Use the hardware from an inexpensive vinyl roller shade to create a custom-made fabric shade. It's easy to do: just replace the vinyl shade with fabric of your choice reinforced with iron-on backing. Materials:
Vinyl roller shade
Fabric and thread
Optional: fabric cutouts and tasseled pull
Iron-on fusible backing
Fray-preventing liquid
Measuring tape
Pen
Straightedge
Rotary cutter
Scissors
Staple gun
Masking tape
Sewing machine
- Place the shade on your work surface, and unroll the vinyl shade. Draw arrows on the roller to indicate the direction the shade rolls, and mark a line along the roller where the shade is attached (figure A).
- Remove the existing vinyl shade from the roller, and use it as a pattern to cut a piece of fabric and a piece of fusible backing each a few inches wider than the existing shade.
- Lay the fabric right side up on the fusible shade backing so that the wrong side of the fabric is next to the adhesive side of the backing.
- Use an iron to fuse the fabric to the backing. Iron on the right side of the fabric, starting in the middle and smoothing out wrinkles as you go.
- Lay the vinyl shade over the fabric to use as a pattern for cutting the new shade. Line the vinyl shade up with the grain of the fabric to keep it straight, and pin in place.
- Before cutting, outline the edge of the shade with fray-preventing liquid to lock the threads in place (figure B). Let dry.
- Cut out the new shade, using a straightedge and a rotary cutter to get a smooth finished edge.
- When the shade is cut to size, form a casing at the bottom to accommodate the slat. Fold the seam up 1/4" and iron in place, then form a second fold, using the slat as a guide (figure C). Make the fold slightly wider than the slat, then press and stitch in place.
- Line the shade up with the guideline drawn on the roller, and tack it in place with masking tape. Secure the shade to the roller with a staple gun, starting in the center of the roller and stapling every inch to the edge.
- Roll the new shade up tightly on the roller.
- If desired, add cutouts from coordinating fabric, and iron in place with fusible backing. Whip-stitch a decorative tassel on the bottom of the shade to serve as a shade pull.
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