Roman Shades:
The Basics

With their unique style and function, roman blinds and shades have long been a staple in the window-fashions industry. Whether simple or complex in their design, roman shades are quite versatile, with countless variations. Speaking at the International Window Coverings EXPO this past March, Scot Robbins, WFCP Master and designer/fabricator of fine custom window treatments, shared the following guidelines:

• There are four basic styles: flat, relaxed, hobbled, or tucked.
• Roman shades operate through a series of strings that run through a series of rings or grommets that carry folds of fabric up and down.
• All roman shades must have a weight bar for stability.
• Rings sewn at the bottom of the shade get the most force and should be sewn with extra threads, while the rings sewn in the body of the shade only carry the folds of fabric.
• All roman shades must be perfectly square.
• Roman shades can be attached to a wood or track system, or locked in position with a cord cleat or cord lock.
• Pattern placement on a roman shade is critical—calculate cut lengths with pattern repeats so the fabric’s main feature is best enhanced.
• Roman shades can be raised and lowered with several different lift systems, such as RollEase, Rowley Soft Shade Clutch System, Textol Headrail System, döfix Shade Clutch, Kwik-a-Fix Lift Systems, RBS Lift System from Reliable Fabrics, Helser Brothers, and Forest Group.