Cheap Thrills

Did you use the ribs or the rings?
Thanks! Great website!
-Ann

Hi Ann-- I wanted nice, neat folds when I raised the shades, so I used the tube tape instead of rings. I didn't want to wait (or pay $$$) for the acrylic shade ribs from the website, so I picked up cheap 3/8" wooden dowels from Home Depot, cut them to length and slipped them inside the shade tape--works just as well.

I am looking for instructions on making roman shades that open from the bottom of the window sil up. I've made numerous roman shades but have yet to find a pattern for this type of shade. Any help out there? Thank you in advance. Kat

I purchased a woven bamboo roman shade 72" long. My window is 48" long. I can't figure out how to space the rings. Some books say the length should be divided by a odd whole no. others not. can anyone help on this. Thx

Thanks so much for posting about this. I'm going to start my Roman shades right away! Is "tube tape" really something you can find at home depot?

Shawna,
I was just looking for a site that gave info for making roman shades & came across this site with direction for making any kind of roman shade. The directions are really easy to understand. Good luck, Doreen

http://terrelldesigns.com/index.htm

Shawna, I just found a Roman Shade pattern from McCall's at JoAnn's that opens from the opposite direction.

I was pleased to see a site I did not have to pay for to get information on Roman Shades. I have 6 windows that range from 30 1/2 to 31 1/2 wide, and 92 long. I need help in making these large shades. I am not a big sewer but love to decorate. I am going to attempt to make these shades. If you have any info please let me know.

Thanks

Sun--ed out in ATL.

Shawna, I just purchased the same pattern that you did. From your picture, it looks like you didn't use the mounting board that the pattern describes. If you didn't, how did you mount your curtains? I'm interested because I love the look of your curtains!

Well I guess I am just lazy, but all I did was take old mini blinds and cut the slats off except for the top then every 10th one.I then hemmed my fabric and used strips of same fabric to make "tape" to cover the slats which I used for ribs and left openings in the "tape for the cords. Magic, instant frames, ribs mounting "board" and all hardware with my own fabric attached...lovely shades.

I am looking for someone who will make a flat roman shade for me if I supply my own material. Does anyone have any recommendations? P.S. I don't want them to look homemade.

I don't call that lazy, but ingenuitive - what a creative, useful way to make a shade!!! I'm real impressed. Thanks for sharing your God-given creativity!

Alison, I think your idea is wonderful, especially for beginners like me. Can you explain in more detail how you attached the fabric to the mini blinds and did you remove every 10 th slat? Is it possible to see a picture of yours? Thanks so much

I'd like to see a photo of the roman shades that open from the bottom and the shades made from the miniblind "skeleton", Thanks.

I would love more information on turning existing mini blinds into roman shades. What a great idea! Has anyone else tried it?

Alison,

If you have a picture could you please email it to me. I have mini blinds that I am ready to throw out but hate to just throw them in a land fill so it would be nice to do something with them.

thanks

Vicky

I love the look of Roman Blinds, but wondering how are they washed?
By the way, would love to know more how Allison (posted on Mr. 31,07)made Roman blinds from existing mini blinds.

To Alison or anyone that may have already gotten this info: I would also love to have the details and, if possible, photos of the roman shades made out of mini-blinds. I am about to attempt to make some for our basement & had no idea how to begin. I am also NOT a seamstress. I don't even own a machine, so I'll either be doing it by hand or bugging a neighbor. Thanks!!!!!

I too, would like to see a picture of the roman shades made from mini blinds and any additional instruction
thanks

I just made a roman shade. I will not roll up flat. Please, can anyone help me.

I would love to learn how to make the roman shades out of old blinds. Can you please forward the information to me?

I need to see a picture of the mini blind trick. Please forward it to me

Allison could you please email me with the picture as well as info on making roman shades out of mini blinds.
Thanks

I am about to make Roman blinds, I have purchased a McCalls pattern 4724 Home Dec in a sec , and you do not use battens or channels or what ever you like to call them. You just sew on the rings and as you pull them up this locks in to the next ring, and so on... But when you have made them you hang them pulled up for 48 hours, then press the seams with your hands, so has any one heard of these

I would like to know if Alison ever sent the picture of the shade made from mini blinds?
Thanks

I would LOVE to see the mini-blind roman shades. ALL of my windows have mini-blinds and I would love to reuse them and make it economical. If anyone could forward the directions and pictures, that would be fantastic. Thanks in advance.

Would you PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE email me the picture and detailed instructions on how to make the roman shades from the mini blinds too? that sounds right up my alley. Please and God bless and thank you in advance,
Susan

Allison your mini blind idea seems to be hit. I have mini blind on the window know an would love to reuse them. Could I get more direction on how to do that?

