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Blinds make for great window coverings and decorations, simply shop-bought ones can be expensive. Save money by making your own at home. You tin can make a basic blind by sewing together cloth and fabric lining. To scroll upwards the blinds, repurpose parts from onetime shop-bought ones or sew dowel rods onto the fabric. Put the finished blinds on the wall for a functional and decorative style to enhance any room.

  1. 1

    Measure out the length and width of the window you plan on covering. Use a tape measure to take the measurements, then write them down then you have them for later. Remember to measure around the window frame instead of the glass. The material needs to be bigger than the actual window to cover it up.

    • If you lot're planning on mounting the blinds outside of the window, measure the entire surface area you desire the blinds to embrace. They take to be a little longer than inside-mounted blinds to overlap the entire window.
    • If you're planning on covering multiple windows, take measurements for each one.

  2. ii

    Get patterned fabric to fit over the blinds. The fabric volition encompass the blinds, so choose a design you similar. Selection something with a double-sided blueprint or stitch pieces of fabric together so the front and back both look appealing. Fabrics that are 100% cotton or a cotton and polyester alloy piece of work best for this project. Once yous have a good piece of fabric to work with, spread it to press out the wrinkles.[ane]

    • Sail and decorative cotton are a few good choices for blinds. Stiffer fabric rolls upwardly better. If you lot wish to employ a softer material, layer information technology over something similar lining material.
    • Visit craft stores to run into what kinds of fabrics they have bachelor or look online to find unlike patterns. Craft stores also carry most of the other supplies you need.

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  3. 3

    Mensurate the material to the size y'all demand for your window. The cloth actually has to be a picayune longer than your measurement to business relationship for the hems you add together after. Add an extra 2 in (5.ane cm) to the fabric's length and width to account for this. Mark the final dimensions on the cloth with a pencil. This cutting of fabric is all you need for a basic blind that hangs apartment against a traditional blind headrail.[ii]

    • Keep in mind that the length depends on how you plan on hanging the blind. Cutting the blinds well-nigh 12 in (30 cm) longer if you're going to adhere them to rollers instead of flat headrails. Leave them almost two in (5.i cm) wider than the window to account for the hem.
    • Factor in an extra 2 in (v.1 cm) to the length if you plan on making a tiptop hem. Add together another one⁄two  in (1.3 cm) if you're going to staple the bullheaded to a mounting lath.
    • For example, if you have a 72 in (180 cm)-long window, the material needs to be at to the lowest degree 74 in (190 cm) long to fit well on a blind headrail. Make it 84 in (210 cm) if yous're using a roller instead.

  4. iv

    Cut the fabric with a sharp scissors. After transferring the window measurements to the fabric, trim abroad whatever backlog. The cutting procedure is trickier than you call back since ane slip could throw off your entire blind. Work slowly, cut in direct lines to go on the fabric looking as even as possible.[three]

    • Think that any creases and wrinkles could throw off your measurements. Make sure you lot iron them out if yous notice any earlier you cut.

  5. v

    Fold the sides of the cloth to create 1 in (2.v cm) hems. Lay the material flat with the front side face downwards. Choice up the material on 1 of the longer ends, fold information technology over by ane⁄ii  in (1.3 cm), and and then fold it over again. Crease it to flatten it on summit of the material. Repeat the process on the opposite side of the cloth to create the second hem.

    • Make sure you're working on the left and right sides of the blind. These hems become on the longer sides of the fabric.

  6. 6

    Stitch the hems in place using a needle and thread. Put some pins through the hem in order to fasten it tightly confronting the fabric. To make the hems stronger, sew together them in place with zigzag stitch. This kind of stitch non only prevents the hem from fraying, but it adds a piffling more artistry to your finished blinds. If you lot're non worried nearly that, you lot can finish it with a straight stitch or another culling.[four]

    • You could use a sewing auto if y'all have 1. Another option is to stick the textile together with hemming tape if you don't like sewing.
    • If you're using hemming record, fold the fabric on pinnacle of it and iron the hem to secure it. Hemming tape isn't every bit durable as sewn hems and can come undone in the launder.

  7. seven

    Fold and sew together the bottom hem to protect the textile from damage. The lesser hem is a little bigger than the side ones. To go far, fold the fabric up by 1⁄2  in (i.3 cm) kickoff and press it flat. Then, fold information technology up by another 1 1⁄2  in (iii.viii cm). After flattening it, sew it to secure it in place.[five]

    • You could also add another slice of hemming tape if you don't wish to sew.
    • If yous're making your own hanging machinery, consider wrapping a piece of ane in × 2 in (two.5 cm × v.ane cm) forest in the hem. Information technology needs to be as long as the blind is broad. Use craft glue to secure it.

