Remember my friend Camille’s cute kitchen, she painted the bottom cabinets black and her fridge with stainless paint, etc.. And then she added the cute basket light. Well now she has finished the window treatment and… I. LOVE.
Listen to how she did it….and she wants me to stress there is “not a stitch in the thing!”..Even though she is an accomplished seamstress and could totally make a real roman shade with all of the hardware and everything, she is also a busy mom and teacher so we can appreciate this route can’t we..
Directions:
- Buy a pre-made roman shade (white or khaki maybe) from Lowe’s, JCP, wherever you can find one cheap that somewhat fits your window.
- Cut the fabric two inches wider and 8 inches longer than the pre-made roman shade (this one is from Lowe’s-$20).
- Hem the sides of the fabric (1 inch on each side) using Heat ‘ Bond iron on hem tape.
- Next, starting at the bottom of the shade, fold the bottom edge under the shade and hot glue in place (later you can hide the raw edge by hot gluing on some grosgrain ribbon).
- Then, working UP the shade, hot glue the sides of the fabric to the shade. You’ll need to also glue under and over each of the “ribs” in the shade so that you can see them clearly once you’ve finished (you know, the wooden dowels that the string pulls on to raise and lower it).
- Once you get to the top, fold the upper edge of the fabric around to the back side and glue down (again, you can finishe it off with grosgrain ribbon IF anyone will see the back. If not, don’t sweat it). And voila! A no sew custom window shade!
Thanks for sharing Camille..this is a great idea to simply cover a pre-made shade..instant lining and the structure/base for whatever wonderful fabric you want to add to a room!
If you have any questions for her, be sure and ask in the comments.
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11 Comments
Comment by LLH Designs — May 7, 2010 @ 3:18 pm
No WAY! I have GOT to do this! Now if I could just settle on the fabric. Help, Holly!
Comment by Holly — May 7, 2010 @ 3:51 pm
I asked Camille how much fabric she thinks this project might require and this is her reply:
I used a 31″ shade and cut it so that it was only about 24 inches long ( over a kitchen window I didn’t need to be any longer and I knew I wouldn’t be lowering it), so a yard would be plenty. A great way to make a big impact with just a little expensive fabric.
just fyi…
Comment by Kelly@TearingUpHouses — May 7, 2010 @ 8:16 pm
I love the clean look and the smart fabric. And that light fixture is fabulous, too!
Kelly
Comment by rae — May 7, 2010 @ 8:35 pm
aha! i have a curtain panel in the little kid’s room that is begging to be turned into a roman shade. i bought all the materials to get it done but then realized that i have no idea what i am doing…. this is the perfect solution!!! thanks for sharing
amen for simplicity!
Comment by Sarah — May 8, 2010 @ 10:39 am
I have been wanting to do roman shades in my boys bedroom so I love this idea. I noticed that her roman shade is not mounted inside the frame of the window. How did she mount it?
Comment by Lisa — May 8, 2010 @ 3:22 pm
I’m SO excited!! Last summer I bought 3 Roman shades on clearance at Lowe’s–5 bucks each!!!!!! Got them home and stuck them in the basement, then pulled them out a month later and realized they were too gold for me! I was just thinking about them this week and how I need to sell them on Craig’s list! But NOOOO!!!! I’m going out to find the perfect fabric this week!!! Although I am a seamstress myself and hot glue just sounds…..like my mother would scold me!!This is a great project! Thanks for posting!
Comment by Camille — May 9, 2010 @ 12:54 pm
Sarah, in keeping with the whole “hack and sew” nature of this project (think: mistreatments) I didn’t use the hardware that came with the shade. That would have been too much work.
I just drilled two pilot holes (one on each side of the mounting board) and screwed it right into the window frame. It took me less than three minutes to do it. Lisa, your comment cracked me up-my mom would scold me, too. I’d love to know how your projects turned out, ladies, and what type of fabric you chose! Good luck! You can do this!!!
Comment by Heather — May 10, 2010 @ 7:36 am
Hi, I love the shade! I am confused about one part of the directions…do you glue the fabric up the side under, or over the rods? Or do you alternate? The way it was worded- under and over, suggests you alternate, but I wanted to be sure.
Thanks!
Heather
Comment by Camille — May 10, 2010 @ 9:11 am
Sorry that was confusing, Heather. The only part of the fabric that goes under the shade is at the top and bottom. The sides, which are “hemmed” before you start gluing it to the shade, are just glued on top. Does that clear it up?
Comment by Camille — May 10, 2010 @ 9:51 am
Heather, I just realized you might be talking about the “ribs” that make the horizontal pleats in the shade when you pull it up. If so, glue them all the way around them, both over and under, so that you still see the horizontal pleats when you raise it. I may me confusing you more than helping you!
Comment by mary — June 10, 2010 @ 11:19 pm
could you explain again about glueing up and over the ribs. maybe you could draw a picture. thanks
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