How to Order Made-to-Measure Striped Blinds: Fabric Choice, Measuring and Ordering

Updated

The Stripes Company sells striped Roman blinds and curtains made to measure, alongside striped fabric by the metre, so you can either order a finished blind or have one made from their fabric. Before ordering, confirm the current blind styles, lead times and whether made-to-measure items can be returned, then request free swatches, measure your window recess or outside mount, and place the order with your chosen stripe and size. The site currently advertises 10% off all curtains and Roman blinds for orders placed by 31 October, and free swatches (up to 8, postage only, refundable from your first order).

Check what the retailer actually offers

The site's product range covers striped fabrics, striped products, replacement deckchair canvas and trimmings. The made-to-measure offer appears in its curtain and Roman blind promotion, so the practical first step is to confirm:

  • Blind style: Roman blinds are the style named in the site's offers. Check the product pages for the full list of available styles before assuming other blind types.
  • Made to measure vs fabric by the metre: Both exist. Fabric by the metre suits a local maker; a finished Roman blind suits ordering direct. Decide which route you want before measuring, because the measurements you supply differ.
  • Returns: Made-to-measure items are commonly excluded from standard returns. Confirm this on the product page or with the retailer before ordering, since the site excerpt does not state a returns policy for bespoke blinds.

Choose a stripe that works as a blind

Striped fabric behaves differently on a blind than on a curtain or cushion, because the drop is fixed and the stripes run vertically down a flat panel.

  • Stripe scale: Fine 1cm stripes (as used in the site's tablecloths and napkins) read as a subtle texture from a distance; wide bold stripes become a strong graphic feature. Match the scale to the window size — a small window can be overwhelmed by very wide stripes.
  • Pattern repeat: Ask for the vertical repeat so you know how the stripes will fall across the drop. A repeat that doesn't divide evenly into your drop can leave an odd partial stripe at the bottom hem.
  • Alignment across panels: If the blind is wider than the fabric, or you're pairing it with curtains, confirm how stripes will be matched at the seams. This matters most with wide or irregular stripe designs.
  • Light and colour: Order free swatches (up to 8, postage only) and view them in your room at different times of day. Screen colours are unreliable for judging stripe colour and contrast.

Measure before you order

Measurements depend on whether the blind sits inside the window recess or outside it. Use a metal tape measure and measure in millimetres, then convert to the units the order form requires.

Inside the recess

  1. Measure the width at the top, middle and bottom of the recess and use the smallest figure.
  2. Measure the drop at the left, centre and right and use the shortest figure.
  3. Note any obstructions — handles, tiles, uneven plaster — that could stop the blind sitting flush.

Outside the recess

  1. Decide how far the blind should overlap the window on each side (typically enough to clear the frame and reduce light gaps).
  2. Measure the total width you want covered, plus the drop from your chosen fixing height to the point where the blind should finish.
  3. Check there is a solid fixing surface for the brackets above the window.

Record both sets of figures and compare them with the retailer's measuring guidance for the specific blind before ordering — some makers ask for the recess size and make their own deductions, others ask for the finished blind size.

Place the order and check the details

  • Confirm the fabric and colourway against your swatch, including the exact stripe name, since similar colourways can look alike on screen.
  • Enter measurements in the format requested and double-check the width/drop order — reversed measurements are a common and costly error on made-to-measure orders.
  • Check current offers: the site advertises 10% off all curtains and Roman blinds for orders by 31 October, and a separate sitewide discount applied at checkout with an end date shown on the page. Confirm which applies to your basket at checkout rather than assuming they combine.
  • Ask about lead time before ordering if you have a deadline, as made-to-measure production times are not stated in the site information available.
  • Keep your swatch and order confirmation so you can check the delivered blind against the fabric you approved.

Common sticking points

  • Assuming every fabric is available as a blind: the site sells fabric by the metre and finished blinds; not every striped fabric may be offered made up. Check the blind product pages.
  • Measuring the window rather than the recess or fixing point: this is the most frequent cause of a blind that doesn't fit.
  • Skipping swatches: stripe colour and scale are hard to judge on screen, and the free swatch service exists to prevent this.
  • Not checking returns on bespoke items: confirm before you order, not after delivery.