Flat fold hangs smooth and flat when lowered — best for patterns and frequent raising/lowering. Relaxed fold has a gentle curved hem that requires light hand-shaping after raising. Hobbled (soft fold) features cascading fabric loops that create a layered, traditional look even when fully lowered.

Yes — the swooping curved hem does not reform on its own after raising. You need to lightly hand-dress the fabric each time to restore the curved shape. This takes seconds, but matters: if you raise and lower your shades frequently throughout the day, flat fold is more practical. Choose relaxed for windows where the shade mostly stays lowered.

Yes — the Hobbled TDBU Roman Shade operates both ways: lower from the top for overhead light while maintaining street-level privacy, or raise from the bottom as a standard shade. It is the only Roman shade in the EaseEase collection with this top-down bottom-up feature.

Yes — EaseEase offers Classic Striped, Butter Yellow Striped, and French Embroidery Patterned Roman Shades. All use flat fold, which keeps the pattern uninterrupted across the full window width. Hobbled and relaxed folds break up printed designs with their cascading or curved fabric — flat fold is the correct style for any patterned shade.

Sheer Roman shades use translucent fabric that diffuses light softly while maintaining daytime privacy — you see a warm glow, not direct sunlight. Light-filtering shades use a denser woven fabric that significantly reduces brightness and glare while still allowing some ambient light through. Neither provides blackout; choose blackout lining if you need full darkness.