The Sewing Place

The Emporia => House Beautiful => Topic started by: crafter on October 06, 2018, 00:04:09 AM

Title: This week's sewing project - blinds
Post by: crafter on October 06, 2018, 00:04:09 AM
New blinds for the kitchen  [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]    [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]  
Title: Re: This week's sewing project - blinds
Post by: Lilian on October 06, 2018, 00:14:07 AM
They are lovely @crafter I like the colour scheme.  I made some years ago and now seeing yours has made me think about making some for the place I'm in now  :) :vintage:
Title: Re: This week's sewing project - blinds
Post by: justpottering on October 06, 2018, 09:08:57 AM
Oh very nice  :loveit:
Love how you've made three separate ones gives options for dealing with sun without needing the whole window covered that's a wide  window you've got there so again great choice
Love the fabric too  :loveit:

Not sure what to do with the new kitchen window probably nothing to begin with. Current kitchen has two small deep windows and as we're not overlooked haven't anything on them as I think it would steal the natural light, new house is not overlooked and has big window like yours and  looks out into the garden I will live with it uncovered for a while and decide when we revamp
Title: Re: This week's sewing project - blinds
Post by: b15erk on October 06, 2018, 09:12:28 AM
Lovely job Crafter!

Reminds me that my kitchen blinds are looking a bit tired....

Jessie
Title: Re: This week's sewing project - blinds
Post by: Fiona M on October 06, 2018, 09:15:46 AM
Beautiful - love the fabric!
Are they difficult to make?
Title: Re: This week's sewing project - blinds
Post by: wrenkins on October 06, 2018, 11:32:18 AM
Lovely job...and yes, now I'll make two rather than one for my kitchen (come the day).  :)
Title: Re: This week's sewing project - blinds
Post by: crafter on October 06, 2018, 11:53:27 AM
The sun is exactly the reason they are there @justpottering.  You can be blinded by the sun if you are sitting at the kitchen table so we can just drop the blind we need.  That and the fact that it is a wide expanse of black at night, so blinds make it much cosier.  Not needed for warmth as there is a conservatory on the other side of the window.

@Fiona M.  Not a beginners project but just need a bit of practice really.  Most important is making sure that everything is square as you move through the processes, of which there are many in this type of blind.  I.e. the type where you cannot see any stitching on the right side.  Lots of hand sewing.

Thanks for all your nice comments.  Need to decorate now.  I always do things the wrong was round.

Title: Re: This week's sewing project - blinds
Post by: Mocarroll on October 06, 2018, 17:41:33 PM
Beautiful work Crafter and perfect matching! I made a blind for a friend a few years ago which was probably the width of all three of your blinds. Never again! I would have been much better doing what you did.  Did you use a cartridge mechanism with a chain?
Title: Re: This week's sewing project - blinds
Post by: crafter on October 06, 2018, 17:54:47 PM
Yes @Mocarroll, I always used the cassettes these days.  Expensive but worth it not to have to source all the little parts that need to go in.  And they do give you a more accurate finish.

Title: Re: This week's sewing project - blinds
Post by: Esme866 on October 10, 2018, 20:57:57 PM
Beautiful job!  Makes me want to do these again (its been 30 years). Are the new kits much simpler than the eyelets and cords fromway back?
Title: Re: This week's sewing project - blinds
Post by: Ellabella on October 10, 2018, 22:43:06 PM
Very impressed, they look lovely.

I am planning blinds for some of our windows.  What are the cassettes @crafter ?  The last time I made one it was the little rings and cords type of palaver.  It would be lovely to have something to make it easier.
Title: Re: This week's sewing project - blinds
Post by: crafter on October 11, 2018, 01:48:28 AM
Here is a video of how I make my blinds.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxgHJO993Rk

The only different thing I do is to apply metal eyelets to the lining, so the fold for the lining needs to be twice the size.  Also I use different way to secure the cords at the bottom, which is like a toggle fastening you get on string bags and jackets.  The cassettes I use (Terrys Fabrics) come complete with them but I don't think they all do.

Thanks for the nice comments.
Title: Re: This week's sewing project - blinds
Post by: toileandtrouble on October 11, 2018, 07:41:24 AM
Just used one of the cassette top kits from Terry's fabrics. for my kitchen blind.  It is very easy to use. The hardest parts are making sure the supports are perfecty aligned and having to thread the cords through after velcro-ing the fabric onto the fixed cassette. Somehow had to thread it up while hiding behind it.  I would recommend making a sort of template showing the spacing of the cords from the ends, then make sure the wide slots in the roman blind tape are lined up in the right positions. There was barely enough tape in each width - I meant to mention that to Terrys. My blind was 180cm wide and for winter warmth so I have one of their vertical blinds to stop us being dazzled by the sun in the evenings. Also highly recommended, andtheir service is very good. Quick to get things sorted if there is a problem.
Title: Re: This week's sewing project - blinds
Post by: Fiona M on October 11, 2018, 07:50:03 AM
@crafter Thanks for the You Tube link, it's a very clear tutorial. 
Title: Re: This week's sewing project - blinds
Post by: crafter on October 11, 2018, 21:40:16 PM
Somehow had to thread it up while hiding behind it. 

@toileandtrouble,  I cord up mine whilst its on the table.  Lay the blind out fully extended and put the cords through from being fully extended from the cassette.  Secure the cord to the lowest rod (not the bottom batten), then pull the blind up fully.  (Might be a two handed job.)  Usually the cords are all the right length and just need cutting off or securing.  Having the toggles makes this job really easy.  If they are not just right then tighten the cords to its highest position.  I am so confident of this being accurate that this is where I used to say goodbye to my blinds at this stage and send MrC off to install them on his own.  I.e. foolproof!
Title: Re: This week's sewing project - blinds
Post by: toileandtrouble on October 11, 2018, 22:36:23 PM
I tried to follow the instructions!  There's that pesky little screw at the chain end, wasit easy to do afterwards? Probably easier than the cording.
When I make them from scratch  I always cord them up first.
Title: Re: This week's sewing project - blinds
Post by: crafter on October 11, 2018, 23:06:58 PM
@toileandtrouble. Pesky is a nice word for those screws!  Yes I release it as soon as I use the cassette and before I attach the blind.  Moving it determines where the outside cords will go.  Very often I would like them wider but I don't think you can do much about it.  Usually do it so the cassette is flat and the screws looking up at you.  I think MrC uses a magnetic screwdriver in case the screw tries to escape.
Title: Re: This week's sewing project - blinds
Post by: Seweasy on October 19, 2018, 11:05:19 AM
@crafter , I used the same video to make roman blinds,too.... 0_0 Its a good video, as you say lots of hand sewing but you get a good finish from the front view too. Love the fabric you chose for your blinds and what a great window space, with a perfect solution, sectional blinds..... :)

However I now feel guilty... :(....despite making blinds for my sons house .... I have still yet to make a blind for my own kitchen, that was newly fitted almost three years ago...... :| :| Time to get on with them, me thinks... -<