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  1. one

    Go regular blinds that are the same size as the ones yous are making. The hardest part of making blinds is hanging them, but there is an easy mode to get around that problem. Y'all tin take advantage of the headrail or roller from an existing set of blinds. The headrail attaches to the wall through a couple of brackets that spike with screws. If y'all have used blinds before, you lot may fifty-fifty have ane ready to repurpose.[6]

    • You can use erstwhile blinds if you have them or go new ones. Try looking for some mini blinds that fit your window. Cheap ones are bachelor at most hardware stores.

  2. 2

    Glue the headrail to the back of the fabric. Leave the blinds whole for now, setting them face up on the table. Spread a line of bottled craft glue across the forepart side of the headrail. As soon equally yous are done, pick up the headrail, taking care not to smear the glue. Line up the headrail with the elevation edge of the cloth before pressing information technology in identify.[7]

    • The gum dries quickly, then be sure to attach the headrail to the fabric correct away.
    • If you don't take a good headrail, try using a piece of 1 in × ii in (two.five cm × 5.one cm) wood that is every bit long equally the material is broad. Wrap it up in the textile to create another seam. Go along in listen that the cloth needs to exist cut another 2 in (5.i cm) longer than normal for the boosted hem.
    • If you make your own headrail out of wood, attach it to the wall or a headrail lath on the wall. Another option is to fit it within the brackets of an open headrail, if possible.

  3. three

    Flip the blinds over to find the cords belongings the slats together. Turn the blinds over with caution, keeping the material pressed upwardly against the headrail. On the backside, await for 2 different types of cords. The one you need is a thinner cord with smaller connectors running to each slat, similar to a ladder. Pull the cord upwards to cheque for the connecting strings that necktie to the holes in each slat.[viii]

    • The thicker cords running downward the length of the blinds are pull cords. Y'all don't need to cut them, then dissever them from the ladder cords.

  4. 4

    Cut the ladder cord costless from each of the slats. Spread the slats to find where the cord connects to each 1. Employ a abrupt pair of pair of scissors to cutting the small connecting ladders bounden the cord to the slats. Y'all will need to exercise this for each slat, which takes some fourth dimension, but make certain y'all gratuitous all of them. Pull the cord abroad when you're done.[nine]

    • Some blinds can have equally many as 3 of these smaller ladder cords, so bank check your blinds thoroughly. Remove all of them.

  5. 5

    Pull the caps off of the bottom bar to remove information technology. Await for a circular, white cap in the centre of the lower bar on the blinds. The pull string attaches to it, then untie the cord. Once yous have it gratuitous from the string, nothing will be holding the bottom bar in place. Ready the cap and bar aside.[10]

    • Without the cap and bottom bar serving as an anchor, nothing holds the blinds in identify. Keep in heed that they will slide right off if you lift the blinds at all.

  6. six

    Remove about of the slats and space the remaining ones out evenly. The number of slats you go out in place depends on the length of your blind. Generally, 5 slats are enough, but yous tin adjust this to change how your blinds fold upwards. Measure out the positioning using a ruler or record measure, then slide the other blinds into position on the fabric. Proceed them well-spaced so your blind rolls upwardly smoothly afterward.[11]

    • For example, if your fabric is 70 in (180 cm) long, position 5 1 in (2.5 cm)-wide slats x in (25 cm) from one another.
    • Start from the bottom when adding slats. If y'all're positioning slats 10 in (25 cm) apart, fix the first slat 10 in (25 cm) above the bottom edge of the fabric.

  7. vii

    Gum the slats to the fabric using craft mucilage. Start with the top slat and stand it on i edge as you lot add the mucilage. Slather a line of glue all the way beyond the slat, avoiding the pull cords still attached to it. Repeat this with the remaining slats to stick them in place. Press each slat down firmly against the fabric before you're finished to ensure they stay put.[12]

    • If y'all glue the pull cords to the fabric, you won't be able to roll up the blind later. Have care to avert getting any mucilage on them.

