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.