Shabby Chic; Volume III

Florenceem

Pooky wrote: »

Nearly done! Thanks for asking. Tomorrow I start cladding the lower walls, then skirting and dado to go on. Then it's blinds to go up, some wall units (plate rack, spice shelf etc)a door curtain to make (fabrics sitting waiting) and I want to put one more coat of varnish on the floor for good luck.

Splashed out on a new oak table, was looking for a pine or oak one to shabby up but couldn't find the right size and shape. Can't wait to put it in place.

Looking forward to getting my house back!

Are we going to see photos of the finished kitchen?
I have ages before my house is back to normal.

PinkTiger

I bought some thin dowling(?) from a diy store & cut it to size.

Florenceem

PinkTiger wrote: »

I bought some thin dowling(?) from a diy store & cut it to size.

Bit confused - is wood doweling heavy enough to weight the bottom of blind?

PinkTiger

I used doweling as that's what the book I was using said to use, it was an old book & was probably published before you could buy a special 'kit'. I think that because my window was wide the weight was enough although if going to the diy store anyway you could look at both options & see what you think would work best for you.

pollyskettle

Florenceem wrote: »

Did you make them like the blog link or the way HMO did them please? Or have you got another method?

Sorry, I'm running around like a loon this evening! I make them more hmos way and I use a rod tape rather than rings; I used to sew rod pockets in the lining, but tape is quicker. ((ETA The other blinds I am in the process of making are for the kitchen and I have a garden path outside one of the kitchen windows so I shall probably use my older way and sew pockets in the lining for the rods as the back of the blinds will be visible from outside and it looks neater than tape.))

I used to buy rods from John Lewis, but I can only find plastic ones on there at the moment. The last ones I got were fibreglass, I've never used the plastic ones.

I have 5 blinds on my to do list but I'm only sure of the fabrics for one, so I'm procrastinating until inspiration strikes. I might make that one tomorrow - it's for the bathroom and is beach huts with a navy gingham border.

parkgirl

pollyskettle wrote: »

Sorry, I'm running around like a loon this evening! I make them more hmos way and I use a rod tape rather than rings; I used to sew rod pockets in the lining, but tape is quicker. ((ETA The other blinds I am in the process of making are for the kitchen and I have a garden path outside one of the kitchen windows so I shall probably use my older way and sew pockets in the lining for the rods as the back of the blinds will be visible from outside and it looks neater than tape.))

I used to buy rods from John Lewis, but I can only find plastic ones on there at the moment. The last ones I got were fibreglass, I've never used the plastic ones.

I have 5 blinds on my to do list but I'm only sure of the fabrics for one, so I'm procrastinating until inspiration strikes. I might make that one tomorrow - it's for the bathroom and is beach huts with a navy gingham border.

Would you post your method please? Am well confused!!

hmo

ive made several i use

fabric for the outer

cream blackout lining

sew & stick velcro (stick the sticky one to wooden wall batten use staple gun as extra security) bought my batten cut to size local diy shop

sew other half to top of blind

i used blackout lining to make rod pockets and bought wooden dowel again to cut size by local diy shop to slide inside

I didnt use a weight at all for the bottom

on others ive bought rod tape and very thin rods to go with tape off line but the rod tape is so narrow and some of my blinds were big i struggled to keep tapes straight so i much prefer making my own rod tapes from lining

I sew the rings onto the tapes

pollyskettle

parkgirl wrote: »

Would you post your method please? Am well confused!!

Pretty much the same as hmo has posted:

hmo wrote: »

ive made several i use

fabric for the outer

cream blackout lining <<<I rarely use blackout material - if the main fabric is particularly see-through, I will interline rather than use blackout lining

sew & stick velcro (stick the sticky one to wooden wall batten use staple gun as extra security) bought my batten cut to size local diy shop

sew other half to top of blind

i used blackout lining to make rod pockets and bought wooden dowel again to cut size by local diy shop to slide inside<<<I've never used wooden dowels in a blind, I have used fibre glass rods and once I even used lengths of net curtain wire cut to size as it was an emergency and I needed the blind up 'yesterday'! Worked surprisingly well as it is a good weight for its size and lasted years!

I didnt use a weight at all for the bottom<<<<For narrower blinds I've been known to pop small curtain weights in the corners as it just pulls the last part of the blind down a bit more - it onlymakes a very subtle difference though

on others ive bought rod tape and very thin rods to go with tape off line but the rod tape is so narrow and some of my blinds were big i struggled to keep tapes straight so i much prefer making my own rod tapes from lining

I sew the rings onto the tapes <<<I use the little slots on the top of the tape and don't bother with sewing rings on when using tape - you just have to be careful and line them up correctly.

I shall see if I can find an online tutorial similar to the way I do it as I'm not very good at posting instructions (and it will be far quicker!).

EDIT:

This is probably closest, but I do not cut the blind and the lining the same size iykwim, I like a border of the main fabric on the reverse of the blind - the size of which tends to depend on the width of the blind but never more than 2", more often than not about 1.5" at the sides and then about 3" at the bottom, a bit like this.

Seakay

here are instructions and advice, possible from earlier in this thread but aI can't remember who posted it:


http://uktv.co.uk/home/item/aid/145



"I used the guide on channel 4 and the fabric and lining is from the original normal curtains which were shabby in a bad way! I used a can of starch after washing all fabric on 60 to allow for shrinkage. The bits and bobs cost around £38.00.

I bought the bits and bobs from my local curtain making store. However, I would imagine that you can get them cheaper from ebay. I bought the batons 1 x 2 from B&Q, also the dowelling. Used self adhesive prickly Velcro 1 inch on the batons above the windows. I will also staple gun this, belt and braces. The soft Velcro on the blinds is sew on. Then you need rings and cord.

I have to honest at this stage and say that the man in the shop said that they no longer make roman blinds like this. They use the kits with the bobbly strings now. These are cheap enough from the likes of Terry's fabrics etc. I just wanted to do it the old fashioned way, which as usual is cheaper! HTH's. if I can do it, anyone can."

For more info try putting roman blinds into search this thread at the top of the screen

Nicnax

I'm loving the idea of these roman blinds and have looked at a few tutorials in the past. I would like to make 3 for my bay window, I'm just wondering (sorry if someone has already posted about this) but has anyone made these to go on PVC frames and if so how have you attached them? X