Updated at: 04-10-2022 - By: Sienna Lewis

Despite the name “Austrian blinds,” these are essentially a pair of curtains with double the fullness of a batten width. Making Austrian curtains is a great way to learn how to pull the blind from the bottom up.

Understanding the workings of the processes can be a difficult and scary task. It’s not difficult to make Austrian curtains with the help of this step-by-step tutorial. Sewing supplies are needed to complete the ruffle and shade.

Sewing, cutting, and measuring skills may be necessary. When piecing together the fabric, practice your precision and attention to detail. Is this your chance to show off your skills? If so, then this could be it.

What are Austrian curtains?

The front curtains of large theaters are a common example of Austrian blinds in use. It’s common for them to be constructed and designed to resemble an Austrian curtain. Because of its soft swags and vertical seams, it is commonly referred to as a “Puff Drape.”

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With each lift of the fabric, Austrian curtains produce a refined impression. They all rise at exactly the same rate and height to achieve an elegant and sumptuous appearance. These sorts of curtains are commonly used by event venues to dress up their backdrops and add an air of refinement to their decor.

An Austrian blind tape, some lightweight curtain fabric and an Austrian liner are all common components. Any window will have more depth and width with this great design. These are the instructions for making them.

Step 1: Measurements

Getting ready to take some measures, so bring your measuring tape. From the top of the installed rack to the bottom of the window frame, take an accurate measurement of the height. Add an additional twenty inches to that amount and use that as the value for the length of your fabric panel. Two times as wide as the blind track should be your fabric panel.

We can use that information to figure out how much cloth you’ll need for the ruffles. Taking the length, multiply it by two, and multiplying it by two for the breadth. To determine the total length of fabric required for the ruffles, multiply the sum by two. It is expected that each ruffle will have a width of three inches minimum.

Step 2: Prepare the fabric.

To make a curtain panel, measure out the cloth and cut it to those dimensions. Apply the same technique to the lining cloth. If you need to, join them together and make sure the prints match. Press the seams open with an iron.

Step 3: Make the ruffle.

Use both ends of two fabric lining strips to join them together. Hem the bottom borders of the strip by joining all the appropriate pieces together. Gather the top edge of the garment by sewing two rows of gathering stitches. You should be able to get an accurate reading for the fabric’s breadth now.

Lay your shade cloth flat on the floor, right side up. The gathered edges of the cloth should be held in place with a sewing pin about an inch from the edge. Make certain that the right sides of the hemmed ruffle contact the inside of the panel on the side facing in.

Step 4: Stitch them together.

Using a needle and thread, sew a half-inch seam between the thread rows. Remove the pins and gather stitches from the sewing machine. Lay the patterned side of the shade down on the ground, facing up. Ruffles should point toward the center.

Make sure that the patterned side of the lining fabric is facing down the shade fabric. The bottom and side edges of the shade should match the raw edges of the lining. On three sides, pin and stitch them together at about a half-inch from the edges. Make a fist out of them.

How to Hang an Austrian Valance - YouTube

Step 5: Make the loops.

Cut your Austrian blind tape into four equal sections. Make sure that it’s an inch longer than the shade’s total length. ‘ Make two loops, one on either side of the top of the shade, and sew them together.

Stitch the final two pieces together, spacing them evenly apart from the edge. The top of the shade should have the heading tape sewn on the wrong side. With a few little tweaks, your Austrian shade will be ready to use.

Don’t be afraid to experiment with your Austrian curtains now that you know how to construct them. Use a different pattern or add swags and sheers to give them a new look. When making your own Austrian shade, always use light-weight cloth.

Step 6: Hang your curtains

Hang the curtains from a baton attached to a window frame. If you can, place it inside the window recess where it will get the most light possible. Fix it to the underside of the window frame and see if that works. Once you’re happy with the way the cloth and ruffles look, you’re done.

Note: This kind of curtain will leave fold lines or wrinkles on the fabric when you lower its position. You can layer it with another curtain so that you won’t have to lift or lower your curtain’s positions from time to time to maintain privacy.

An intimidating task is learning how to create Austrian curtains. Elegant grandeur makes them appear more sophisticated than they really are. It’s possible to make your own to decorate your windows if you have the patience and practice necessary.

How to Make Austrian Shades

Austrian shades give a window a sense of depth. They’re constructed in such a way that even when lowered, the lower edge is scalloped and collected. Shades made in this style require far more fabric than those made in straight lines. Shades are a type of window treatment that can be raised and lowered, despite the fact that they look like a curtain.

Measure

Step 1

Installed track to bottom of the window frame should be measured from the highest point of the track. Include an additional 20 inches in your measurement. The length of the fabric panel is shown here.

Step 2

Measure the track’s width. Take the sum and divide it by two. The cloth panel has a width of this measurement. To achieve this width, you may have to patch fabric together.

Step 3

Determine how much cloth you’ll need to cover the bottom of the shade with a ruffle. Take the distance and multiply it by two. Width is increased by this amount. Amount doubled. There will be a total amount of fabric needed for the ruffle of this length. The ruffle will measure 3 inches wide.

Make the Shade

Step 1

Using your measurements, cut a piece of cloth and a piece of lining fabric. Using your prints as a guide, sew the pieces together as needed. Open the seams using your fingers.

Step 2

Strips are joined end-to-end to create a ruffled edge. Afterward, hem the bottom of the strip by hand. Gather the top edge of the garment by stitching two rows of gathering stitches (approximately a size 4 stitch). Pull the treads together until the width of the cloth panel is reached.

Step 3

Lay the shade cloth flat with the right side facing up. Ruffles should be pinched to the cloth approximately an inch from the edge.. In order for the hemmed edge of the ruffle to face inward, the right sides of the panel must be in contact.

Curtains Design: Instructions on How to Make Austrian Blinds

Step 4

Go around the three edges of the ruffle as you pin it in place. There will be no ruffle on the top. Adjust the gathers if necessary to help disseminate them.

Step 5

A half-inch from the raw edge, sew between the thread rows. Remove the stitches that collect the fabric

Step 6

Invert the shade so the right side is facing up. In this case, the ruffles will face inward. Place the lining on top of the shade fabric with the wrong side facing up. The lining fabric’s raw edges should match the shade’s bottom and side edges.

Step 7

Three edges should be pinned and sewn together around half an inch from the edge. Press and turn.

Step 8

Four strips of Austrian blind tape, each one inch longer than the shade’s overall length, should be cut. One on each of the shade’s side edges, with the first loop placed 2 inches below the shade’s top. Stitch the final two pieces into place with an even distance between them.

Step 9

At the very top, sew heading tape to the shade’s wrong side.

Tip

The length of the ruffle will need you to sew together fabric strips.

Warning

Austrian colours don’t work with heavy textiles.