Ruqayyah Snyder
Austrian blinds are a form of ruched blinds with two or more lines of vertical gathering that create a swathe of fabric over a window. They are a simplified version of French and German festoon blinds and were popular in the 18th century and again in the 1980s. They combine the look of curtains with the functionality of blinds. This introduction will explain how to hang Austrian blinds.
Characteristics and Values of Hanging Austrian Blinds
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Blind Track or Wooden Batten | Fix the blind track or wooden batten in the chosen position. |
| Blind Position | If inside the window recess, fix it to the underside of the window frame. If outside, fix it to the top or above the window frame. |
| Grip Tape | Attach grip tape to the front edge of the wooden batten. |
| Flat Length Calculation | Measure from the top of the track/batten to the window frame bottom, adding 20" (50 cm) for fullness. |
| Width Calculation | Double the length of the track/batten to ensure fullness, then divide by the fabric width and round up. |
| Fabric Cutting | Cut fabric to the desired height, double it, and trim to the window size. |
| Fabric Attachment | Secure fabric to cardboard, leaving 12" for sewing. Sew the fabric, creating a 'sandwich' with the blinds inside. |
| Window Attachment | Attach the blinds to the window using screws or heavy-duty adhesive tape, drilling through each slat. |
| Austrian Blind Tape | Cut Austrian blind tape slightly longer than the blind length. Position the tapes vertically with loops aligned. |
| Stitching | Pin and stitch the tapes, stitching both sides in the same direction to prevent puckering. |
| Fabric Sections | Divide the width between the tapes into equal sections of 12"-20" (30-50 cm) and mark vertical lines. |
| Cord Attachment | Thread nylon cords through cord holders on the track or screw eyes on the batten. Cut cords level with the window sill. |
| Cord Security | Thread cords through an acorn and knot to secure. Fix a cleat halfway down the window and wind the cords around it in a figure eight. |
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What You'll Learn
Preparing the fabric
To prepare the fabric for Austrian blinds, start by cutting your fabric to the desired height of your shades, and then double it over onto itself. Next, trim the fabric to the size of your window, and cut two pieces of cardboard or similar material to the height of your shades. This will serve as a temporary fixture to hold the fabric in place while you sew.
Secure each piece of fabric to a piece of cardboard on either side, leaving an extra 12" on each end for sewing later. Place the cardboard between two chair backs and sew together, first attaching one side, and then flipping it over to sew the other side on top of the flap you left earlier. This will create a pocket for the slats of the blinds to slide into.
Now, you will work on the frill, which is the classic Austrian blind design. You will need 10-cm (4-inch) wide strips of ruffle fabric that are long enough to go all the way around the sides and bottom. To determine how much fabric you need, divide the total length of the ruffle by the width of the fabric. This will give you the number of 10-cm strips you need.
Cut the ruffle fabric first, and then cut out the amount of fabric and lining material necessary for the blind. If you need more than one width, join them together using a flat seam, matching the pattern if necessary. Press the seams open, ensuring there is a full width in the centre with equal part widths added on each side. To make the frill, join the strips together with a 0.5" (12 mm) French seam to create one long length, matching the pattern as needed. Neaten each end by turning in a double 0.25" (6 mm) hem and stitch.
Finally, lay the blind fabric, right side up, on a flat surface. Work two rows of gathering stitches along the top edge. Pull up the gathering threads until it measures twice the flat length of the blind (including the extra 20" for fullness) plus the width of the blind. Adjust the gathers evenly.
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Attaching the blind
Now that you have your Austrian blind ready, it is time to attach it to the window.
First, 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.
Next, attach the grip tape to the front edge of the wooden batten, if used. Attach the top of the blind to the wooden batten by pressing the heading tape onto the grip tape. Screw eye screws into the underside of the wooden batten, directly above each of the Austrian blind tapes. If using an Austrian blind track, insert curtain hooks into the pockets on the heading tape and hang the blind on the track.
Thread all the nylon cords through the cord holders on the track or the screw eyes on the batten, working from left to right. With the bottom of the blind at window sill level, cut all the nylon cords level with the bottom of the window. Thread all the cords through the acorn and knot to secure.
Finally, fix a cleat at the right-hand side, approximately halfway down the window. Pull up the blind and wind the cords around the cleat in a figure of eight to secure.
