Step-by-step instructions for making roller blinds with your own hands

In a small room it can be difficult to find the optimal solution when decorating a window opening. Agree that bulky drapes or floor-length curtains will visually overload such a room and interfere with the arrangement of furniture. In a kitchen where the window is located close to the gas stove, this is simply dangerous. The problem will be solved if you use roller blinds, which you can make yourself.

And we will tell you in detail how to do this in our article. Let's look at the design features, talk about choosing the material that is suitable for sewing roller blinds with your own hands, and step-by-step instructions with visual photos will help with this.

Differences between roller blinds and Roman blinds

In appearance, Roman blinds are practically indistinguishable from roller blinds. The only difference is in the mechanism for lifting the canvas. In Roman blinds, the fabric is folded, and roller blinds are rolled up and secured with garter tapes. This opening mechanism, with twisting and fixation with garters, is distinguished by its simple and reliable design.

Roman blinds are pleated

Advantages of roller blinds

The popularity of roller blinds is due to their many advantages. The following can be distinguished from them:

It is possible to use such roller blinds as an independent element of window design or as an addition to existing curtains. This significantly expands the scope for creativity, which allows you to realize your wildest design ideas by decorating the room to your liking.
Roller blinds, due to their functionality, simplicity of design and attractive appearance, have today almost completely replaced the blinds that were popular in the past. This design option is ideal for plastic windows, and due to its versatility it can be used in classic and modern interior design styles.
It is possible to use roller blinds with plastic double-glazed windows and wooden windows. It is possible to design windows with high quality, regardless of their material, shape and design.
Roller blinds that are correctly sized and installed with high quality will fit tightly to the windows, which solves the problem of curious glances from passers-by. In particular, such roller blinds will be relevant for owners of private cottages and residents of the first floors of high-rise buildings.
The design of the curtains allows you to completely darken the room or reduce the intensity of the bright sun. It is possible to choose a canvas with different light transmittance characteristics, which will solve the problem of room lighting during daylight hours.
Such designs are distinguished by durability, quality and wear resistance.
Throughout their entire service life, such roller blinds retain all their functionality.
The variety of options available allows you to choose them both to match the characteristics of specific windows and the style of room design.
It is possible to independently produce such roller blinds, which allows you to save on window decoration.

Selecting the required material

The quality of self-made roller blinds depends largely on how well the fabric for their manufacture is selected. In this case, it is recommended to give preference to durable materials that have antibacterial, antistatic and dirt-repellent impregnations. A roller blind made from high-quality material will be attractive and easy to care for. If in the recent past natural fabrics were the most popular, today high-quality synthetics have appeared, which are environmentally friendly and in their material performance characteristics and appearance are in no way inferior to natural fabrics. At the same time, synthetic fabrics are resistant to fading in the sun, they are easy to care for and are durable.

When choosing a fabric, you need to take into account the manufacturer’s recommendations for using such fabric. You should find out if it is washable and if dry cleaning is possible in the future. Bright colors tend to fade in the sun, so this roll should be double-sided, with the outer side made of durable and UV-resistant material.

Fabric selection

Since fabric is the main material in the manufacture of curtains and the main element of window decor, special attention must be paid to its selection. In this case, it is worth considering several important factors at once: texture, composition, light transmission.

Related article: Painting walls with your own hands (instructions with photos)

If there is no one nearby who can tell you how to make blinds with your own hands and what fabrics are required for this, the following recommendations will help:

For this type of curtains, choose dense materials. They hold their shape beautifully, and you don’t have to double-stitch the fabric to achieve the required degree of opacity.
The weight of the fabric should not be heavy; do not forget that it is intended for a hanging structure.
It is worth asking whether the selected material has the properties to reflect light.
Some manufacturers impregnate the fabric with antibacterial impregnation.
If the balcony windows face the east side, it is better to select material for the curtains with a woven pattern - under the influence of direct rays, the printed one fades faster.

If the balcony is on the sunny side, it is better to choose a thicker fabric

Blinds made of light fabric with a small accordion are an ideal solution for the north side

If the balcony is part of the kitchen, you can use a rubber-based cleaning cloth

Special markings will help you understand the degree of light resistance of the fabric. Dim-out materials create diffused light; black-out fabric does not transmit light at all.

