Learn how to make a stylish and tailored looking DIY Roman shade with this simple sewing tutorial. New window treatments are a great way to add function and beauty to your space. Plus, it’s just so much more exciting when you make them yourself! And making new Roman shades is a great DIY project for a new sewer, since it involves only straight lines. Come learn how to sew your own beautiful Roman shades with just a little bit of time and effort.

Disclosure: The fabric used in this project was provided to me for free by OnlineFabricStore.net. This post originally appeared in 2016 and has since been updated. And, this post contains affiliate links. When you purchase an item via these links, I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Learning how to make window coverings yourself is a MUST if you want to add some personal DIY pizzazz to your home on a budget. You can add a pop of pattern or colour that infuses your space with YOU, for far less money than buying window coverings from a retail outlet! I’ve shared lots of fun DIY window covering tutorials on my blog like no-sew fabric covered blinds, gorgeous lined drapes, grommet topped drapes, and super easy drapes. Today, let me share one of my favourite window coverings to DIY: a Roman shade.

How hard is it to make your own Roman shades?

It’s not hard at all! Roman shades always look so lovely and tailored, but that doesn’t mean they are hard to make. I made this pretty little Roman shade for our guest cottage kitchen which you can tour right here, and I think it was a great little DIY that anyone with a sewing machine can make. They’re the perfect sort of window covering for a narrow window, a window where you want some privacy, or a window where you don’t want a drape that hangs to the floor.  They are great for windows over the sink in a kitchen, a bathroom window, or a laundry room window too!

NOTE: This is NOT a good option for windows that a small child can access, because of the string. If you have small and curious children around, please use cordless fabric shades or cordless Roman shades. And, if you’d rather not sew and hot glue or fabric glue is more your style, you might like these no-sew fabric covered shades that I posted about previously. If you DO want a fabulous sewing project and you like the look of Roman shades, you should definitely try this one out! The pleats and drape of this Roman shade make it look fancy and it’s really quite a simple sewing project.

JUMP TO THE PRINTABLE INSTRUCTIONS

What is the best material to use to make Roman shades?

What you should look for is something light and easy to work with. You are not attempting a blackout blind with this DIY, just something decorative. So don’t choose a heavy material, and the colour doesn’t matter either! Go as light and pretty as you want. I have made a couple of these shades. The first was made from this gorgeous large-scale black and white plaid fabric from OnlineFabricStore.net. I absolutely adore it! I’m tempted to get it in a couple of other colours too. (Check out the coordinating toile I also found at OnlineFabricStore.net in the guest cottage bedroom here). This is one of my absolute favourite places to get fabric online. Their fabrics are beautiful and trendy, and I always love their superb customer service!

How to make custom Roman blinds?

If you’re wondering if I’m ever going to get to the how-to of these pretty Roman blinds, wait no longer. Here is the materials list and an explanation for how I made this gorgeous floral printed Roman shade with a step-by-step guide!

Watch this YouTube video below to see how to make a DIY roman shade:

Materials:

• 2 yards of your choice of fabric. I recommend a decorative fabric that is light and easy to work with
• 4 wood dowels that are 1/4″ in diameter and are as wide as you want your shade
• A 1 x 2″ piece of wood that’s as wide as you want your shade (if you want to paint this white like I did or another colour to make it blend in with your walls or window frame, paint it first!)
• 2 brackets to mount the shade to the wall (unless you want to mount your shade inside your window frame, in which case these brackets won’t be necessary)
• Screws for wall mounting
• 2 eye screws (sometimes called an eye hook)
• Thin nylon string (macrame cord works too)
• 8 small plastic shade rings

What equipment do I need to make a Roman blind?

You really don’t need much for this little project! The tools you need to have on hand are:

• Wood staple gun
• Sewing machine
• Needle & thread
• Screwdriver (if you are using the mounting brackets)

Instructions:

1. Measure the size of your window

The most accurate way to do this is to take a tape measure and write down the height and width of the window. This is where you need to decide if you want to use an outside mount or inside mount for your Roman shade, because it will affect your width measurement!