Thank Teresa

I would like to jump on the bandwagon and ask for the photo and instructions for the mini blind roman shades as well. My mother wants me to help with redecorating her bath and this sounds like the way to go for redoing the existing blinds.

i would also like the instructions and see a picture of the mini blind shade

Did Allison ever post or send information on the miniblind to roman shade? I am getting ready to do the same thing in our basement and would love to know more about how to do it. I almost threw our miniblinds away!
Thanks

Please send me instructions for roman shades as I want to make some for my daughter who just moved into her first house after college.

I was wondering if anyone knew where I could find instructions to line a woven wood roman shade. I just purchased these from Hunter Douglas and desperately need more privacy than what I am getting without a lining.

I'd like to jump on the bandwagon as well! That mini blind/roman shade sounds like a great idea! I need to do something with my bedroom!!!
TIA!

Shawna -- I was wondering, how did you keep your blinds so cheap? I bought some fabric for 7.99 a yard (from Ikea, which only sold it per yard and not fractions of a yard, so I had to buy more than I needed). That was about $32.00. Now I'm looking for liner fabric, which looks to be about $5.99 a yard. Three and half yards of that will be about $20. So we're already up to $25 bucks a shade or so, and I haven't even started looking at hardware. Did you find that the stuff you bought at Home Depot, etc. was cheaper than the stuff advertised on the Make-Roman-Shades.com site? Was there anything--besides using dowel rods for ribs--you found you could substitute or leave out? I'm just going by the word of this lady's pattern that I need all this stuff. Please advise? :) Thanks, Tracy

I would like to see the mini blind shade as well. I am looking to cover my french doors. If possible could you forward me the directions and pics too?

Jessica

I would definitley like to try and make roman shades out of my old mini blinds. Please email pictures and more instructions!
Thanks :)

I want to try making roman shades, but can anyone tell me where I can find the cord lock and cord pulleys that attach to the headrail? I know you can order them off the http://www.make-roman-shades.com, but do you know any stores that might sell them for cheaper?

Thanks!

I'm ready to make roman shades for our custom-sized windows that now have mini blinds...I'd LOVE to have more info on how to make use of the existing blinds!

I have just purchased a pattern to make flat roman shades. I am gong to use the wooden dowel idea - but what about the hardware to mount the shades and the pulley system? Can you get all of that at home depot? Are some better than others? Any input would be greatly appreciated

Thanks!

To Alison or anyone that may have already gotten this info: can you send me the details of making roman shades out of mini-blinds? Also, can anyone tell me how difficult it is to follow the pattern for making the roman shades from scratch as described on the make-roman-shades.com site? I'm not terribly crafty but I do own a sewing machine :)

thanks,
donna

I would love to receive the info on converting mini blinds to the roman shades if anyone out there has it. Such a great idea! Thanks.

I would also love to know how to make roman shades using recycled mini blinds. Living in FL mini blinds just sometimes aren't enough, but if I can recycle them and use roman shades, that's an awesome idea. Please send me the instructions. Thank you--Rose

I would love to have the pictures and information on how to make roman shades/blinds from old mini blinds. Thanks for the interesting idea!!

I am interested in instruction for the mini blind / roman shade. Can anyone who has this email me, please.

I'm also interested in the instruction for the mini blind/ roman shade. Where can I get more information.

Paulette

I would love the instructions on how to make roman shades using existing mini blinds. If any one has info please email me.

Could someone please email me the instructions for the mini blind/roman shade. I am not a strong sewer and roman shades cost so much to have made, this may be an option for me.

Vicki

Ooh, could someone please forward me the roman shades from mini blinds info? That would be super! Thanks so much

steingld@yahoo.com

I've been trying to figure out for myself how to make the mini blind roman shades. . .but I just can't picture it from Alta's instructions. . .did anybody get the instructions/pics mailed to them? I'm new to this blog and am wondering how you make your email available for someone to email you--some of the names have links, others don't . .? thanks!

Hi,

Did anyone ever here from Alta? I sew alot since I was about 5, and I am also very familiar with the mini blinds. I understand what Alta did to make the two work together, however I cannot invision this looking to nice. You see the cords that normally support the slats in the mini blinds are very fine and also double rowed. You wouldhave to thread all of through each ring, opening or whatever she used instead of rings. She would have had to take the mini blinds completely apart from the bottom, remove all the slats in order to thread through so the ROman would work, then figure out where each 10th slat opening was so as to put them back and you can't because the slat needs to b threaded through the tape, so how are you going to put the slat back through? Maybe I am looking at this all wrong... I stand corrected if so. confused

I would love to get full instructions as well as any photos that are availbe to make mini blinds into Roman Shades. I have many mini blinds that I would like to change.
Thanks
kerrieb@cogeco.ca

I want to make roman shades that you can put on a rod, instead of fastening to the wooden batten. I have made shade before but not sure of the technique for the rod. Think I could just make a rod pocket at the top? It's what they call in the stores "magic blinds"

I would love to have the pictures and information on how to make roman shades/blinds from old mini blinds. Thank you.

