Halfway Through 2025: Where in the U.S. is the Widget Kit?
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As we reach the halfway point of 2025—and approach the one-year anniversary of launching our Widget Kit this September—we’ve taken a step back to reflect on where this little innovation has traveled.
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We mapped out all of our U.S. Widget Kit orders, and the results were fascinating! It’s clear that window treatment fabrication is thriving in many regions across the country… and conspicuously quieter in others. While it’s entirely possible that some fabricators in those “blank” states simply haven’t adopted Centurion Widgets (yet!), we still found the distribution pattern to be an interesting glimpse into where the Widget Cordless Lift System is making an impact.

We do have customers in Canada as well—but sadly, Excel isn’t on board with plotting cross-border maps just yet. (We’re working on it!) And yes, Alaska and Hawaii—you're on our wish list for next year’s map.

Shout-Out to the Widget Community

Regardless of geography, we’re thrilled to see the Widget Kit in workrooms all across the U.S., helping fabricators build beautiful, functional Roman shades with cordless lift systems.

To those already using our system—thank you for being part of this growing community! We'd love to celebrate your work even more. If you haven't already, consider sending us photos of your finished shades. It’s inspiring to see how each fabricator puts their own touch on Roman shades, and we'd be honored to share your creations with the wider Widget world in our website gallery.

Not on the Map? Let Us Know!
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If you should be on the map and don’t see your state represented, let us know! Email us at [email protected]—we’d love to get it right. And if you’re still thinking about trying the Widget Kit, there's no better time to jump in and join a growing community of fabricators making cordless lift systems smarter and simpler.

Thanks to updated safety standards, corded window coverings are now under close scrutiny, especially when it comes to protecting children. These changes don’t just affect the window treatment industry—they’re reshaping how real estate is bought and sold across the U.S.

A Shift Toward Safer Homes

Recent regulations from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the Window Covering Manufacturers Association (WCMA) now require that most window coverings be cordless or have inaccessible cords. These rules are a direct response to the risk of child strangulation posed by traditional corded blinds—a danger many homeowners might not even be aware of.

Here’s what this means for our customers who own their homes:

🏡 Existing Homes: A New Consideration for Sellers
If your customer is planning to sell their home and they still have traditional corded blinds or shades, you might suggest that they consider an upgrade. Buyers—especially families—are becoming more safety-conscious, and corded window coverings could be a red flag.
Even if they don’t replace the coverings outright, real estate agents increasingly recommend that sellers:

• Disclose any corded window treatments during the sale process
• Offer solutins, such as cord safety kits or modern replacements
• Highlight any recent upgrades to compliant window coverings as a selling point

🛠️ Renovating Before Listing? Think Cordless
If a pre-sale refresh is why your customer has called you, have them consider retrofitting or replacing corded shades with cordless options. Not only does this ensure compliance—it also enhances the home's appeal, giving it a clean, modern look that today’s buyers love.

🧒 Safety First: The Heart of the Regulation
These changes aren’t just about following rules—they’re about keeping children safe. According to safety advocates, even one child’s life lost to a preventable window cord accident is too many. That’s why the industry has driven the move toward safer designs, including:

• Cordless options (now widely available in stylish, functional designs)
• Short, static cords (like 12-inch pulls on roller shades, which meet safety criteria)
• Motorized and automated controls for convenience and security

Final Thoughts
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In today’s market, small details can make a big difference—especially when they reflect thoughtful, safety-focused living. As a window treatment professional, knowing the story behind a customer’s window treatments isn't just about compliance--it’s about care.

Help your customers by providing guidance on safe, stylish cordless shade options, especially in spaces they may consider already “complete.”

Why Are They Called Roman Shades? A Look at History, Beauty, and Function

As the name suggests, Roman Shades trace their origins back to ancient Rome—but not in the way you might think.
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While we often think of window treatments as purely decorative or practical, the term Roman Shade has a dramatic architectural lineage. The most iconic connection to ancient Rome lies not in home decor, but in the grandeur of the Colosseum. There, Roman engineers created a system of massive retractable awnings known as the velarium. This innovative canopy shaded spectators from the sun while leaving the arena floor open to light—an early example of retractable fabric engineering, not unlike today’s flat-panel shades.

Fast forward to now, and while we may not be protecting ourselves from the blazing sun at a gladiator match, the concept of a retractable, flat shade remains. That’s how these timeless treatments got their name.
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But there are far better reasons today to sell, fabricate, and install Roman shades than to keep lions and gladiators cool.

The Beauty of Modern Roman Shades

Today’s Roman shades shine not only for their historical nod but for their versatility and style. One of their most striking qualities is how they allow beautiful fabrics to be boldly displayed. Whether raised and pleated or lowered to a smooth flat panel, the shade becomes a focal point in any room, offering texture, color, and pattern.