We take the necessary measurements

Take measurements of the existing window opening or glass measurements if the roller blinds will be attached to the frame. This will allow you to correctly cut the woven fabric, which will fully match the size of the existing windows. The width of the curtains is 2-4 centimeters larger than the existing width of the opening. The length is approximately 10-15 centimeters longer than the opening.

Cutting fabric for roller blinds

Cutting the canvas does not present any difficulty. It is best to carry out such work with special sewing scissors, having previously made the appropriate chalk marks on the fabric. Be careful when cutting the fabric, which will ensure an attractive appearance of roller blinds.

Roller blinds are made double-sided from decorative facing fabric, as well as material that is resistant to ultraviolet radiation. It will be necessary to sew a double-sided fabric, which can be done either by hand or with a sewing machine. If possible, we recommend that you use a sewing machine, which will simplify sewing the fabric, while at the same time ensuring a neat and attractive appearance of the resulting stitches.

If you need to make such a canvas for large windows, you will invariably need to sew together several pieces of material. Make sure that such a seam falls on the binding of the frame, which will subsequently make it almost invisible.

The curtains can be attached to the cornice of a double-glazed window or to a special bar that is inserted into the window frame. In each specific case, depending on the chosen mounting method, the curtain manufacturing technology will vary.

If roller blinds will be attached to a cornice, do the following:

The curtain has two pockets, the first is for the fastening rod at the top, and the second is for the weighting strip at the bottom. Such a weighting strip can be made of a metal rod or wood. It is best to make them from wooden blocks, which will avoid sagging of the canvas, while reducing the load on the fastening mechanisms. Subsequently, if you need to change such a weight, you will need to remove the fabric from the fastening, embroider one of the sides and replace such a weight with a lighter or heavier one.

Leave a pocket for the barbell
Having secured the weights, it is necessary to iron the canvas, after which the curtain is wrapped around the top rod and the material is secured with a stapler or stitched with several lines.
At the bottom of the canvas, hook-rings are sewn , which will be required to attach the lifting mechanism. You can make such rings from various lace elements or original fringe.
into the window opening at the top and sides , which are necessary for simplified fastening of the mechanism. To fix such hooks, you will need to drill a double-glazed window, for which it is recommended to use a drill with a small-diameter drill, and then carefully screw in the screws.
Next you will need two laces. One cord is approximately three lengths of the roller blind, and the second is three lengths of the fabric, plus one width of the curtain.
We tie the first cord of the control mechanism to the upper hook, after which it must be passed through the lower part of the roller blind.
The second cord is attached in the same way, but it is passed through both rings attached to the bottom of the curtain fabric.
All that remains is to collect the two cords together, tying them firmly.

Today, curtains that are attached to a wooden beam that is fixed to the frame and into the existing window opening are popular.

Such timber can be made independently from lumber. To add aesthetics, it should be wrapped in fabric, and a piece of adhesive tape should be sewn or stapled at the bottom.
The curtain fabric has a pocket for cargo. On top, the second half of the canvas is sewn to Velcro tape.
It is recommended to separately cut out fastening strips, which can be made from decorative cord. The total length of such a fastening tape will be equal to two lengths of the canvas.
The beam with the canvas is attached to the window, after which two fastening tapes are passed through the sides of the canvas.

Features of assembling drapery with decor

Roller blinds can be decorated with a figured cut along the bottom of the canvas.

Curtains with a decorative shape are sewn in the same way as simple ones, but the weight strip is located above the figured element, the drawstring is placed immediately after it

The curtains are cut as in the first case, but for decoration, another 25 cm is added to the length. To cut out the figured edge, you need to prepare a template from paper. If the fabric is double, then the fabric is folded with the right sides facing each other and chipped.

The template is applied to the bottom edge of the curtain and outlined with chalk. The curtains are sewn down according to the applied pattern, the side seams are sewn up. The curtain is turned to the right side, the seams are ironed. The top edge is folded inward, secured with an iron and a stitch is laid.

Next you need to stitch the drawstring on the side that will face the glass. To do this, you need to prepare in advance a piece of material equal to the width of the curtain. The width of the segment should be such that the weighting material can fit in, plus the hem for the seams.

