By Laurie Pessetto

By Laurie Pessetto Coordinate your window treatments with furniture, a bedspread, valance, cornice, or draperies using HTC Retail’s Fuse‐A‐Shade, a fusible nonwoven interfacing specifically designed for fabric roller blinds. Materials: Fuse‐A‐Shade Kit, which contains fusible interfacing for a window 41 inches x 56 inches maximum size, plastic roller hardware, metal wall‐
mounting hardware, Stitch Witchery, draw string, cardboard roller and instructions, which are located inside the roller. Not included in the kit:  Mounting screws  Flat pull bar  Fabric (dimensions of window shade plus 7 inches in length and 3 inches in width) Tools: 
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Press cloth Iron Table Ironing board Scissors Measuring tools Disappearing ink pen Coping saw Contact or rubber cement (Continued on next page) Skill Level: This project requires accuracy in measuring and cutting and use of a hand saw. The ironing will be the most time‐consuming part of the project. There is no sewing required. Anyone can make this decorative, functional roller shade in several hours. Tips: Select a lightweight fabric. A woven fabric will be the simplest to work with. A textured medium or heavyweight fabric will not adhere to Fuse‐A‐Shade. Certain types of decorator fabrics that have sequins or metallic threads, silks, or fabrics that are napped may not be appropriate. Sheer fabrics may show the adhesive through the material. Also if the fabric has a water‐ or stain‐
repellent finish or is sensitive to heat and moisture, it may not bond well. It is recommended to do a test sample on any fabric you want to use. You can prewash the fabric, but the shade will not be washable when completed. The Fuse‐A‐Shade instruction sheet is also available on the website: http://www.htc‐retail.com/pdf/FuseAShade.pdf 1. Open the Fuse‐A‐Shade kit and remove the interfacing covered roller. The instructions are inside the roller. 2. Detach Fuse‐A‐Shade interfacing from the cardboard roller. 3. Cut Fuse‐A‐Shade to the length and width of the window shade. 4. Mark the width on the roller. 5. Saw the cardboard roller to the window width with a coping saw. 6. The roller ends may separate or shred during cutting. 7. To mend layers, apply contact or rubber cement to both sides. 8. Allow the cement to dry completely; then press firmly to mend the layers. (Continued on next page) 1. Open the Fuse‐A‐Shade kit. 2. Remove the Fuse‐A‐Shade interfacing from the cardboard roller. 3. Measure and cut the Fuse‐A‐Shade to fit your window. 4. Mark the width on the roller. 5. Cut the roller. 6. The roller layers may separate. 7. Apply contact or rubber cement to both layers of the roller. 8. When completely dry, press the layers together to mend. 9. Place Fuse‐A‐Shade interfacing on the back of the shade fabric, shiny side against the wrong side of the fabric. Make sure the edge of Fuse‐A‐Shade is on the straight grain. Refer to http://www.htc‐
retail.com/pdf/Guide‐to‐
Determine‐Grain‐Line‐LPv1.pdf to learn how to find the grain. 10. Measure and cut the fabric 1 ¼ inches wider than the desired shade width to allow for the side hems. Cut the length 7 to 10 inches longer than the window. 11. Set up a table to support the shade as it cools after ironing the Fuse‐A‐Shade onto the wrong side of the fabric. Set the ironing board up at the same height as the table. 12. Follow the Fuse‐A‐Shade instructions to apply the fusible interfacing. Test a sample first to see if you need to increase the heat setting or add steam to get a good bond. 13. Cut two side lengths of the Stitch Witchery included in the kit. Place the Stitch Witchery along the side of the shade on the interfacing edge. 14. Fold the fabric hem over to the back on the Fuse‐A‐Shade side, and press. 15. Steam to form the bond of the hem down each long side. 16. Cut a flat pull bar the width of the shade to insert into the bottom pocket of the shade as your pull support. You can find one at a hardware store or recycle one from an old roller shade. (Continued on next page) 9. Place the Fuse‐A‐Shade interfacing on the fabric and measure. 10. Cut the sides and bottom reserving a hem allowance. 11. Place a table along the ironing board to support the shade after pressing until it is cool. 12. Follow the instructions to apply Fuse‐A‐
Shade. 13. Cut two lengths of Stitch Witchery to hem the side edges. 14. Place Stitch Witchery at the edge of Fuse‐A‐Shade and hem the sides. 15. Both long sides are hemmed with Stitch Witchery. 16. Cut a pull bar the width of the shade. 17. Fold up the bottom of the fabric to meet the top of the Stitch Witchery to form a pocket to fit your pull bar. 18. Press along the pull bar to form a pocket. You also can sew this pocket. 19. Reattach the completed shade back onto the cardboard roller. There is already a strip of double stick masking tape on the cardboard roller to get it started. You might also bond the edge to the roller with the Stitch Witchery and the iron to make it more secure. 20. Repeat step 19 at the overlap point so the cardboard roller is completely encased in fabric and the fabric is secured to the roller. 21. Roll the shade onto the roller. 22. Insert the plastic roller mechanism parts into the ends of the cardboard roller with the draw string on either the right or left side. 23. Mount the metal brackets onto the window frame with screws (not included). Next insert the plastic mechanism connections into the metal mounting brackets and your shade is done! 17. Cut Stitch Witchery the width of the shade and place the pull bar below the Stitch Witchery. 18. Form the roller pocket on the back of the shade using Stitch Witchery. 19. Use the Stitch Witchery to reattach the shade to the roller at the top edge. 20. Repeat another strip of Stitch Witchery at the fabric overlap point. 21. Roll the shade onto the roller. 22. Insert the plastic hardware into the roller ends. 23. Mount the metal brackets and insert the plastic hardware into the brackets to complete your shade project. About HTC Fuse‐A‐Shade Kit The Fuse‐A‐Shade Fabric Roller Shade kit, #5800, includes a roller, wall brackets (but no screws), plastic roller hardware, draw string, cardboard roller, Stitch Witchery, and Fuse‐A‐Shade fusible interfacing measuring 72 inches long by 41 inches wide, which should fit any size window. Instructions are included and are located inside the Fuse‐A‐Shade cardboard roller. It retails for $29.99. You will need to purchase a pull bar and mounting screws. This kit will work for a window up to 41 inches wide, and up to 56 inches tall. Allow 5 inches at the top to cover the cardboard roller and 2 inches at the bottom for the pull bar pocket. Fuse‐A‐Shade can be used for any project needing rigid, lightweight support such as decorative folders, table runners, flags, or wall hangings. For window blinds, it’s best to tack down your fabric to Fuse‐A‐
Shade using an iron and then take the blind to the cleaners to have them pressed there. Fuse‐A‐Shade interfacing also is available by the yard or on a bolt measuring 48 inches wide by 30 yards long as HTC #1650‐7. For more information, go to: http://www.htc‐retail.com/fuse‐a‐shade‐kit Please like us on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/HTC‐Retail/141149719304699 We publish free projects, events, and news about interesting books, videos, products, and competitions every month. If you’ve created a project with an HTC material, we’d love to see it. When you post it to your Facebook page, please tag our Facebook page as well. If you have any questions, suggestions, or ideas you’d like to see, please contact us: Phone: (678) 514 0400 Toll Free: (800) 275‐4275 Fax: (678) 510 0349 Email: info@htc‐retail.com