Quick and Simple Window Shades

QUICK AND SIMPLE WINDOW SHADES

This is my own original pattern - no pic yet but coming soon I promise!

MATERIALS NEEDED:

Non-stretchy fabric - amount as needed for your project - measure your window/door to figure this out.

Small amount of coordinating shade of worsted weight yarn.

Ribbon in coordinating color for "rolling up" the shade - two ribbons for each shade. I bought two spools of ribbon at Walmart in 3/8" width and this worked for two french doors. I don't know how many yards were on the spools, but it was a lot.

Size F or G crochet hook

Wooden dowel long enough to measure the same WIDTH as your shade - these can be purchased at most craft stores in Walmarts, you may have to cut them if they're too long.

If you're like me and absolutely HATE plain white window shades but have an area where they're a necessary evil like I do (my french doors in my family room) you're going to absolutely LOVE this pattern. And even if you don't crochet, you can sew them as well and they'll work just fine. I plan to make them for every holiday and all four seasons as well!

Measure your windows/doors/wherever you're going to use these to determine the amount of fabric you need. I make these for my french doors so I buy 4 yards and usually have some left over.

Step 1: Measure and cut your material to the desired size.

Step 2: With your trusty ice pick, make holes evenly spaced all the way around your fabric, about 1/4 inch apart.

Step 3: With a coordinating worsted weight yarn and an F or G hook work 2 single crochets in each of the holes, with 2 single crochets, chain 2, 2 single crochets in each corner. When you get all the way around, slip stitch into the first single crochet made, fasten off.

Step 4: Take a small wooden dowel measuring the same width as shade. If you can't buy the exact size you need (I couldn't) buy the next size UP and cut it to the EXACT WIDTH of your shade - they've got to reach to the end of your shade but you don't want it sticking out of the sides.

Step 4: I mounted my shades to my doors with a brass magnetic curtain rod because my doors are metal. You can use this, a regular curtain rod, a shade roll from an old shade if you have it - whatever you want that will attach your shade to the wall. Holding your shade with RIGHT SIDE FACING YOU and holding the curtain rod/shade roll just over and behind it, single crochet across the top of your shade and going over the curtain rod - like when you're crocheting a hanger cover. Make one single crochet in each stitch across. Fasten off at the end.

Step 5: Now turn your shade over to the bottom end. This is where your wooden dowel comes in. With RIGHT SIDE of your shade facing you again, single crochet across the bottom, working the stitches around the dowel just like you did the curtain rod/shade pull. Work one single crochet in each stitch across. Fasten off at the end.

Step 6: Now your shade is ready for the shade pulls. Take your ribbon, cut it in half to make two strips of ribbon for your shade. Just push the ribbon into the crochet stitches across the top of your shade so that half is on the front of your shade and half is on the back, one on the far left and one on the far right of shade - this has held mine just fine so far (about a month) without tying them or "hooking" them in in any way.

Now when you want to roll up your shades, just hold the dowel portion on both ends and roll it up evenly on both sides to whatever length you want, then tie the ribbons at each end to hold it in place! When you want them back down, just untie the ribbons! Quick, simple and MUCH NICER than those plain white vinyl shades in the stores!

Use your imagination with this. They can be quite inexpensive, especially if you buy seasonal fabrics out of season on clearance, or check out the clearance tables in the fabric stores. I plan to do holiday ones for all holidays and seasonal ones as well. If you use a thin type of fabric, you may want to use an iron on interfacing on the back side of your shades to give them a little more stability.

IF YOU DON'T CROCHET, this project is so easy I think even I could sew it! Just turn your fabric over 1/4 inch or so on the two long sides and sew the edges down so your fabric doesn't fray. Measure around your curtain rod/shade roll to determine how much fabric it will take for the rod to go through and sew a pocket in the top to accommodate this. Do the same at the bottom for your dowel. Cut your ribbon in half so you'll have the same length of ribbon on both sides of your shade. Find the exact center of your lengths of ribbon and tack it to the top of your shade with just a couple of stitches. See above for instructions on "operating" your new gorgeous shades!