Home Dec sewing, or how I’m losing my mind…

Happy Spring! I’m a bit late getting this out, but I’ve been up to my ears in projects that need doing. We pulled the last of our siding off a month or so ago, put in the last of the new windows at the same time, and now I’ve decided (partway through installing trim) that I’m going to make the “window treatments” myself instead of just ordering them from a large online blind website or a big box store. Sign me up for the loony bin, I’ve lost what little sense I had left! I’ve got a book that tells me how to make all sorts of decorative furnishings and there’s an excellent video tutorial from Online Fabrics Store (who also, conveniently enough, happen to carry all the bits and bobs you need) on how to make roman shades.

Home Decorating Book

I know, it’s…uh…dated, but the ideas should still be sound. πŸ˜‰

So last night I picked out my fabric from JoAnn (it’s gorgeous, but expensive), and at some point I’m going to have to bite the bullet and sew at least 3, but probably 6 roman shades. I hope I’m not in over my head, since both tutorials made it sound super easy. If I’m successful with the first three shades, I’ll commit to the remaining three, and if not, I haven’t bought the supplies for the second set (the bigger ones for the main living room) yet. I didn’t want to be out $$$ for something that I was incapable of finishing. I think that means I’m getting somewhat smarter. πŸ˜›

9 thoughts on “Home Dec sewing, or how I’m losing my mind…

  1. Ah home dec, good luck. It comes somewhere below unpicking , mending and menswear in my list of preferred projects, but as lng as you can sew long straight seams why wouldn’t it work out?

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  2. Yeah, I’m not excited about it, but buying even a single really basic (and frankly–ugly) roller shade costs as much as doing all three windows myself. So it’ll be worth it. I’m just not very good at those projects that either have a deadline or that I “have” to do.

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  3. I haven’t ever made Roman shades or anything fancy but I have made both simple rod pocket curtains and pinch pleated drapes. They are easy but always take longer than I expect and just about bore me to tears before I’m finished. (and yet, I keep doing it again and again)

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  4. Good luck with the Roman shades. I have made a few and they are, to be blunt, a bitch. I recommend the ring tape if you didn’t get it. After making myself nuts doing one room, for the next room I ended up getting McCall’s 4855, which may still be in print, and making the tie-up, roll-up shades instead.

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    • I did get the ring tape, so there’s that at least! I don’t have a pattern, but I do have step by step instructions with pictures, plus a video if I get stuck, so hopefully, I’ll be able to pull it off with minimal screaming and hair pulling. I’ll look at the pattern though, just in case I’m all “f–this!” after the first set. πŸ˜‰

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  5. Good luck! I haven’t made roman blinds yet but I do like the look and they should be a bit more interesting than just regular curtains! I have a terrible tendency to half-ass home dec projects which doesn’t go well… πŸ˜‚

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