How to Make a Fabric Roller Shade Using Repurposed Materials

Upon moving into our new home, I discovered old yellowed vinyl roller shades on all the windows. My first instinct was to tear them all off... but then what? We needed window coverings. I looked online and went to the local blind stores. Window coverings are expensive!!

Wait... wait don't throw those vinyl shades away... at least not before grabbing the roller and the dowel!  Find some remnant material or repurpose sheets or draperies from a local 2nd hand store. Grab your sewing machine and a couple hours... and you've got new beautiful fabric roller shade!!!

Take your vinyl roller shade off the window. Rip off the vinyl and grab the dowel that was used to weight down the bottom.

Measure the roller from metal cap to metal cap.

If you are moving the shade from the outside to the inside of the window frame (like I did), you can still use the roller. You just need to cut it down to the right size. You can take off the metal ends and reattach them.

Add 1-2 inches to your width, depending on what size hem you want to use. I added 2 inches for 1 inch seams on either side.

Measure the length of the window.

Add 9 inches to your length to give you room for the bottom hem and to have enough fabric to cover the roller when the shade is fully extended.

My area was 27 1/2"  by 55".

After my addition, I needed fabric 29 1/2"wide by  64" long.

You need -
Fabric
Roller and dowel
staple gun with 1/4 inch staples (don't use larger staples or you may damage the roller hardware)

Also:
sewing machine OR double-sided hem tape if you'd rather not sew
scissors
measuring tape

Cut the fabric to your desired width and length.
Use a grid board to help you cut straight.

Press hem.
Pin.
Stitch.

On the side hems, don't worry about turning in edges. You want to keep fabric flat as possible for better rolling.

On bottom hem (1/2 inch is good), turn-in edge for a more finished look.


If you don't want to sew all, you can use double stick hem tape.

After sewing bottom hem, fold fabric over 1 1/2 in to create a pocket for the dowel.

Lay fabric right side up.

Roll top of fabric over roller.

Use staple gun to attach top of shade to roller. It's very important that you do this in a straight line so that shade rolls properly. Again, a grid board really helps!!

Use masking tape to smooth down edge of fabric against roller.

Insert dowel in pocket.

Shade is done!!!

You may want to leave it rolled-up for a little while to train the fabric.

If putting shade back in the same place as the vinyl shade you snagged, just put it back up!!!

If you're putting somewhere else, get mounting hardware from your local hardware store.

Enjoy your shade!!!