Preparing Dowel Casing and Pockets
Mark the dowel casing on the lining fabric by measuring 9 inches (or the desired pocket depth) up from the bottom edge; draw a horizontal line across the width of the piece with the fabric pen. Measure 1-1⁄4 inches up from the first line (for the dowel casing); draw another horizontal line. Measure 4-1⁄2 inches (or half the depth of the other pockets) up; draw a horizontal line. Then, continue measuring and drawing horizontal lines at 9 inches (the pocket depth) and 1-1⁄4 inches to the top of the lining.

Turn under 1-1⁄2 inches on each long side of the lining piece; machine-stitch to secure the hems. To form the bottom dowel casing, fold the lining piece with wrong sides together and match the first two horizontal lines. Pin; sew along the line. Form the remaining dowel casings in the same manner, matching and sewing each set of 1-1⁄4-inch-deep horizontal lines (see illustration, below).

On decorator fabric, turn under 1-1⁄2 inches on each long side; press the hems.

Working on a large flat surface, lay the decorator fabric piece right side down. Position the lining piece, dowel pocket side up, on the fabric piece so the bottom edges match and the lining is centered between the fabric’s side edges. Pin in place, making sure the dowel casings are perfectly horizontal on the fabric. Machine-stitch the long side edges together along the folded edge of the lining, starting and stopping on either side of each dowel casing, making sure not to sew the edges of the dowel openings shut. Then, machine-stitch through all layers along each dowel casing’s horizontal stitching.

Draw a scallop pattern on a piece of tracing paper slightly wider than the finished shade; cut out. Position the pattern on the lining side of the shade along the bottom edge; trace. Cut both fabric layers along the scallop design; baste the cut edges together.

Cut a 1-inch-wide bias strip from extra decorator fabric the length of the scalloped edge plus 1 inch.

With right sides together, position and pin the bias strip on the decorator fabric side of the shade along the scallop edge. Line up the raw edges, easing the fabric as needed, and leave 1⁄2 inch on each end of the bias strip fabric overlapping each side of the shade. Machine-stitch along the scallop 1⁄4 inch from the raw edges. Turn under the bias strip short ends 1⁄2 inch. Turn under the long edge of the bias strip 1⁄4 inch; press. Fold and press the long edge of the bias strip at the stitching line over the raw scallop edge to the lining side of the shade (see illustration, below); hand-stitch in place, easing the fabric as needed.

Turn under the top, raw edge of the shade 1 inch toward the lining side; machine-stitch to secure.

Cut the dowel for each dowel casing 1 inch shorter than the length of the casing. Insert the dowels into the casings; slip-stitch the casings closed.

Next: Finishing and Attaching Shade