  8. 8

    Supersede the lesser bar and tie the pull cords to its caps. Slide the bar dorsum into place, slipping the ends of the cords through its holes. Tie a knot on the terminate of each cord to go on it from falling out of place. When y'all're done, push button the caps back onto the bar to encompass the holes and prevent the knotted cords from coming out.[13]

  9. 9

    Gum the fabric to the bottom bar to complete the blind. Stand the bottom bar upward on its side to protect the hem from fraying while you're using the bullheaded. Spread another bead of craft gum across its length, so push the fabric to its underside. Concur it there for upwardly to x minutes to requite the glue plenty of time to dry.[14]

    • The bottom bar gives the blind some weight and so it's easy to pull down and gyre support. It'due south worth adding a piece of wood there if you don't have one to repurpose from old blinds.

  10. ten

    Hang the headrail on the wall using mounting brackets. Most store-bought blinds come up with the brackets you demand to hang them. If you don't already take brackets in place, utilize some 2 in (5.1 cm) wood or drywall screws to attach them to the wall. Position the brackets to a higher place the window or window frame. When y'all're washed, push the headrail into the mounting clips on the bracket to hang and enjoy your new blinds.[15]

    • The mode you mount the blinds may vary a lilliputian depending on whether they are inside or exterior-mounted.
    • For stability, screw the brackets to the back up beams in the wall. Use a stud finder that beeps when information technology passes over the beams.
    • If you lot need mounting brackets or screws, store online or visit a hardware store.

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  1. 1

    Mark spots to identify wood dowels to hang up the blind. Cut the fabric and hem information technology similar yous unremarkably would, so flip it over. Mensurate upwardly eight to 12 in (20 to xxx cm) from the bottom of the blind and marker the spot with a fabric marker. Do this 4 more times, spacing the marks out evenly forth the length of the blind. These spaces will allow the blind to fold upwards when information technology's on the wall, and so keep the spaces nice and fifty-fifty.[16]

    • Measure the length of the blind first if y'all need to in club to space the marks evenly. You could make room for an extra dowel if your blind is very long or remove ane if it is short.
    • Yous can go out actress space on the pinnacle of the blind. It doesn't have to exist the exact same size as the other spaces you measured since that role will exist used to hang the blind.

  2. two

    Cut strips of fabric to make pockets for the dowels. Measure the altitude between the left and correct hem on the fabric, then begin cutting strips to the same length. Employ fabric lining to make sturdier pockets, although regular fabric is fine besides if you have some to spare. You volition need a strip for each dowel. Cutting them almost 2 in (5.ane cm)-wide for pockets that fit nigh dowels.[17]

    • Yous tin adjust the size of the pockets as needed to fit the dowels you plan on using. A ii in (5.ane cm)-wide pocket is by and large fine, although y'all could become the dowels alee of time and adjust for them.

  3. three

    Tape the material strips to the bullheaded fabric to course the pockets. The easiest way to make the pockets is with long pieces of hemming tape. Set the tape on the fabric strips and apply an iron to get them to stick. And so, spread the strips out along the width of the blind co-ordinate to the marks you fabricated. Work carefully to atomic number 26 the long edges of the material, leaving the shorter ends open to form the pockets.[18]

    • You could also stitch each strip to the fabric. It works amend if you lot backed the material with lining since that prevents the stitching from showing on the front side of the blind.
    • If you attached a liner to the dorsum of the material, effort turning the blind inside out. Secure the strips and dowels, then turn the blind inside-out to hide them.

  4. 4

    Insert dowels into all of the pockets you created. Get 3⁄4  in (ane.9 cm) wood dowels that are the same length equally the pockets you fabricated. But slide a dowel into each of the pockets to create the support system for your bullheaded. The dowels are a simple, piece of cake way to string up custom blinds. Keep them well-subconscious in the pockets so they don't mess upwards the overall advent of your new blind.[19]

    • If you lot're not a big fan of sewing, you could glue wooden strips to the back of the blind. Y'all don't even need to atomic number 26 on pockets if you don't want them, although they are nevertheless useful for hiding the supports.
    • Most craft stores sell dowels and the other supplies to finish the blinds. Bank check online if y'all tin can't find what you need.

  5. 5

    Install the blinds over the window using wood or a headrail. If you don't take a headrail from another fix of blinds, install a woods header higher up the window. Get a ane in × 2 in (2.5 cm × 5.ane cm) piece of wood that spans across the window. Then, install it in identify with some 2 in (5.1 cm) drywall screws. Add the screws almost every 12 in (30 cm) across the eye of the wood.[20]

    • This installation is meant for outside-mounted blinds. For inside-mounts, attach a small forest board to the upper border of the window frame if information technology will support it.
    • Remember to adhere the lath to the support beams in the wall for stability. The weight of the blinds could crusade it to fall off if information technology isn't firmly anchored to the wall.

