Make Your Own Roller Blinds

Roller Blinds make a practical, easy to use and inexpensive window treatment that is perfect for use in your kitchen or bathrooms.

Since they roll up and down and are typically mounted inside your window recess so they will be as close as possible to the glass, the roller blinds provide ultimate flexibility for controlling light and privacy in your home.

You can also enhance your roller blind window treatment by adding curtains, pelmets, swags, scallops or even a nice valance.

Read on to learn how to make your own roller blinds.

Getting Started on Your Roller Blind Project

While you can purchase pre-manufactured roller blinds online for a very reasonable price, a fun do it yourself home decorating project is to make your own roller blinds!

The easiest way to make your roller blinds is by starting with a kit, which are generally available in widths up to 8 feet (245 cm).

If your window is in between sizes, select the next size up as you can cut it down to size once you fit the brackets. Inside mount is typical, but you can get brackets for either inside or outside mounting. Read our article on How to Measure Your Windows for more details on making correct measurements.

 

Next, you’ll want to choose a fabric for your blind. You can buy most fabrics by the metre (yard in the U.S.) and generally in widths up to 69 inches (175 cm).

You can find most any colour and pattern imaginable in a good specialty shop or online retailer’s cataglogue.

Choose fabrics carefully to match both the theme and decor of your room, as well as the intended use of the room.

Lightweight, colourfast fabrics work best in the kitchen or bath, since they will not bleed or fade with exposure to moisture and also resist molds and mildew.

They can also easily be cleaned with warm soapy water using a rag or sponge!

Another thing to consider is the stiffness of your fabric. If you should decide on a fabric that is not stiff enough, you will have wrinkles and the blinds may not roll up and down properly.

A liquid or spray on stiffening solution should also be applied before cutting the fabric to size. This will stiffen the fabric adequately and keep it from fraying at the edges, which may also save you the time of sewing a hem.

What You Need

• A Roller Blind kit, complete with side pulley mechanism, roller, dowel or batten, cut down as needed to fit your window as measured for mounting either inside or outside your window’s recess
• Enough fabric to fit your window width and drop
• Liquid or spray on fabric stiffener
• Colour-matched thread
• Ruler, set square, pencil and a pair of sharp scissors
• Adhesive tape, double sided. Width should be approximately 1/2" (12 mm)

Where to Get Your Roller Blind Kit

• http://www.merrick-day.com/acatalog/Rotary_Chain_Roller_Blind_Kits.html
• http://www.prettyfrills.co.uk/shop/catalog/Roller_Blind_Kits-27-1.html
• http://www.candh.co.uk/Category-Blind-Kits-BLRMBLKT/
• http://home-garden.listings.ebay.co.uk/

Step by Step Instructions to Make Your Roller Blind

1. Prepare Fabric - Your fabric may need stiffening; do this before cutting fabric as the stiffener may cause it to shrink. To allow for this shrinkage, add about 2 inches (5 cm) to your fabric length and width. Once the fabric is dry, press it well to remove any wrinkles.
2. Mount Brackets - Attach the mounting hardware that came with your kit to the window where you are installing your blind. Remember that the position and measurements must be made according to whether you have selected a kit intended for mounting inside or outside the window recess! It is best to follow the instructions that come with your kit, since each manufacturer’s hardware and mounting instructions will vary.
3. Measure Fabric - The width of your blind fabric will need to be the same as that of your roller, excluding the end caps. For the drop, you want to measure from the position of the roller to your window sill and then add approximately 12 inches (30 cm) excess length in order to allow for fabric to cover the roller when the blind is rolled down. If the blind will be mounted outside your window recess, allow another 2 inches (5 cm). Be sure to allow for scallop or other design patterns you may be using at the bottom of the blind when making your measurements.
4. Cut Fabric - Once you’ve measured, mark your fabric and use your set square to cut everything nice and square!
5. Sew Batten Casing - Lay your cut fabric out on a flat surface, with the back side up. Fold the bottom edge over by about 1 and 1/ 2 inches (3.75 cm) and stitch the edge. You want this casing to be just larger than half the circumference of the dowel or batten. Fit the end cap to the cut end and secure with the pin. Place the roller in the brackets to make sure it fits.
6. Cut and Install Dowel or Batten - Cut the dowel or batten in your kit to size; approximately 3 /4 inch (2 cm) shorter than the width of the blind and slide it into the casing. Slide batten into casing and glue ends. Measure across the casing and mark the centre.
7. Attach the Pulley Cord - Thread your pulley cord through the acorn and knot, and then take the other end and thread through the cord holder and your knot. Then, attach the cord holder to the centre of the casing; again follow the instructions that came with your kit as specific vary. Next, remove the roller from your brackets in order to mark a straight line along the length of the roller. Place it on a flat surface, with the pulley on the correct side.
8. Attach Blind to Roller - Removing the protective strip from your adhesive tape and apply it to the roller along your line and then press the top edge of your blind onto the roller to adhere the blind to the roller.
9. Test Roller Mechanism - Roll your blind onto the roller by hand, then place the roller into the brackets and pull down your new blind for an initial test.
10. Adjust Tension - You will need to roll the blind up and down, repeating this process as needed to adjust the tension properly.

Enjoy your new Roller Blind with the satisfaction of a job well done!