I would be grateful for pictures and instructions on how to make the roman shades from old mini blinds. Can anyone help. Thanks in advance.

Connie - I'm getting ready to make a rod pocket roman shade as well and am familiar with making shades, but not this way. A friend of mind had some made by Smith+Noble (pricey!) and instead of a mounting board, the screw eyes were attached to the top inside window sill. I suppose you can also put them on a separate mounting board and instal that inside the sill, too. I'll try to post pics of the finished product on my blog. http://www.cokehouse.blogspot.com/

Hi,

I am also looking for the instructions on how to make roman blinds from old mini blinds. I am just learning to sew so, I need help.

I would also like the instructions on converting a mini blind into a roman shade. If anyone has them, please forward!!! Like another person said, I cannot get my head around how you would thread the cords through the fabric tube?

Here's what I think Alta did. She took the miniblind and took off all slats except every 10th one. Then she probably velcroed the fabric to the top of the miniblind,and probably made a pocket that attached behind the fabric to each slat. (Most likely by wrapping around with a snap or velcro.) I think that would work.

I would also love to have info emailed to me about converting blinds to roman shades! Thanks!

I would appreciate if u emailed me instructions for making the roman shades out of mini blinds. It is a great way to reuse. Thanks

I would also like the instructions for making roman shades out of mini blinds. Please.

I would appreciate the instructions for making roman shades from mini blinds. Thanks.

Anyone heard about the instructions yet????
I would love them myself.....<;0)

Would someone please email me the info on how to make roman shades with mini blinds? Thanks a million in advance.

Debbie

Would anyone be able to email me the info on the roman shades from old mini blinds? Much appreciated!

I would love info on how to make roman shade out of mini blinds too. We're trying to update the look in our house and we currently have miniblinds on every window! So this would def make it cheaper I would think. I googled it and can't come up w/ anything so if anyone has info or pix please email me too! :) TIA!
skysmom211@gmail.com

I would also really love the instructions on how to turn mini blinds into roman blinds. if anybody has a tutorial or photos please e-mail them to me at nelliejm@hotmail.com
thanks.

The mini-blind to roman shade idea sounds GREAT! Please, if anyone has the instructions or more information, I'd love to have them. Thanks!! dojo_megalink@hotmail.com

Me, too. I'd like mini-blind trick. pegclarke@cox.net

I love the idea of converting my mini blinds into roman shades, money is very tight these days! If anyone could PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE send me the instructions or details on how to do this I would be very very appreciative. I can sew but this is my first attempt making roman shades and the more economical the better!

Also what is tube tape and mounting board? Bare with me I'm not much of a decorator!

Look what I found! It's a picture tutorial on how to make the roman shades using the old mini blind! I'm so excited! http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/9g48Q6KQikgYPGyIDszoVA
Hit the back arrow on the picasa album to see the first picture of the mini blind being taken apart.

All the roman shades I've ever seen in books, online, shows etc. are always mounted inside the window frame. Can they be mounted outside the window frame? so the shade would cover the both sides of the window. So not to allow in any light at all. Can this be done? So the shade would rest on the window frame or on the dry wall, basically overlap the window about a inch or so. Let me know. Thanks, Diane

I decided to try to figure out how to make roman shades from mini-blinds since I couldn't find instructions online. They turned out great and cost only about $15 per window! The secret is to glue (not sew!) the slats directly to the lining fabric. Here's how I did it:

Measure your fabric and your lining fabric to fit the width and length of the blinds. You will need to add an inch to the measurements to allow for the seams. I made mine to mount on the exterior of the window (halfway overlapping the trim) so that they would block out all the light. If you do an interior mount, you will see vertical cracks of light between the shade and the interior of the window trim.

If you can sew a pillow, you can make these shades. Pin the two pieces together, right-sides facing in, and sew together like you would a pillow, leaving about a ten-inch space un-sewed to reverse the fabric. Snip off the excess fabric at the corners and turn right-side out. Hand stitch the opening closed. Another way to sew it if you hate hand sewing (like me!) is to make it like a pillowcase and sew a hem along the bottom edge of the decorator fabric before you sew the other three sides. The blackout lining does not fray, so it doesn't need hemming. You will leave the bottom of the "pillowcase" open and you can glue it to the bottom rail of the blinds later, instead of sewing it closed.

More...

Next steps...

Press your seams and fabric flat with an iron and lay it out on a table with the lining side facing up. Place the top rail of the blinds at the top of the fabric and release the blinds to extend the bottom rail of the blinds to the bottom of the fabric. You will notice that there are two or three (depending on the size) cords that lift the blinds and several smaller cords that allow the blinds to tilt. You only need the lift cords, not the smaller-gauge tilt strings, so cut those out, without cutting the lift cords.

