DIY Scrim
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| Photo by: Hykel Eiche - http://hykeleiche.com/ Used by permission |
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| Scrim in the "Night on Broadway" stage |
In this Broadway set, the scrim was hung three feet from the back of the stage and up as high as I could get it.
WHAT I DID
This scrim is made from multiple painter's cloths sewn together. There is a rod casing at the top wide enough for a 2" diameter PVC pipe to be inserted. The stage I was working with when I made the scrim was wide enough that I needed two lengths of PVC and a coupler to span the distance. The pipes were attached to the coupler on either side with duct tape so they would hold yet could be easily disassembled (tape sliced) and stored.
Small notches were cut in the fabric along the casing so short pieces of clothesline rope could be strung through the notches and around the PVC pipe. They were then tied with a square knot and hung on hooks attached to the ceiling. (CAUTION: Be sure the hooks are heavy duty enough to handle the weight and are screwed directly into the trusses in the ceiling.)
ROMAN SHADE FEATURE: This scrim was designed to function like a giant Roman shade using clothesline rope and pulleys. Unfortunately, I do not have any detail photos of this feature. I'll do my best to describe it.
Five strips of twill tape with little plastic rings sewn every 12 inches were installed on the back side of the scrim from top to bottom; one on each end, one in the center and one in the middle of each side of the scrim. (Yes, I actually hand sewed on ALL the little plastic rings. It wasn't in the budget to afford the pre-sewn stuff.) [NOTE: If hand sewing rings in place, you may want to consider using button thread. It is a little heavier duty and may hold up better than normal thread.]
There was also a rod casing in the bottom, same as in the top, but only five notches were needed, one for each strip of rings. Clothesline was then strung through the notches at the bottom, tied around the PVC pipe, run through the rings along the 5 strips up the back of the scrim, through pulleys attached to the ceiling, then tied off in the wings for easy access. We did three lines off to one side and two off to the other. It required two people working simultaneously to hoist. This allowed the scrim to be raised and lowered, functioning like a giant Roman shade. (CAUTION: Be sure the pulleys are large enough to handle the load and are attached directly into the trusses)
Small notches were cut in the fabric along the casing so short pieces of clothesline rope could be strung through the notches and around the PVC pipe. They were then tied with a square knot and hung on hooks attached to the ceiling. (CAUTION: Be sure the hooks are heavy duty enough to handle the weight and are screwed directly into the trusses in the ceiling.)
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| Close up of top of scrim |
ROMAN SHADE FEATURE: This scrim was designed to function like a giant Roman shade using clothesline rope and pulleys. Unfortunately, I do not have any detail photos of this feature. I'll do my best to describe it.
Five strips of twill tape with little plastic rings sewn every 12 inches were installed on the back side of the scrim from top to bottom; one on each end, one in the center and one in the middle of each side of the scrim. (Yes, I actually hand sewed on ALL the little plastic rings. It wasn't in the budget to afford the pre-sewn stuff.) [NOTE: If hand sewing rings in place, you may want to consider using button thread. It is a little heavier duty and may hold up better than normal thread.]
There was also a rod casing in the bottom, same as in the top, but only five notches were needed, one for each strip of rings. Clothesline was then strung through the notches at the bottom, tied around the PVC pipe, run through the rings along the 5 strips up the back of the scrim, through pulleys attached to the ceiling, then tied off in the wings for easy access. We did three lines off to one side and two off to the other. It required two people working simultaneously to hoist. This allowed the scrim to be raised and lowered, functioning like a giant Roman shade. (CAUTION: Be sure the pulleys are large enough to handle the load and are attached directly into the trusses)
Feel free to comment with any questions you may have.
-Jill
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