Privacy Please

MATERIALS

• Shade fabric in yardage determined above
• Drapery lining fabric (Drapery lining may be a different width than the shade fabric, so piece as needed. Add 1/4 yard to cover mounting board.)
• 1" x 2" wooden mounting board 1/4" shorter than the window opening width
• 1/4"-diameter wooden dowels (one for each fold determined above), each 1/4" shorter than the window width
• Screw eyes
• 1/2"-diameter plastic shade rings
• Blind cord
• Window cleat
• Right angle or yardstick
• Air-soluble marking pen
• Staple gun

Making the Shade

Cut one shade panel from the decorator fabric using the measurements determined in Measuring Up. Cut one lining panel as determined in Measuring Up.

Use 1/2" seam allowances unless otherwise noted.

Right sides together, sew the shade panel to the lining panel along the side edges. Press seams open. Turn the shade right side out and press, centering the lining on the back of the shade, and keeping the side-hem widths even.

Using a right angle or yardstick and working on the shade right side, mark the foldline placement for each dowel casing. Begin 1 1/2" from the lower edge, and mark accurately, placing the lines parallel to the lower edge (2).

Press up the lower shade edge, along the drawn line, forming the hem. Serge-finish the raw edge or turn under a scant 1/4" to finish. Stitch the hem in place 1 1/4" from the lower edge fold, forming a dowel casing.

With lining sides together, fold the shade along each casing foldline and stitch exactly 3/4" from the fold across the shade width. Backstitch at the beginning and end of the casing stitching. Repeat for all foldlines. Baste the shade upper edges together.

From the January 2005 issue of Sew News magazine.