Uneven Raising? Check Your Hem Stiffener
We get more calls than we'd like from workrooms reporting that their Widget-powered shade raises unevenly, or that cords aren't winding evenly on the spools.
We've covered two common culprits in past posts: overtightened mounting screws and non-Widget hardware on the cords. But there's a third cause we hadn't even considered — because every Widget Kit includes a hem stiffener, and our instructions walk through incorporating it into the bottom hem with the weight bar. Yet some workrooms have built shades without one, and then run into exactly this problem.
Why hem stiffness matters
The Widget takes up cord slack as it's created during lifting. A stiff hem spreads your lifting force evenly across all the cords at once.
We get more calls than we'd like from workrooms reporting that their Widget-powered shade raises unevenly, or that cords aren't winding evenly on the spools.
We've covered two common culprits in past posts: overtightened mounting screws and non-Widget hardware on the cords. But there's a third cause we hadn't even considered — because every Widget Kit includes a hem stiffener, and our instructions walk through incorporating it into the bottom hem with the weight bar. Yet some workrooms have built shades without one, and then run into exactly this problem.
Why hem stiffness matters
The Widget takes up cord slack as it's created during lifting. A stiff hem spreads your lifting force evenly across all the cords at once.
Without one, you're only applying force to the cord(s) directly above your hand. The other cords don't start raising until enough weight comes off the ends of the hem to let the Widget take them up too. The result: uneven raising, and uneven spooling as those loose cords play catch-up.
It matters more on wider shades
The wider the shade, the more hem rigidity you need. Two options:
However you achieve it, a stiff hem that transfers force evenly to every cord is essential to getting smooth, even raising and lowering from your Widget.
For more information on the mechanics, please watch this 6-minute video on our Instagram or Facebook page. It is well worth your time.
It matters more on wider shades
The wider the shade, the more hem rigidity you need. Two options:
- Fold the hem stiffener in half horizontally to create a 2" stiff hem.
- Add a dowel pocket at the top of the hem, so the weight bar, hem stiffener, and dowel together form a more rigid base across the full width of the shade.
However you achieve it, a stiff hem that transfers force evenly to every cord is essential to getting smooth, even raising and lowering from your Widget.
For more information on the mechanics, please watch this 6-minute video on our Instagram or Facebook page. It is well worth your time.
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