Re-purposing

We've spent considerable time in the house with the huge hobbled shades for Denise Wenacur, and last week it was time to go upstairs to the master bedroom, where we re-purposed the homeowners' existing window treatments.

Crown molding was added, so for two windows, the draperies needed shortening. 

And the turret had a full set of draperies until the seating area was built, so they were re-made into Roman shades, the band and rope lead edge detail transformed into bottom shade detail.

Ribs ensure that the folds do not need dressing, a helpful feature in shades that are mounted high and are not so easy to reach.  We sew, rather than glue, ribs onto interlining in between the rings so the folds will have some rigidity.

Dofix 6" fusible buckram provided support for the bottom banding.

Re-purposing generally involves some improvisation, to make the existing materials work for the new application.  In this instance, we had to fiddle a bit to make the banding work.  Although we usually make a double bottom hem, the banding was just wide enough to create a single hem, so Dofix Bortenfix was used to secure the hem below the weight bar pocket......

then Dofix fusible gimp covered the raw edge.  The rings were sewn through all materials so the stitching would provide extra security for  the band and the gimp.

After the weight bar was inserted into the pocket, the gimp end was tucked in and secured....

Then the bottom pocket ladderstitched closed.

Dofix 8" fusible buckram gave body to the topper, which I wanted to be somewhat supported but not quite as rigid as a soft cornice.  We mitered the top and fused Dofix velcro to the back edge so the topper could be mounted easily on installation day.

Fabric staples secured the fabric layers at the top......

and because these shades are reverse mounted, Dofix fusible velcro was added to the front.

The shade snaps off of the headrail for easy installation, then just as easily snapped back on.  The lift system is the Rollease SS38 from Designers Resource, chosen for its awesome gear ratio that allows this shade to be nearly fully raised with just one pull of the continuous bead loop chain. 

The little toppers behaved just as I wanted them to.

Ta-da!  (and yes, we fabricated those cushions, too.)

Re-purposing

Sometimes you have to abandon your standard fabrication practices in order to achieve your goal.  Monica wanted four Roman shades...

to be made from the customer's existing rod pocket curtains.

The first project was to see if it could be done: the curtains are made from a beautiful linen sheer, but there were various pulls, tears, and stains to cut around, like the one below.

We just made it- that stain is 1/2" from the top edge- but to do so, we turned the fabric upside down and made the hem serve as the weight bar pocket, because the rod pocket top was crumpled from being gathered on the pole, and though it ironed beautifully, creases like that just wouldn't come out well enough to serve as the top- and focal point- of the shade.

The gridded canvas table makes projects with sheers go more quickly and more accurately.  You just line up the grainline with the printed lines.

It was impossible to pick out the original pocket stitching, so I just left it in, inserted a covered weight bar, folded the hem, and hand-sewed it all loosey-goosey so it wouldn't pull.  Not the standard practice, but it was the only way to make this job work.

Ladder tape in this soft gold blended perfectly with the fabric.

I keep it in these three colors, plus natural:

There was JUST enough fabric to make one permanent fold at the bottom, to hide all the weight bar and pocket stuff.