How to Make Shades for a Front Door

Measure the width and length of the windows in the front door. Add an extra 2 inches to both measurements. Note down the measurements, so you can purchase the correct amount of fabric.

Choose the fabric for the window shades. Sheer fabrics such as tulle, voile, batiste and gossamer offer plenty of privacy and allow light to penetrate the interior of the home, but they also block out harsh sunlight. Heavier, non-transparent fabrics are easier to sew, but will completely block out all natural light. The type of fabric you choose depends on the function you want from your shades.

Mark a hem line on the fabric with a piece of chalk, approximately 1 inch from the bottom of the fabric. Position a piece of tissue paper under the hem, and stitch this along the chalk line. Adjust your sewing machine to a zigzag stitch, and sew over the straight line of stitching. Blanket stitch over the zigzag stitching using a large wing needle. Cut the excess fabric away from the hem, cutting as close to the stitching as possible.

Fold 1 inch of the fabric over at the top of the fabric, and stitch in place using the same technique used for hemming the fabric in Step 3. This creates a tab to thread the curtain wire through and hang the finished shade.

Lay the fabric out on a flat surface, and place a small chalk mark approximately 12 inches from the top of both sides of the fabric. Make the marks level with one another. Repeat this process until you have around four marks every 12 inches on both sides.

Cut a piece of ribbon that matches the color of the fabric into eight pieces approximately 4 inches long each. Fold the first piece of ribbon in half, and sew both ends to the first chalk mark on the fabric, creating a small loop. Repeat until you have a ribbon loop sewn onto each chalk mark.

Attach a piece of curtain wire to the top of the window. Screw a small hook on both sides of the window, approximately 4 inches below the curtain wire. Screw another hook on both sides 4 inches below the first hooks, and continue until you have four hooks on both sides of the window.

Thread the curtain wire through the hem at the top of the fabric. Hook each piece of ribbon to the appropriate hook, creating a roman blind effect. For added privacy, simply remove the ribbon from the hooks and allow the fabric to fall the length of the window.