  6. 6

    Staple the blind confronting the elevation of the lath. Wrap the top edge of the blind over the board y'all installed. That will wrap virtually i⁄two  in (1.3 cm) of fabric over the board. And then, apply a staple gun to hands secure the fabric to the forest. Space the staples out near every ii in (5.1 cm) to keep the blind well-secured whenever you need to roll information technology up.[21]

    • Another way to practice this is past making a hem by rolling a board in the fabric. Mucilage it in place, then spiral the board to the wall. You won't need to add a separate board to hang the blind.

  7. vii

    Attach center screws to the underside of the wood. Position the eye screws near 2 in (5.1 cm) from the ends of the wood board. Twist them clockwise by mitt until they're all the fashion into the wood. And then, position an extra eye screw straight in the center of the wood. It will be an fifty-fifty altitude from the other screws.[22]

    • You could add more screws for actress stability if y'all think you lot will demand them to support big or heavy blinds. Try spacing the screws out evenly, such as 10 in (25 cm) apart from one some other.

  8. viii

    Position centre screws through each dowel on the blinds. The middle screws serve as a mode to string up the blinds, but you need to add them to each individual dowel or slat. Keep the eye screws level with the ones you installed on the headrail. It's slow work, just go them all gear up so your blind rises and falls with the smoothness of whatsoever store-bought 1.[23]

    • Plough these eye screws then the heads are positioned horizontally. That means the openings face the top and bottom of the blind so you are able to run cords through them.
    • Another option is to sew plastic rings onto the dowel pockets you made. If you hid the pockets inside the lining of the blind, you lot volition need to add together rings this way to string upward the blinds.

  9. 9

    Necktie cords through each column of centre screws to lift the blinds. Y'all will need to cut a separate length of cord for each cavalcade of middle screws you gear up. Run the cord from the top of the blind to the bottom, knotting it on the bottom eye spiral. Keep in mind that the cords need to be nearly 1 1⁄2  in (3.viii cm) times longer than the blinds, although this volition vary depending on how yous mount them. When yous're done, cut the excess length off.[24]

    • Run all of the cords through the top eye screws and to the correct. The cord on the left will go through all of the eye screws yous have there. Let the cords hang from the side of the blind or install an extra centre screw beneath the headrail to concord them.
    • The length of cord you need will depend on the length of your blinds and how long you want the pull cord to exist. If you're unsure, go on the cords long at first and cut abroad the excess later on.
    • Yous tin can buy replacement pull cords or a cord roll. Check online or at hardware stores.

  10. 10

    Hang a metal cleat on the wall to hold the pull string. A metal cleat is like a wall rack for the cord to keep blinds positioned where you lot desire them. It will come with the screws you need to adhere it to the wall. Put information technology to the correct of the blinds, keeping it near the headrail. Then, tie all of the cords together to create a pull cord that fits in the cleat.

    • When you need to reposition the blinds, accept the pull cord out of the cleat. When you're done, put the string back to hold the blinds nonetheless.

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Add New Question

  • Question

    How can I make a blind that keeps the heat out of the room sufficiently?

    T. Chinsen

    Home improvement stores bear Mylar that allows calorie-free in, but will reflect heat out. This layer can be added to the window rather than the bullheaded. Any fabric or fabric with metal fibers can reduce heat but may non be as efficient equally Mylar. Cost will be a factor in deciding what cloth to utilize for the area(s).

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  • If you're looking for an easy style to hang up a fabric blind, try slip stitching plastic rings to its dorsum end. Run the pull string through the rings so yous tin can heighten and lower the bullheaded,

  • For thicker blinds, sew together every bit-sized pieces of material together. You could become something soft like cloth lining to put over the back side of the blinds.

  • If yous're good at sewing, add together pockets to the dorsum of blinds. Slide the dowels or slats in there to hide them.

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

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Things You'll Need

  • Measuring tape
  • Pencil
  • Scissors
  • Iron
  • Fabric
  • Thread or hemming tape
  • Needle or sewing machine
  • Cloth lining (optional)
  • Bullheaded headrail or roller
  • Blind slats or wood strips
  • Arts and crafts glue
  • Scissors
  • Stud finder
  • Mounting brackets
  • 3⁄8  in (0.95 cm) woods dowels
  • Hemming tape
  • Iron
  • Staple gun
  • one in × 2 in (2.5 cm × 5.1 cm) woods or headrail
  • Cordless screwdriver
  • Stud finder
  • 2 in (v.i cm) drywall screws
  • Eye screws or plastic rings
  • Blinds cords
  • Metallic cleat

References

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