First you need to process the side cuts, and then place it face down and stitch. Then you need to apply a weighting agent, wrap the drawstring around it, mark where the second seam will go, and remove the weighting agent. Pin the second edge of the drawstring to the curtain fabric and stitch it.

Roller blinds

Intermediate options between Roman and roller blinds are also popular today. They are made in the form of a lifting curtain, which does not have rods or weights. When such curtains are raised, large folds of irregular shape are formed, which adds attractiveness and originality to this window design. Such a lifting curtain is made of dense, heavy decorative fabric, and its lifting design is actually similar to a roller blind without the use of weights and wooden blocks.

This type of lifting roller blind is made using standard technology. A fabric is sewn that is 15 centimeters in width and length greater than the dimensions of the existing window. Two or three brass rings are sewn along the perimeter on each side, through which decorative cords and garters are threaded, used to lift the curtains. This canvas is attached to the cornice, which is approximately 30 centimeters wider than the existing width of the window. The lifting mechanism is carried out on laces, identical to the classic roller blind, which is attached to the cornice.

What you need for work

To work you need to purchase/stock:

threads, needles;
iron (you will need it to smooth the fabric);
screwdriver;
screwdriver;
stapler;
dimity;
wooden block 25x35 millimeters (it should not be shorter than the width of the window opening);
tube (both metal and plastic are suitable);
fastening elements: self-tapping screws;
two pieces of hooks and rings (diameter about fifty millimeters);
ribbons/laces;
wall hook.

You need to stock up on a lot of materials

We produce roller blinds for plastic double-glazed windows

Many homeowners are faced with the need to install roller blinds for plastic windows. Naturally, no one wants to drill a double-glazed window. If there are such holes in the frame, we simply lose the warranty on the double-glazed window, and the window itself may become completely unusable. The solution to this problem will be the use of roller blinds of a special design, which can be installed on plastic frames without drilling the profile.

The canvas, which is attached to the window frame, is made double-sided with several lines of stitching. The lower weighting material, which is attached to the pocket of the canvas, is recommended to be made of wood. The top is secured using adhesive tape. You can buy this adhesive tape at most hardware stores. It is durable and easy to use.

If you have any difficulties making roller blinds with your own hands, you can easily find on the Internet various thematic videos that show in as much detail, step by step, the process of manufacturing such structures, which will allow you to decorate windows, glazed balconies and loggias in an original way.

Conclusion

Making roller blinds yourself is not difficult at all. Anyone can cope with this kind of work, even those who have a vague idea about performing repairs and manufacturing interior elements. At the same time, by making such roller blinds yourself, you can choose their sizes to fit the existing window dimensions. It is possible to create such decorative elements that fully correspond to a specific interior design. All this will allow you to decorate your home harmoniously, attractively and stylishly.

Types of lifting mechanisms

The lifting mechanism is an important component of the roller blind design.

Outdoor roller blinds are opened and rolled up either manually or using a special electric mechanism.

The following options are available:

Chain system. The canvas is lifted using a rope, chain or cord. The rope is thrown over the drum and then attached to the bottom of the canvas. When the cord is pulled, the roller begins to rotate, raising or lowering the blinds. In order to fix the curtain in a certain position, use clips, garters or other holders. Such designs are valued for their affordable cost and long service life - very reliable systems.
Spring. Such a system can be installed both from above and below, and can be attached to both sides. When attached from the side, you can use fabric with varying degrees of light transmission and the result is a very functional “day-night” design. The function of the chain can be handled by a handle installed on the lower plumb line. In general, the design is convenient, the main drawback is that the springs quickly fail.
Electrically driven. The undisputed leader in convenience, very easy to use. However, you have to pay for a high degree of comfort - these are the most expensive designs. The canvas is folded and unfolded by an electric motor, which is activated by a button or remotely. Most often, such mechanisms are used for panoramic windows, or for high and wide window openings.

In most cases, rolls are fixed using tape or magnetic strips.
If you decide to create rolls with your own hands, you will have to be content with a chain control system. More functional spring or electric drive models are better purchased ready-made. As a last resort, you can then change the canvas to the one you like.

Wired electric curtain rod is the simplest device.