch for a seam allowance on the width. Add an additional 5 inches to the length (3 inches per dowel, and 2 inches to wrap around the 1 inch block at the top.) 

•  We used 3 dowels and 1 thin 1″ x 1″ square board per window. We cut them 1/2 an inch shorter than the width of the window.  

•  Now it’s time to measure and cut your fabric. Remember the measurements you started with. Iron your fabric so that it’s perfectly straight when you sew. I folded it, ironed it, pinned it, then sewed it on sides first. The top of the shade doesn’t need to be sewn because it will be wrapped around the thin square board and nailed into the top of your window. 

• After the width edges are sewn, it’s time to make pockets for the dowels. The dowels weigh down the fabric so it will fold nicely when you pull it up. Since we only used 3 dowels (you can use more if your window is longer, or if you want to) we divided the length of fabric into thirds leaving an extra 2 inches on the top section to wrap around the board that will be nailed into the top of the window.)  Then we pinned it and sewed 3 1″ pockets for the dowels to slide into.  

• After the wooden dowels were in their slips, we used eye hooks with screws and screwed them into each dowel on each side of the shade.

•  If you’re having a hard time screwing the eye hooks in, then you can use a drill bit to start a little pilot hole in the dowel to help guide it in.  

• Make sure your curtains are the right length before you wrap the extra 2 inches of fabric around the wooden square at the top of the curtain. Then drill in the eye hooks at the top too.

• Now, before you hang your shade you have to string it. I found the string in JoAnn’s near the roman shade kit area. Start by tying a knot at the bottom of your shade on each side, using two strings,

• Now pull the string up from both sides of the shade, through each eye hole. On string should cross the top of the shade and the two strings should meet on one of the sides at the top. 

• Cut your string once you have it at the length you need it to be to reach it and tie off the end. 

• Screw a cleat into the windowsill. Use the cleat to wrap the string around when you want your shades up!