Number of lift cords –
all sizes of the cords will lift even the heaviest shades. Why? Because as your shade gets wider, the more lift cords it will have. The real issue is how the pull cord feels and looks. If you have three 0.9 mm cords braided into the pull cord, you still have a puny string hanging from your shade. I think a custom fabric shade calls for a substantial pull cord with a pretty cord drop. The conclusion: the fewer the cords, the larger the cord diameter.
Weight of fabric – you want the lift cord to complement the fabric. Heavy fabric looks best with thicker cord. Sheer or lightweight fabric looks best with smaller diameter cord.
Cord Drop Type – Be sure to match your cord drop "feel" with the weight of the lift cord. There is a lot of information about this on the
Cord Drop Page.
Cord Lock Pulley – If you are using a
cord lock pulley, you should use the 5-slot type with all diameter cords except the 1.8 mm. That is because the thinner cord, especially the 0.9 mm, can get caught between the wall of the housing and the roller bars.
Flat Pulley – I have had a couple of complaints over the last few months about thin lift cord catching at the edge of the roller bar in the
Flat Pulley. All of these complaints have come from customers that purchased lift cord from other sources. Still, you need to be aware of this possibility.
As you are probably aware by now, you have to consider the entire "package": shade size, fabric type, other hardware, personal preference, etc. Here are some more examples:
You will be making a lot of different shade sizes with different weights of fabric (light to heavy) and number of lift cords per shade (2 on some, 8 on others). Use the 1.4 mm lift cord. It works for every possible shade size and type. This is much simpler than using a different cord diameter for each shade.
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You want a colored lift cord. Use the 1.4 mm lift cord. It is the only size we sell in colors other than white.
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You're making a very large shade with heavy decorator fabric that will be interlined and backed with Blackout lining. Use the 1.8 mm lift cord.
You're making a Top-Down shade and you dread seeing the lift cords when the shade is lowered. I personally have switched to using the 1.4 mm white cord for my top-down shades because I've found that I only notice the cord for the first few days. Some of my clients feel differently and insist the the thinner the cord, the happier they will be with the shades. Sometimes the cord blends better with the "view" out the top of the window when it is colored, for example, tan. If you want the thinnest cord, use the 0.9 mm cord in white. You can call and request Samples if you are unsure.
A comment on the 0.9 mm cord: I really don't like this cord. It looks flimsy when braided into the pull cord. I'm convinced that some of you buy this cord because it is the least expensive. The only positive attribute of this cord is that it's less noticeable when used on a Top-Down shade. It also is required for Continuous Loop systems (which we don't sell). It might be required in the future for possible changes in the Safety Standards. Maybe we'll discontinue it until that happens, if it ever does.
