Honeycomb/Cellular Shades provide levels of convenience, ease of use and insulation – more so than just about any other kind of pre-manufactured shade on the market. While it’s also true that these shades are prone to experiencing a rip or tear now and then, repairing them is much preferred to throwing them away and buying a new set. All it takes is some patience and skills to make this DIY project a success, as described by SFGate.com:
First, carefully hang the ripped honeycomb shades and extend it to its maximum length. This way, you can vacuum the surface to remove the greatest amount of surface dust.
Then, cut a piece of hard plastic tubing in a length that equals the shade’s width, plus 4 inches. You will need a tube width that fits the size of the cell to be repaired; this provides support and also prevents the edges of the rip from pulling backwards into the cell space. Once you have found the right material and cut it to the appropriate length, insert it into the cell.
Using a small artist paintbrush, carefully dab some clear-drying fabric glue at one edge of the rip. Be sparing in the application, as excess glue will soak through to the plastic tube. Blend the glue across the rip, feathering your strokes as you go, and allow it to dry to a point of tackiness. Rotate the tube so that glue does not adhere to it. Allow the glue to completely dry, while continuing the tube rotations. You should rotate the tube in the direction of your feathered strokes.
Place some small dots of glue on the other edge of the rip and again blend the glue to the opposite side, feathering your strokes as before and continuing the tube rotation.
The overall effect of this procedure should be to unite the two edges of the rip in a way that looks as natural as possible. When you have rotated the tube to the point that it no longer picks up any more threads, you can remove it. Make sure that the glue is completely dry (not even a piece of paper will remotely stick to any part of it) before raising the shade.