Please note that our series on Roller Blinds is currently being updated to reflect the use of new techniques and materials. This article still contains excellent information, but some of it may be changed as a result of our review.

Check back here soon for the updated articles. Meanwhile, if you need any advice on materials for your projects, call us on 0208 331 4383.

Of all the window blinds the ‘Roller’ is the most popular as an attractive alternative to curtains, especially in situations when a sunshade is required.  Roller blinds are also simple and economical to make.  A piece of fabric to cover the window area and to be rolled around a pole is the basic requirement.  The pole itself can be operated by spring action or by a side cord control.

The majority of roller blinds are made up from pre-stiffened fabrics of cotton.  All manufacturers of these blinds offer their blind fabrics in plains, weaves and patterned styles.  There is also a variety of mass produced blinds, some of which are co-ordinated in design and colour to match curtains and even wallpapers.

However, we are concerned with making a roller blind from a piece of fabric, perhaps a piece left over from making up curtains, when the roller blind would complement the curtains.

To convert a piece of material into a fabric suitable for a roller blind requires one of two processes.  The material can be ‘laminated’; a process whereby the material is bonded to a layer of specially pre-stiffened fabric with adhesive.  The process requires heat and considerable pressure, and can only be achieved by the use of a large power press.  The use of a domestic iron to produce heat and pressure is seldom completely successful.  Lack of equal and consistent pressure causes the formation of small air pockets, producing unsightly bubbles on the surface.  If a blind has to have pieces of fabric joined together only professional lamination will ensure a fully satisfactory result, particularly if the material to be used is non-absorbent.

The alternative method is to ‘process’ the material with a stiffening solution, so that the fibres in the material are permeated with the solution, which will leave the fibres stiffened when the water base has evaporated.  It follows that a process whereby the material is soaked in the solution will be more successful than the use of a solution which is sprayed onto the surface of the material.  Spray-on solutions are appropriate in certain situations but there is a certain amount of drying out of the solution as it leaves its container.  It then tends to lay on the surface of the material rather than penetrating into its fibres.  Subsequently the fabric is not sufficiently treated for use on a roller blind, unless the fabric is very absorbent.

The following text advocates the use of a side control cord mechanism, very simple and easy to install, and a concentrated solution which can be diluted to suit the type of material being used.  Always use a steel tape measure, never a cloth tape for measurements.

Please note that roller blind fabric does not come right to the end of a roller blind and there is always a gap (approx.3/4”) between the fabric and the side wall.