There are different styles of window decoration.Some are used more often, others - less often. But there is a style that is almost universal. This method of window decoration - Roman blinds. The simplicity and versatility of this type of textile won the hearts of people several thousand years ago. When did they appear and how to make Roman blinds with your own hands?
Scheme for making Roman blinds.The first mention of their use in the interior dates back to the times of Ancient Rome. Since then, they have remained virtually unchanged. The design of the Roman blind is based on sails. It is a piece of fabric with horizontal slats fixed in it. These slats are used to control the fabric. Both on the sashes and on the window opening using a cornice. The fabric is raised and lowered using cords threaded through special fasteners. Another advantage of this design is its compactness. The market offers a huge variety of different textures and colors of fabrics that are used to make Roman blinds. This allows them to be used in the interior design of different rooms and different styles. You can order a Roman blind or buy one in any store, but it is much more interesting to make it yourself. The manufacturing process is quite simple, anyone, even a novice seamstress, can handle it. Let's consider how to implement this idea.
What fabric to choose
Types of Roman blinds.can perform two functions, the first is an accent in interior design, the second is that they can protect the house from both sunlight and prying eyes. In the first option, the emphasis is on the pattern and structure of the fabric. If they must also carry a functional load, then it is necessary to use a fabric with a special coating on the back that transmits light to varying degrees. The fabric for a Roman blind should hold its shape well. In addition, this type of cut allows you to fully reveal the beauty of the pattern and texture of the fabric. A Roman blind is a champion in terms of its consumption, so you can use high-quality beautiful fabrics for window decoration that will delight you with their appearance and will not lose their shape. When choosing fabric for curtains, you must also take into account its properties such as the ability to repel dirt and grease. These qualities of the fabric are especially relevant when sewing a Roman blind for a window in the kitchen. Synthetic fabrics have good water- and grease-repellent properties. In addition, they practically do not absorb odors, are easy to wash, dry quickly and almost do not lose color and shape even after a large number of washes. Return to contents</a>
How to make a Roman blind
Table for calculating the folds of Roman blinds depending on the length. The cut of a Roman blind is extremely simple. It is a rectangle, the dimensions of which are determined by the type of fastening. There can be two of them:
We calculate the number and width of folds. If the length of the curtain is less than 2 m, then their number is usually seven. The width of the fold is calculated by the formula: (length of the curtain - 10 cm) / number of folds.
Scheme of the lifting mechanism for Roman blinds. In order to make a Roman blind yourself, you will need the following materials:
- the basic fabric;
- lining (this can be contrasting in color or the main tissue);
- Velcro (the length is the same as the width of the curtain);
- strap for weighting;
- bar for attaching curtains;
- plastic rings;
- cord;
- Small sticks, coinciding in length with the width of the curtain.
The sticks will serve as a kind of stiffening ribs for the entire structure. Return to contents</a>
Where to start cutting
Open control system for Roman blinds.From the main and lining fabric, cut out two rectangles according to the dimensions, taking into account seam allowances. It is necessary to allow for a pocket at the bottom for the weighting strip. Fold the fabric with the right side inward and sew along the sides and bottom edge. Turn the resulting bag right side out. To ensure that the edges of the do-it-yourself Roman blind are clearly defined, stitch along the edge of the fabric from the right side. Fold the bottom side to the width of the weighting strip and stitch. From the lining side, mark the location of the pockets for the slats. To make them, you can use fabric or narrow curtain tape. Sew strips along the lines marked on the wrong side, the length of which is equal to the width of the Roman blind. Insert the strips into the resulting pockets. In addition to wooden or bamboo strips, you can use corset inserts sold in stores to shape the folds. This material is especially convenient when making Roman blinds from thin, translucent fabrics. Sew plastic rings to the resulting pockets. The number of rings per rail depends on the width of the fabric itself and the rigidity of the material from which the strips are made. If the fabric is no more than a meter wide, then three are enough. With a greater width of the Roman blind, we calculate so that in the raised state equal horizontal folds are formed without sagging. Return to the table of contents</a>
Production of cornices
Diagram of the structure of a Roman cornice.In the case where the fastening is carried out in close proximity to the glass, the cornice should not be bulky and heavy. It can be a narrow strip, which can be fixed with small corners or using double-sided tape. If the Roman blind needs to be attached to the wall, then to make the cornice, we use a wooden block of approximately 2.5-3 cm in size. You can hang the curtain fabric on a regular cornice (ceiling, wall), but the closer the fabric fits to the glass or window opening, the better it looks. Let's consider the option of making a cornice outside the window opening. Using a glue gun or furniture stapler, we cover the block with fabric. You can use either the fabric from which the curtains are sewn, or another fabric that matches the color or contrasts depending on the design you have in mind. We close the resulting seam under the Velcro, which we attach using a glue gun. We attach the curtain to the cornice with our own hands and mark the places where we will attach the rings for the cord. There should be 1 more on the cornice. The additional ring will serve to pull all the cords into it and form a bundle, with the help of which the rise of the fabric will be adjusted. Depending on the wall material, we select the mechanism. We sew the second part of the Velcro to the upper edge of the fabric from the wrong side. We thread the cords into the plastic rings. The size of the cord is calculated using the formula length × 2 + width of the curtain. We thread the cords into each row of rings, starting from the bottom row. At the top of the curtain on the cornice, we pass each cord through all the rings to one side, where the length will be adjusted. At this point, all the cords need to be connected to each other using a knot. In the future, all the cords can be made into either a beautiful bundle or braided. On this bundle, you can provide rings in advance for fixing the fabric with your own hands in the desired position. A hook must be attached to the wall on the side where the harness is located. It can be used to attach the harness, which regulates the height of the fabric, in a certain position. After the Roman blind is made with your own hands, fix it on the cornice, spray it with water. Fix the folds in the position you like and let the blind dry in this position. The fabric will take the desired shape and will hold it for a long time. This procedure must be repeated after each wash. The process of making a Roman blind with your own hands is not difficult. You only need to adhere to the recommended width of the folds, check whether a sufficient number of rows of rings are sewn horizontally to avoid sagging and sagging of the fold, which can lead to the fact that the fabric will look sloppy. Of course, accuracy is of great importance when doing the work. Try to do the work according to the instructions, and you will succeed. And then teach your friends with your own hands.
