| Archive for Downsizer For an ethical approach to consumption |
| Effie |
Blind fabric stiffenerI have taken down a blind that was here when I moved in and removed the blind from it. I have some fabric and just need to trim it to size and mount it on the roller mechanism. I've seen spray things of stiffener for making blinds.Is it really necessary, other than to stop the edges fraying? Could I just hem it (it's quite thin cotton) I think I probably do need it, but I am on a 'buy nothing new' month and am trying to avoid paying out for it 
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| marigold |
If you hem it at the sides the resulting uneven thickness may mean it doesn't roll up and down smoothly. You could probably get round that by making the turned-over bit quite wide, but that might spoil the look of the blind when the light shows through... I think you can justify the purchase of the stiffener on the grounds that you aren't actually buying a whole new blind  .
There's a thread on MSE on the subject http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=121399 (I don't think starch is a good idea - you need something waterproof). |
| sally_in_wales |
got any pva glue? Thin it down so it looks like watery milk and wring out the fabric in it, will stiffen it up and stop it fraying. Test a scrap of fabric first to check you like the result before doing the whole thing though |
| Effie |
Marigold, I did think that seams may look a little odd and not roller properly. The wonder of the internet eh- however daft an idea may be there is always someone who has tried it before and posted somewhere on it.
What a good idea Sally! I have a large tub of pva somewhere. The real question is where on earth would it be....where would I have put it when I was packing up to move, I wonder? |
| marigold |
I'm not sure about PVA myself - you need to be very careful not to distort the fabric for a blind, so you'd have to make sure it dried flat and square. I'm not sure how easy that would be. As Sally says do a test piece first - it may be easier than I imagine  .
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| Effie |
I can't find the pva anywhere. I have a strange feeling I lent it to someone to do something perculiar with and never saw it again. I can't remember who it was though.
So I may just cave and buy the stiffener. |