More Than Just Pretty
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Modern Roman shades also offer practical advantages. With options like blackout or thermal dimout linings, they improve energy efficiency—keeping interiors cooler on hot summer days and helping insulate during colder months.

With the Centurion Widget cordless lift system, they become child-safe and incredibly easy to operate. Form and function have never worked together so seamlessly.

Inspired to build and sell more Roman shades now?
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You’ve got the tools to create a look that’s as timeless as it is personal.

Bold Fabric, Thoughtful Function: Roman Shades That Do Both

Roman shades have long been a favorite in interior design—for good reason. Their tailored look, simple operation, and versatility make them a natural fit in everything from cozy cottages to sleek modern homes. But perhaps the most beautiful thing about Roman shades is how they showcase fabric.
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Whether raised and softly folded or lowered to lie flat, the fabric is always on display—bringing color, personality, and polish to a space.

Design Meets Practicality

In addition to looking great, Roman shades can serve a very practical purpose. By adding blackout or thermal dimout lining, the shades can offer better insulation—making rooms more energy-efficient during hot summer days or chilly nights.
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These beautiful examples by Mary Dwan for Trinity Home in Decatur, Georgia prove that functionality doesn't have to compromise style. The bold fabric choices reflect the personality of each space, while the blackout lining allows for light control and privacy, even as the shades remain a visual highlight.

Details That Make a Difference

Each 52” wide shade uses dual Centurion 3-cord Widgets, which make them easy to operate and child-safe—an essential feature for today’s homes.
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Mary added another thoughtful detail: to preserve the full bottom width for decorative trim, she sewed a slim “grabber” bar into the same seam as the weight bar pocket. That same seam also forms the one permanent fold on the shade, creating a clean and structured finish.

A lightweight fiberglass rod stabilizes the rod pocket and allows the “grabber” to function as a hidden handhold—making it easy to raise and lower the shade without disturbing its neat appearance.

Smart Design with Heart
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These shades are a wonderful example of how beautiful design and clever construction can go hand in hand. With a few smart choices—like fabric that reflects the home’s style, blackout lining for performance, the child-safe Centurion Widget lift system, and thoughtful fabrication techniques—you can have a Roman shade that does it all.

Thinking about Roman shades for your customers?
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We’d love to help you bring beauty, simplicity and safe functionality to your windows. 

How to Properly Secure Cords When Mounting the Centurion Widget
Installing a Centurion Widget on a Roman shade? One of the most important steps is securing the lift cords at full extension before pulling the pin to tension the Widget. It’s a small step that makes a big difference—and skipping it can cause major frustration.

Why Cord Security Matters
If the cords aren’t anchored using orbs and knots, they can slip right through the brass rings and retract all the way into the Widget. Fixing this requires fully re-spooling the unit—not something you want to deal with mid-project!

Step-by-Step: How to Secure the Cords

1. Thread the cords through the ladder tape and the brass ring at the bottom of the shade.
2. Attach an orb to each cord, sliding it up so it rests snugly against the brass ring. This ensures the cord remains taut from the ring all the way up to the Widget.
3. Do not trim the excess cord just yet! Instead:
4. Pass the cord below the orb back through the button opening accessible above where the orb is clamped on the cord.
5. Temporarily knot the cord back on itself to prevent slippage while you finish handling or installing the shade.

​After You Pull the Pin
Once the Widget is tensioned and you’ve tested the shade (either in the workroom or onsite) and confirmed it’s working properly, then you can trim the excess cord.
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Leave enough length below the orb to tie off the cord permanently using a double half-hitch knot. This is our recommended method on the CenturionRS.com FAQ, and we even include a diagram to guide you through tying it correctly. Remember: two half-hitches = one full hitch knot.

If you've ever wanted to make your own custom Roman shades but didn’t know where to start, Susan Woodcock’s Workroom Tech Online classes are the perfect place. And good news—you don’t need to be a professional workroom operator to take part.
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In fact, Susan’s classes are a wonderful resource for home sewing enthusiasts who want to build their skills, explore a new hobby, or even start a side business. With the right guidance, tools, and instruction, you’ll be surprised how quickly you can go from “curious” to “confident.”

A Perfect Beginner Project
Roman shades are one of the most popular window treatment styles today—and for good reason. They’re practical, stylish, and beginner-friendly. A flat-fold Roman shade doesn’t require a large sewing space or as much fabric as draperies, making it an ideal first project.
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In this two-week online course, Susan will guide you through the process of making a lined, flat-fold Roman shade (24" wide x 42" long) mounted on a board and operated using the Centurion Roman Shade Widget Kit—a professional-grade, cordless lift system that meets child safety standards.

The Centurion Roman Shade Widget Kit
The Centurion Widget Kit is the only Roman shade system sold as a kit to both workroom professionals and everyday retail customers. It includes nearly everything you need to make a child-safe shade—just add your own fabric, a wood headrail, and a steel weight bar (the last two readily available at most hardware stores).

