3m long blinds

[Mossy Three Needles Find all posts View Profile Close Mossy]

Hi everyone

Just to let you know I fitted the curtains yesterday for the job I did last week. The customer was really happy with them and asked me to do some more work for her. I am so giddy! Will post a photo when I work out how

I have a couple of questions with my next job and would appreciate any advice. I am making four 3m long x 1m roman blinds for a converted chapel. I recommended using a blind kit to hang them but the customer was not happy with price. I am going to use wooden battens instead but am not sure if they will be strong enough. The property is a holiday let so she can't guarantee that they won't be pulled on heavily if you know what I mean.

Then I got thinking about the cords... they will be so long that they might not wrap neatly around a (extra large?) cleat. Do I try a cord lock?

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Jo

[janie Pins & Needles Find all posts View Profile Close janie]

Re: 3m long blinds

Instead of a cleat use two brass tie back hooks, one above the other, about 6" apart and wind the cord around them in a figure if eight. The batten wil be fine providing it has a very secure fixing.
Janie

[Jackie Pins & Needles Find all posts View Profile Close Jackie]

Re: 3m long blinds

Hi Jo,
Gosh, that's a long one (if you see what I mean! )! How many rows of rings/cords are you planning to use? I would have thought that the blinds would be expensive because of the amount of work involved, not the cost of the bits and pieces. I don't think I've ever made blinds that long!
Jackie

[Mossy Three Needles Find all posts View Profile Close Mossy]

Re: 3m long blinds

Great idea for cords Janie, I will do that. I use a local handyman to fit my battens so will stress importance of a secure fit.

To say I am a little anxious is an understatement Jackie. Just working spacing out at the moment. I was thinking about doing large folds to create as neat a stack as possible. I have my NDA course book, M&D Encyc and laptop around me at the moment

Pricing is a whole other can of worms for me. As a new business and newish to soft furnishings I probably sell myself short. I just want to work and build up my experience but am probably working for about 2p an hour (well not quite but you know what I mean).

Thanks for advice.

[Schuhby Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close Schuhby]

Re: 3m long blinds

The property is a holiday let so she can't guarantee that they won't be pulled on heavily if you know what I mean.

Then I got thinking about the cords... they will be so long that they might not wrap neatly around a (extra large?) cleat. Do I try a cord lock?

Without trying to panic you or your customer, I'd be more concerned with the cords and other peoples children playing with them and the potential danger of strangulation. I would mention this to your client and suggest she pays a few extra £'s and uses a tracking system with a side winding mechanism with wall safety cleats.

Philip

[Mossy Three Needles Find all posts View Profile Close Mossy]

Re: 3m long blinds

Hadn't thought of that. Good point Philip. Safety has to come before cost surely? Will ring customer.

Thanks alot

Jo

[Louise Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close Louise]

Re: 3m long blinds

Also at 1m wide you are not going to need very wide tracks anyway - the cost of the rods etc. will be the same and you will not be buying a cleat and cord weight......

You can order tracks with longer operating chains for high windows........

[Jules BANNED USER Find all posts View Profile Close Jules]

Re: 3m long blinds

Hi Jo,

I do think in a holiday let that a track is the way to go, however, you can buy special fixings to set apart for wrapping long cords around them. I'll try to remember the company - somewhere in B'ham...... - and post when I do.

[Penny Pins & Needles Find all posts View Profile Close Penny]

Re: 3m long blinds

I completely agree with Phillip my main concern would be the risk of a child strangling themselves. I always fit tracks I no longer offer battens as an option.
With one that long you may need a heavier geared ratio chain housing. They usually come in a 1:1 or 5:1 for anything over 3/4 kgs in weight.

[Cat Pins & Needles Find all posts View Profile Close Cat]

Re: 3m long blinds

I'm with Philip and the others on this one too. I personally don't give the option of battens/cords now. After a long informative conversation with a spokesman for the British Blind Makers Assoc. I would always err on the side of caution. Even if you supply a note of warning, a child under four can't read it.!
The advice I was given was that if a client ignores the safety advice you give then it's best to get it in writing that you offered an alternative.

Cat

P.S. I get my safety cord fixing devices from Pretty Frills they are suitable for top,side or face fixing.

http://www.prettyfrills.co.uk/Child-Saf ... ducts.html

[Mossy Three Needles Find all posts View Profile Close Mossy]

Re: 3m long blinds

Thank you all for your advice. I have so much to learn (but am loving every minute).

I have emailed my customer and am waiting for a reply.

Could I ask where you buy your track systems from?

Jo

[Mossy Three Needles Find all posts View Profile Close Mossy]

Re: 3m long blinds

I have heard back from my customer. The property will only be let to adults and children over 12 so she does not consider the cords a safety problem. She did appreciate me mentioning it (thanks for the brownie points!).

Jo

[pelmetman Pins & Needles Find all posts View Profile Close pelmetman]

Re: 3m long blinds

Just a thought, when I used to fit blinds on a batten I would the lower blind to its lowest point, then tie a knot at the point nearest the batten and plait the rest of the cord before fitting the acorn (I normally had to drill out the acorn to take the plait) I did it because I thought it looked better, plus I come from 4 generations of hairdressers so maybe it is in the genes

[Mossy Three Needles Find all posts View Profile Close Mossy]

Re: 3m long blinds

What a lovely idea. Thanks Dave.

Loving your work!

Jo

[JGM Needle & Thread Find all posts View Profile Close JGM]

Re: 3m long blinds

Hi there

You can also get cord connectors for roman blinds....Pretty Frills I think. They allow you to thread all your cords through one half, knot and cut. Then you put you hand cord/ribbon etc through the other half and screw them together. Then just add your acorn at the bottom....really neat. Used them alot when I made batten romans.