Making a Balloon Blind

Again these are similar to an Austrian Blind and making them starts in the same way, but you will need more fabric in the width. This is because once you have sewn the vertical tapes in place, you need to make a pleat behind each tape, running the length of the blind. To do this, fold the fabric lengthways down the centre of the tape, and from the top, stitch down about 4 inches, making the seam about 6 inches in from the tape. Open out the pleat and iron firmly to create an inverted box pleat down the length of the blind. Secure the pleat at the bottom with a few stitches. Do this for all the tapes EXCEPT the tapes running down the sides of the blind.

Then continue as for the Austrian blinds.

These blinds allow for some creativity in that the insides of the pleats can be made in contrasting fabric.