What You’ll Learn in Class
The course includes:

• Two live, 1-hour interactive lessons with Susan Woodcock
• Recorded video access for 3 months after the class ends
• Step-by-step written instructions to follow along and reference later

Lesson One: Getting Started

• Understanding Roman shade construction
• Measuring your window
• Calculating fabric needs and handling pattern repeats
• Choosing and cutting fabric
• Creating hems and adding lining

​Lesson Two: Assembly & Installation

• Finishing hems and inserting the weight bar
• Planning lift lines, rings, and ladder tape
• Mounting the shade on a board
• Installing the lift system
• Final installation tips

Who Should Take This Class?

​This is a beginner-level course, perfect for anyone with a basic understanding of sewing. You’ll need a few general tools and supplies, and once you register, you’ll receive a full materials list—plus an exclusive discount code for the Centurion Widget Kit.

Start Sewing Like a Pro
Whether you want to build beautiful window treatments for your own home or take the first step toward a home-based sewing business, this class is a fantastic introduction to Roman shades—and a fun, rewarding way to grow your skills.

Ready to get started?
Visit Workroom Tech to register and begin your Roman shade journey with Susan Woodcock and the Widget!

Relaxed Roman shades—sometimes called soft Romans—are known for their graceful swooping shape at the bottom hem. Unlike traditional Roman shades, which are squared off and structured, a relaxed Roman shade is designed with a gentle swag through the center. That’s the “relaxed” part—it’s not held rigidly in place by cords, giving the shade a more casual, elegant drape.
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This softer shape makes relaxed Romans a favorite in bedrooms, sitting rooms, and other spaces where a bit of romantic style is welcome. But it’s important to understand how they function—and how to help your client love their finished shade.

Set Expectations: These Shades Like to Be Left Alone

Relaxed Romans look best when left mostly in the down position. That doesn’t mean they can’t be operable—but if your client is particular about things being perfectly symmetrical, they may find the shade needs a little adjusting after each time it’s raised or lowered. Sometimes the fabric behaves and settles back into place with no effort, but often, a little fluffing or patting is required.
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Letting your customer know this ahead of time helps ensure they’re delighted with the final result.

Don’t Skip the Weight Bar
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Whether your relaxed Roman is flat, banded, trimmed, or interlined, all versions require a weight bar or rod at the bottom hem. This critical component does two things:

• It keeps the vertical ring columns evenly spaced, so the shade doesn’t pinch inward at the sides.
• It provides structure to help the shade raise and lower cleanly.

Even with that swooping shape, structure matters!

Use a 2-Cord Widget for Clean Operation

We recommend using a 2-cord Widget system, mounted directly to the headrail. This simple hardware setup gives you smooth, child-safe lifting power with minimal hardware, making it ideal for the more delicate look of a relaxed Roman.

You’ll see in the image above how discreet and effective the Widget is in a finished shade.

​Inspired to build a Relaxed Roman? Order your Widget Kit today!

Judi has crafted several Roman shades for clients who wanted bottom trim—such as tassels, though any trim fabric can be used. To accommodate this while maintaining a polished look, she uses a concealed hem technique.
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Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Cut the Face Fabric
   Add 10 inches to the finished length of the face fabric, plus any additional length needed to wrap the mount board.
   • Example: For a 60" finished length, cut the face fabric to 70", plus mount board allowance.
2. Cut the Lining
   Cut the lining to the finished length + 6 inches, plus 1 inch for the mount board.
   • This ensures the lining and face fabric align correctly at the bottom of the shade.
   • The visual model shows how the extra 6” of lining and 10” of face fabric stack at the foot of the shade.

       3. Sew Side Hems
           Turn, press, and stitch the side hems.

       4. Create a Double Hem
           Fold a double 2-inch hem at the bottom of the face fabric (fold up 2” twice).

        5. Form the Concealed Pocket
           From the stitched hem, fold the fabric back on itself, bringing the hem up so its stitch line sits 4                    inches above the finished length.

         This creates a permanent bottom fold, placing the 2" hem pocket just below the bottom brass ring
​          placement (marked in black).

Judi from Centurion Roman Shade attended last week’s Meet – Learn – Share session hosted by the Kentucky Workroom Association, featuring a fantastic presentation by Linda Tully. Linda shared valuable insights on Understanding Drapery Fullness, Mastering Cornices, and Workroom Processes for Profitability—topics that proved incredibly useful to the 21 attendees from across the Bluegrass State.
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Centurion Roman Shade was proud to contribute a “Try-It Trio” Widget Kit as a door prize. Congratulations to Joy Wilbur, owner of Sew Joy in Lexington, KY since 2006, who was the lucky winner of our donation!

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