2. Cut your fabric

Then, it’s time to make your fabric the right size for your project. First, measure so that you have enough fabric for 2 inches wider than you want your shade to be and 7 inches longer, and cut away the extra fabric. Remember that you want your shade to completely cover the top edge of your window (and even a bit more) when it’s fully let down. I used Premier Prints Anderson Black fabric from OnlineFabricStore.net. I think it is an absolutely amazing fabric that was perfect for this project.

3. Sew the seams

Create your seam allowance by pressing the sides and bottom of the shade over 1/2″ to the wrong side. Fold another 1/2″ and press again. Then, sew these hems down with a sewing machine. Make sure to leave the two ends of the bottom hem open so that you can slide a dowel through it later.

4. Make the dowel pockets

Now it’s time to make the dowel pockets. If you’re wondering, “how far apart should dowels be for Roman shades?”, I’m about to tell you! Subtract 3″ from the remaining height of your fabric (for stapling your blind to your piece of wood later on) and divide that by 4. The resulting number will be how far apart you want each dowel casing. Mine ended up being 13″ apart. Start measuring from the bottom and mark where your dowel casings will be with a pin. You can also draw a pencil line with a ruler.  Just make sure you mark the exact spots so your dowels are the right distance apart when your custom shades are done.

5. Sew the horizontal lines

Now you’re ready to sew the horizontal lines for the dowel casings! Fold your blind right sides together at each mark and pin. I confess, I’m a bit of a rebel when it comes to pinning and I didn’t do it for this step. However, if you’re a new sewer I recommend always pinning your lines because it will really help you make sure you sew the right place! For this step, you want to sew a 1/2″ seam at each mark and then insert a dowel into each casing you’ve created.

6. Adding the blind rings

Next, hand sew the small blind rings onto the blind. Sew one on each side of each dowel casing, about 3″ from each end. In this step, you are creating your mini-blind mechanism for raising and lowering the shade.

7. Prepare the wooden hanger

If you plan to do an outside mount for your shade, screw on your brackets about 1″ from each end. If you want to mount your shade inside your window frame, leave out this part! But whether you are doing an inside or outside mount, you will need to screw in the eye screws about 3″ from each end as shown. Don’t worry about the screw holes, everything will be covered by the fabric in the end!

8. Secure fabric to the wooden hanger

Next, staple the fabric blind to the piece of wood by wrapping the fabric piece around the thick side of the wood and onto the thin side as shown.

9. Attach the string

Finally, it’s time to tie on the nylon string that will pull the blind up and down. Use the photo above as a guide, and tie one end of the string onto the bottom right ring. Thread it upwards and through each ring above, through the right eye screw, through the left eye screw, and down through all of the remaining rings on the left. Leave at least 6″ of extra string and cut off the rest.

10. Continue stringing the blind

Now for the left side, tie one end of the string to the bottom left ring, thread it up and through each ring above, through and over the top left eye screw, and then back down through all of the rings on the left again. Leave some extra string and cut off the rest. Make sure to use good, solid square knots when tying the string so that it doesn’t come loose.

11. Mount the blind to the window

At this time you can mount your Roman shade above your window using the brackets if you are mounting on the outside, or just by screwing it directly into the window frame if you are doing an inside mount style.

12. Install a hook to keep the shade in position

Install a hook or screw at the bottom side of your window to hold the extra string and wrap the string around it to keep the shade in the desired position.

That’s it, you’re done!

I hope you enjoyed this roman shade tutorial, and have used it to create your own custom window treatment that you can be very proud of! I would love to see your choice of fabric and what room you decided to make a window shade for. Tag me @thediymommy with your before and after window pics!

Doesn’t that look so chic?!

Make sure to check out all of the other rooms in our guest cottage to see where else we put this fabric:

Let’s make it!

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