January 11 2012 Newsletter

PhotoView Technique



I am often asked to cover a window that has a beautiful view. Perhaps the client wishes they had a beautiful view. Pieced Roman shades can be designed to create a realistic view using simple straight-line sewing and off-the-shelf fabrics.

These two shades were made for a sunny bathroom. The homeowners collected art and were frustrated with this room, which had no wall space for paintings. They had just returned from a trip to Brazil, where they had taken many photographs of the landscape and old buildings. Reproducing two of those photographs on their windows seemed to be the perfect solution to their dilemma.


Many art quilters have perfected techniques to depict scenes. I am a collector of quilting books and like to take classes from innovative teachers. I modify and unify all of the information I've learned and end up with a technique that works best for me. My PhotoView technique creates a straight-line piecing pattern by simplifying an image into pie-shaped pieces.

I start with a photograph. Ideally, it is correctly proportioned for the window. This photograph was taken by my client, but I usually take my own picture with a point-and-shoot camera.

I use a simple computer drawing program (CorelDraw) to create a straight-line sketch that reproduces the image. You can even blow up the photograph and use tracing paper. I color in the drawing to make fabric selection easier.

I blow up the line drawing to full size. Sometimes I go to a copy shop that has a blueprint copier (up to 400% magnification and 3-foot wide paper). For my last shade, I printed out 16 legal-size sheets and taped them together. It actually worked just as well as the blueprint technique.

I lay freezer paper with the shiny side up on top of the drawing and trace the entire pattern. I cut the freezer paper into separate pieces and end up with "freezer-paper templates" for my design.

I iron the templates onto the wrong side of the fabric and add ¼" seams when I cut the pieces out. The pattern pieces are now sewn back together and create an exact replica of the full-size pattern. I trim and border the piece and make it into a Roman shade or wall hanging. You can see lots of examples of shades made using this technique in the Terrell's Shades section of my Gallery.

My Windows aren't Level


Sara S recently sent this message: "I am attempting to mount three valances over the three sections of my bay window. I used a level to make sure the boards are level, which they are. Well, it turns out that the windows are not level. The ceiling also is not level and it is at a very slightly different angle from the windows. What do I do?"

Many older (and not so old) houses have these "issues". If the house settles or the trim carpenter was in a hurry, your windows are probably not level. You need to stand back and decide what your eye will notice after the window treatments are hung. If the shade or valance is relatively close to the ceiling, I would mount them so that they are parallel with the ceiling. This will certainly work for a valance. If you are hanging a shade, you also need to check how it looks next to the window trim. I'd still place the board parallel to the ceiling and adjust the angle of the shade slightly using the Velcro if necessary. If the shade is being mounted well below the ceiling, I'd place the board so that it is parallel with the top trim of the window. Ultimately you have to say "Good enough!" and appreciate your unique home, even with its mismatched angles.