Next, you will need to cut out the blinds that you don't need for the folds. I placed my folds every 9 inches, so for my 70" long shades, I used 6 slats. You can use more or less depending on how many folds you want. Carefully cut off all the slats you will not use without cutting the lift cords.

Cut a piece of Velcro the length of your blinds minus two inches to allow it to fit in the mounting brackets. Leaving an inch on each side of the rail, attach the Velcro on the top rail of the blinds and to the top of your fabric. I used the adhesive kind of Velcro on the fabric and it worked great, but you might want to try sewing one side to your fabric and sticking the other side to the top rail.

Using a measuring tape, slide your remaining slats along the lift cords so that they are evenly spaced and straight across the fabric where the folds will be and use fabric adhesive (I used Gem-Tac) to glue the slats directly to the outside of the lining fabric (these are now your battens). I temporarily paperclip the ends of the blinds to the fabric to make sure they stay put. Glue the bottom rail to the bottom edge of the fabric (or you could use Velcro). Let the glue dry overnight.

Hang the blind mounting pieces just the way you would for blinds. Hang your new shade in the brackets. Insert the slide-in pieces of the bracket and use an inch of Velcro to attach the fabric to it so that the shade is straight across and the bracket is hidden.

You should "train" your shade to make sure it folds smoothly by helping it into position and leaving it all the way up for a few days so that it wants to fold nicely every time.

And that's it! If you can sew a pillow, you can do it! It's cheap and pretty easy! What do you think?

I love these comments. I had made roman shades in my previous house and they lasted for years and looked great. Now I am looking for instructions on mounting from the bottom up, can anyone help. Thanks.

Claire in Ashville

Can the 2" blinds be used? I love your instructions...
.Really going GREEN. Great to recycle

Pam Bishop is correct , stating that it seems as thought the difficulty is with the removal of the slats, but I think you can make it work by not only backing your fabric, but working out a way that you could sew on an additonal layer and cut and velcro to attach to the slats. I am going to give it a whirl and become creative on my own. I will share the GOOD NEWS hopefully. I hate to toss my 2" blinds and will feel so good recycling, which will be a great incentive for me. I am usually resourceful, and manage to save on many a window treatment that I custom make. I am on my mission now!!!

Pam Bishop is correct , stating that it seems as thought the difficulty is with the removal of the slats, but I think you can make it work by not only backing your fabric, but working out a way that you could sew on an additonal layer and cut and velcro to attach to the slats. I am going to give it a whirl and become creative on my own. I will share the GOOD NEWS hopefully. I hate to toss my 2" blinds and will feel so good recycling, which will be a great incentive for me. I am usually resourceful, and manage to save on many a window treatment that I custom make. I am on my mission now!!!

Pam Bishop is correct , stating that it seems as thought the difficulty is with the removal of the slats, but I think you can make it work by not only backing your fabric, but working out a way that you could sew on an additonal layer and cut and velcro to attach to the slats. I am going to give it a whirl and become creative on my own. I will share the GOOD NEWS hopefully. I hate to toss my 2" blinds and will feel so good recycling, which will be a great incentive for me. I am usually resourceful, and manage to save on many a window treatment that I custom make. I am on my mission now!!!

Pam Bishop is correct , stating that it seems as thought the difficulty is with the removal of the slats, but I think you can make it work by not only backing your fabric, but working out a way that you could sew on an additonal layer and cut and velcro to attach to the slats. I am going to give it a whirl and become creative on my own. I will share the GOOD NEWS hopefully. I hate to toss my 2" blinds and will feel so good recycling, which will be a great incentive for me. I am usually resourceful, and manage to save on many a window treatment that I custom make. I am on my mission now!!!

Your windows look about 30" x 60" so if you're buying fabric that's about $10/yard... seems impossible that with your materials, the total was about $20.00 a window.

I've looked at the supplies from the site you recommended, and that combined without fabric is about $20.00/window if not more because I'll have to account for different sizes.

MINI BLIND CONVERSION:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Roman_Shades_from_cheap_blinds/

can anyone email me the mini blind roman shade instructions
please...kjpurr@yahoo.com thanks

Please send me mini blind roman shade instructions...I'm ready to give it a try.

tx

Please send me mini blind roman shade instructions...I'm ready to give it a try.

tx
Here's my email address: mary.chiu@cowen.com

Hi all. Have been reading your comments and just want to let you know that I found instructions on how to make roman shades. It seems to be pretty easy and judging by the pic they turn out beautiful. For all interested, you may go to http://www.bhg.com/crafts/sewing/projects/roman-shade/. I'm going to try them in my nursery. I'll try to find a way to post pics once they're done.

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