Do-It-Yourself Arched Window Shades

Make a template of the window. Use heavy paper or cardboard for a sturdy pattern that is exactly the size and shape of the area the shade must cover. Cut the pattern in two, vertically, and add 12 inches to the center by taping in another piece of paper or cardboard. You have now created an elliptical shape that is flat across the center 12 inches of the window.

Use the template as a pattern to cut the fabric for the shade, adding 1/2 inch around the arch for attaching the shade and 2 inches across the bottom for the hem.

Create an inverted pleat with the 12 inches of extra fabric and stitch the pleat across the top to hold it in place. To form the inverted pleat, lay the shade fabric right sides together, and align the top edge. Place a pin, perpendicular to the top edge, 6 inches away from the fold. This creates a channel of fabric that is used to form the pleat. Press the fold toward the pin, causing the sides of the channel to flare out and flatten, creating a pleat on the back of the shade.

Lay the fabric on the table with the pleat in place, and trim the excess fabric from the pleat around the top of the arch. Pin all the layers together and stitch in place, sewing 1/2 inch from the edge.

Turn the bottom hem up 1 inch, twice, and stitch in place.

Sew the shade lift rings on the back of the shade with needle and thread. Place the rows of rings no more than 4 inches apart and ensure there is a row of rings down the center of the pleat. The number of columns of rings is arbitrary, but at least three are needed: one in the center and one at each side.

Press the fabric to the back, 1/2 inch from the edge all the way around the arch to create a stapling line for attaching the shade to the window frame and a 1/2-inch "seam allowance."

Starting at the apex of the arch, staple the shade to the window frame with a staplegun. Position the right side of the fabric of the 1/2-inch seam allowance against the window frame and staple on the creased line, on the wrong side of the shade. The shade falls forward along the creased line when it is fully attached to the frame. Staple into the wrong of the shade, fastening the fabric to the frame along the creased line.

Insert eye-screws into the window frame at the same positions on the arch as the columns of rings are sewn on the fabric.

Attach the lift cord to the bottom rings by your preferred method of attachment -- tying, sewing, gluing or with a releasing toggle orb, for example -- up through the rings on the shade, into the corresponding eye-screw and across the arch, through all the eye-screws to one side. Let the cord fall free and cut it off at the bottom of the shade.

Pull on all the cords to lift the shade into two swags. Attach a cord cleat to the wall to anchor the cords while the shade is in the up position.