MAKING BLINDS
BLIND ROMAN
BLINDS
Cut the main
fabric and lining to the size of the finished blind, plus 5cm heading
allowance. If you want a decorative border, perhaps in a plain color if the
curtain fabric is patterned, make up a strip of straight- or bias- cut binding,
long enough to bind the sides and lower edge of the blind. You will also need a
length of fine wooden doweling for each fold of the blind, the same width as
the finished blind, and curtain rings and cords to draw the blind up. Space the
cords up to 60 cm apart, and buy enough curtain rings to hold each cord to each
dowel casing.
Turn under and press a 1 cm turning down each long edge of
binding, and fold the binding in half. Position the blinding around the sides
and lower edge of the main fabric with right sides together and the raw edge of
the binding 4cm from the edge of the fabric. Stitch in place, leaving an
allowance for mitering at the corners. Press bindings away from the blind.
Position the lining on the main fabric, wrong sides facing. Mark and stitch
casings through both layers of fabric across the blind, spacing them evenly up
the blind.
The lowest casing should be the depth of the fold plus the j 3 4
border from the finished edge of the blind. Stitch from one folded edge of the
binding to the other. Then slip the dowels into the casings and fold the
binding over the edge of both layers of fabric. Slip stitch is the free folded
edge to the lining, enclosing the end of the dowel and forming neat miter at
the corners. Stitch rings to the back of each casing, at the point where the
cords cross them, and fit the blind as before.
WINDOW DRESSING
MAKING GATHERED BLINDS
Austrian blinds
borrow many of their construction details from curtains. Special tracks are
available, together with tapes and cords in kit form. The blind is drawn up in
the same way as a Roman blind. Since the heading is gathered, the width
measurement of the fabric is not critical, bur allow plenty of fullness for an extravagant effect.
Lining add luxury, and a piped frill gives a delicate finish. Festoon blinds
are usually unlined and may be made with similar kits, but the blind shown here
is a variation on a more traditional method. Ribbon or decorative cord is
threaded through casings in the blind to gather it up, with the usual cords
held by rings at the back of the blind.
LINED AUSTRIAN
BLINDS For a lined Austrian blind, allow at least 10 times fullness for both
fabric and lining. Cut the main fabric, so that it is at least 4cm wider than
the lining. If you have to join two widths of fabric, cut one width in half length ways and join the shelve edges to the main panel of fabric to avoid
positioning a seam down the center of the blind. The length of fabric for the
blind should be the length of the finished blind plus 12 mm seam allowance at
the lower edge and 2 cm at the top edge. Cut the lining fabric 2 cm shorter
than the main fabric.