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Using Austrian blind tape
To hang Austrian blinds using Austrian blind tape, you will need to follow a few key steps. Firstly, lay the blind on a flat surface with the lining side facing up. Cut two strips of Austrian blind tape slightly longer than the length of the blind, ensuring that the first loop on the tape is positioned 2 inches (5 cm) up from the frill seam. Place these tapes vertically on the fabric alongside the frill seam, ensuring that the loops of the tape are aligned across the blind.
Next, pin and stitch the tapes in place. It is important to stitch both sides in the same direction to prevent puckering. After this, you will need to divide the width between the tapes into equal sections of 12-20 inches (30-50 cm) and mark vertical lines down the blind at each point. Pin and stitch a length of Austrian blind tape centrally on each vertical line, again turning under the bottom edge to neaten and ensuring that the loops are aligned.
Now, cut pieces of nylon cord for each length of Austrian blind tape. Cut each piece twice the length of the blind plus one width. Attach a piece of nylon cord to the bottom loop of the tape and thread it up through all the loops to the top edge. Pull up the cords on the heading tape to fit the blind track or batten, adjusting the gathers evenly. Secure the ends of the cords with a sliding loop and wind up the surplus cord.
Finally, fix a cleat at the right-hand side of the window, approximately halfway down. Pull up the blind and wind the cords around the cleat in a figure-of-eight motion to secure it in place. Your Austrian blind is now ready to be enjoyed!
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Threading the cord
Next, thread the cord through the screw eyes on the batten, working systematically from right to left. This process creates an even distribution of tension across the blind, preventing any unwanted creases or unevenness. It is important to ensure that the cords are threaded smoothly and securely to avoid any tangles or snags.
After threading the cord, the bottom of the blind should be positioned at window sill level. At this stage, cut all the nylon cords level with the bottom of the window. This step ensures that the cords are uniform and ready for the final knotting process. It is important to measure twice and cut once to ensure accuracy and avoid any mistakes.
Finally, thread all the cords through an acorn, a small decorative piece, and knot them securely. This finishing touch not only adds a subtle design element but also ensures that the cords are safely gathered and held in place. The acorn and knot combination provides a functional and aesthetically pleasing way to secure the Austrian blinds.
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Securing the blind
Once you have cut and stitched your fabric, it is time to secure the blind. To do this, you will need to fix the blind track or wooden batten in the chosen position. If your blind is to hang inside the window recess, fix it to the underside of the window frame. If it 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. Measure the length of the track or batten and double it to allow for fullness. This will be the width of your blind.
Next, attach the top of the blind to the wooden batten by pressing the heading tape onto the grip tape. Screw eye screws into the underside of the wooden batten, directly above each of the Austrian blind tapes. If using an Austrian blind track, insert curtain hooks into the pockets on the heading tape and hang the blind on the track.
Thread the cord through the screw eyes on the batten, working from right to left. Use an acorn to gather the cords. With the bottom of the blind at window sill level, cut all the cords level with the bottom of the window. Thread the cords through the acorn and knot to secure.
Finally, fix a cleat to the right-hand side of the window, approximately halfway down. Pull up the blind and wind the cords around the cleat in a figure of eight to secure.
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Frequently asked questions
To hang Austrian blinds, you must first attach the top of the blind to a wooden batten by pressing the heading tape onto grip tape. Then, screw eye screws into the underside of the wooden batten, directly above each of the Austrian blind tapes. If using an Austrian blind track, insert curtain hooks into the pockets on the heading tape and hang the blind on the track.
Thread all the nylon cords through the cord holders on the track or the screw eyes on the batten, working from left to right. With the bottom of the blind at window sill level, cut all the nylon cords level with the bottom of the window. Thread all the cords through the acorn and knot to secure.
Measure from the top of the track or batten to the bottom of the window frame and add 20" (50 cm) so that the blind has some fullness when lowered over the window. This allows for top hem and bottom seam allowances.
Cut your fabric to the desired height of your shades and double it over onto itself. Trim the fabric to the size of your window and cut two pieces of cardboard or similar material to the height of your shades. Secure each piece of fabric to a piece of cardboard on either side, leaving an extra 12" on each end for sewing later.
Always stitch both sides in the same direction to keep the tape from puckering.
