Instructions on How to Make Austrian Blinds

Instructions on How to Make Austrian Blinds 

Austrian Blinds are in reality a curtain, and are made up as such with a fullness of twice the track or batten width. The only differences being that the blind is pulled up from the bottom to the top by means of cords attached at the back, and is made longer than the required finished drop. The extra fabric in the length forms scallops, even when the blind is in the lowered position.

Austrian Blinds are generally made up in lightweight curtain fabrics, they will hang better and exclude more light if they are lined. They can be hung inside or outside the window recess. If they are hung outside the recess they can be frilled at the side and bottom edges. However, if they are hung inside the recess, they look better if a frill is added to the bottom edge only.

Press & drape heading tape is attached to the top edge so that the blind can be hung from a blind track or a wooden batten. Grip tape will be needed if a wooden batten is used.

The instructions below are for a Lined Austrian Blind with 3 scallops, fitted outside the window recess. A 3” (7.5 cms) single gathered frill is added to the side and bottom edges.
The dimensions can be adjusted for other sizes of blinds.

What you need:

Blind track or wooden batten, 8" (20 cms) wider than the window.

Lightweight curtain fabric.

Lining.
4 screw eyelets, if a wooden batten is used.

Curtain hooks, if an Austrian blind track is used.

Austrian blind tape. (The length of the flat blind x the number of scallops) + 1 blind length approx.

Nylon cord. Approx (twice the blind length + 1 width) for each length of Austrian blind tape.

Press & drape curtain heading tape, approx twice the length of the blind track or wooden batten.

Grip tape, the length of the wooden batten, if used.

Wall cleat and an acorn.

How to Measure and Estimate Fabric Quantities:

• Fix the blind track or wooden batten in the chosen position. If the blind is to hang inside the window recess, fix it to the underside of the window frame. If the blind is to hang outside the window recess, fix it to the top or above the window frame. Attach the grip tape to the front edge of the wooden batten, if used.
• To calculate the flat length of the blind, measure from the top of the track or batten to the bottom of the window frame and add 20" (50 cms) (call this A) so the blind will have some fullness when lowered over the window, this allows for top hem and bottom seam allowances. Allow extra length for pattern matching, if necessary.
• To calculate the width, measure the length of the track or batten and double it, this allows for fullness (call this B). Divide this number by the width of the fabric to be used and round up to the next whole number. This will be the number of widths of fabric required.
• For a single gathered frill, 3" (7.5 cms) wide, you will need strips 4" (10 cms) long cut from across the fabric width. To calculate the amount of frill required, take the measurement "A" as above and double it. Add this to the measurement "B". Now double this figure to allow the frill to be gathered, with a fullness ratio of 2.
  Example:
  Window length = 60" (152 cms), so "A" will be 80" (202 cms).
  Window width = 30" (76 cms), so the track or batten measurement will be 38" (96 cms).
  So "B" will be 76" (192 cms).
  Therefore the amount of frill needed will be 2 x "A" = 160" (404 cms) + "B". Making a total of 236" (596 cms).
  Double this, making a grand total of 472" (1192 cms).
• To calculate how many strips are required for the frill, divide this number [472" (1192 cms)] by the width of the fabric. As this does not have to be exact work to the nearest whole width of fabric.
• Cut the required number of strips from across the width of the fabric, allowing extra length for pattern matching where necessary.

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