How to Make Porch Shades

Measure the opening. Add 4 inches to the width for side finish hems, and 6 inches to the top and bottom for bar pockets. Add 10 inches to the length for the roll at the bottom. Make adjustments and join pieces before proceeding with hemming if joining is necessary.

Hem the sides of the shade material, rolling 1 inch over and pressing with a cool iron. Roll it over again and press. Sew along the first fold edge to finish the hem.

Fold the top and bottom of the shade over 1 inch, and press as with the side hems. Fold over 2 inches for the second fold to form a pocket for the end bars. Hem the ends, forming 2 3/8-inch pockets.

Insert 1-inch drapery bars into the pockets at the top and bottom of the shade. Do not trim them to size. Sew hem reinforcement as close to the bottom bar as possible to secure the bar.

Tie a piece of cord between the ends of the top drapery bar, or header, and hang it over the end of a door to support the shade while you add hardware. Twist 1/2-inch screw eyes through the shade straight into one side of the header, approximately every 18 inches. This will be the outside of the shade Cut lengths of lift cord four times as long as the shade and tie one to each screw eye.

Turn the shade around. Attach drapery pulleys to the header on the inside of the shade so they are opposite each screw eye. Loop each cord under the shade and thread it through the corresponding pulley on the inside. Pull the shade up, rolling it as it rises.

Tie the excess cord around the rolled shade to secure it closed as you trim the excess header and bottom drapery bars flush with the fabric.

Screw two or three sharp ceiling hooks inside the top of the porch frame to hang your shade. Ease the hooks through the shade fabric and ease the header bar down over them. Use hooks that are graded to hold at least 60 pounds to support the weight of your shade.

Install a clothesline hook on the side framing near the top, but just inside the shade. Untie the cords. String them through this guide hook to keep the cords from tangling in the shade. Drop the shade, holding onto the ends of these cords.

Tie a knot in the three cords about shoulder height when the shade is resting evenly on the window sill, rail or floor.

Install a cleat hook just above eye level on the porch frame to anchor the cords when raising or lowering the shade.