Has anyone tried to make blinds?

Faith_2

I need some blinds to put up at my kitchen window. This window is an unusual size and I was wondering whether it would be possible to make some blinds. I know kits exist but I'm unsure as to where to get them from. In any case it might be possible not to use a kit? Has anyone done this before?

ancasta_2

Ive made Venetian blinds numerous times before and they are very easy to make, i also made some wooden latted blinds but they were very time consuming and awkward to make.

Just google for online patterns and instructions and away you go.

1sttimer_2

What sort of blinds do you want. I've made Austrian blinds which were fairly easy as I have odd sized windows in one room which was quite expensive to match up as I had to buy 2 pairs of odd curtains (I live in an old property).

I will try to explain how I made mine. Measure your window height and width and add an extra 5/8ths for each side seam allowance and and extra 3-4 inches on the length for a fold over at the top + an extra 2" for each fold you want plus the 5/8th seam allowance at the bottom.

My windows are 6'2" long and I have 7 folds. Cut out either 2 pieces the same or 1 patterned and 1 lining. stitch together and then turn inside out and press. Make a hem (open each end) and a tuck for each fold (again open each end) to hold a piece of dowling the width of your curtain. Stitch small curtain rings across each tuck (I have 3 for my width of 3'3"). At the top of the window you need a piece of wood the same width of your blind. Wrap the material round this and fasten to the window top. Put 3 ring hooks to the wood through the material and thread some piping from the 1st tuck through each ring up the length of the blind and across the top through each ring hook and down one side of the window. Do the same for each of the hooks across the blind width. You will need to be able to pull all the piping across together for the blind to lift evenly. Fasten the piping together (knot and then plait). Put a 2 sided hook (cannot remember its proper name) to wrap the piping round at the bottom side of the window.

It may sound fiddly to do but it really wasn't. The thing is to measure up properly and calculate how many folds you need/want. It only took me 2 nights and I have 2 wide and 1 narrow windows in the same room.

They look good and they match my paint choice and best of all - no one has any like them!

Good Luck!

se999

Hi,

I've done the cheats way a few times, and when I've needed cheap blinds got very cheap ones (mostly Ikea recently) and adjusted. You need to check out the fittings etc. to see how easy it is to cut down.

OH's hacksaws are very good for shortening the top poles if metal, normal wood saws on wooden bits. Scissors did the rest

Also made sheer gauze type panels, using screw in eyes for fixings, and sections of thin round metal as the top bars, used wire cutters to cut to length. For the fabric bought cheap ikea plain gauze curtains, and just used as fabric (couldn't find a cheaper source at the time) and sewed up on sewing machine.

OH's tool kit did come in handy

Ruby_Pudding

Try this site:

http://www.alternative-windows.com/index.htm

Might give you a few ideas

spendaholic

I've made Austrian blinds and Roman blinds and I prefer the Roman ones. AND I make them from scratch rather than kits. I don't use rods at the back of my Roman blinds but tape with loops on. You can do it very cheaply or you can get kits.

DSmiffy

i know how to make a roman blind...


Poke him in the eye !!


Sorry , not very helpful I know, but couldn't resist.!!!

Hunnymonster

Faith wrote:

I need some blinds to put up at my kitchen window. This window is an unusual size and I was wondering whether it would be possible to make some blinds. I know kits exist but I'm unsure as to where to get them from. In any case it might be possible not to use a kit? Has anyone done this before?

Certainly made roller blinds in the dim & distant past - including spraying the chosen material with some hideous combination of stiffening chemicals (smelt lovely though lol) and the hard part was to cut the material square.

Since then I've found local blind shops are able to make them pretty much as cheap as I can make them - and much less hassle.

Ruby_Pudding

Does anyone know where I can buy these fairly cheaply? Have only found one place on the web and I'm not sure how reasonable the price is. Would Wilkinson's or similar do them, do you think? I'm not really near any big shops but if I knew a particular store did them I could make a special trip. The ready made roman blinds seem pretty expensive and I'm sure that I could make my own for half the price.

(Oh and has anyone used them to make there own roman blinds? Was it very difficult?)

squeaky

We have a recent thread on blinds so I'll add your query onto it

Ruby_Pudding

Whoops - never thought of doing that, sorry