A type of blind that is made from taught fabric attached to a roller with a spring and a cord (or other pull mechanism) that raises and lowers the blind, and allows it to settle anywhere in between. Roller blinds are ideal for small and narrow spaces, as the roller can be made with a smaller diameter than usual for a fine finish or tight space.
Cottons, linens, silk and wool are all suitable for roller blinds, but seams should be avoided as the added bulk can create an imbalance when it comes to rolling it up and down. Wide or railroaded fabric is a solution to this. In addition, the fabric must be stiffened so that it holds its own weight, either with an impregnated glue solution or by bonding it to a stiffer fabric–as you might with a very pretty lace or a fine wool.
Holland and a wide range of neutral fabrics ranging from sheer to opaque are specially made for purpose and supplied by roller blind manufacturers–there is plenty of choice there if you need a simple solution, a sun shield, an occasional use blind, or the inner part of a more elaborate window treatment.
Generally, roller blind fittings aren’t the most attractive, so I would suggest that unless you can hide them behind something more attractive, you should make a neat pelmet in the same fabric, just large enough to cover.
The fabric is generally rolled from behind, so that it sits close to the window–this is useful for draught-proofing, however the back of the blind is then inclined to pick up condensation, which stains. If you ask for a reverse roll, in which the fabric rolls down from the front, it will not only look better but also keep the fabric off the glass and therefore last longer.