I’ve needed to address the window treatments in the girls’ bedroom for some time now. There are no blinds on the windows so anyone can see in if they look. Plus, as the days get longer it is getting harder and harder to get the girls to sleep before 8:30. I had just decided to go to Lowe’s and buy custom blackout shades for them when I happened upon this tutorial, from Little Green Notebook, a new-to-me blog.
My family will thank me for not spending a million dollars. My closet will thank me for getting those nasty mini-blinds out of it. And the environment will thank me for not pitching them in a landfill and buying more junk to later throw in a landfill.
I am in the process of finishing my first shade tonight. The glue is drying and tomorrow I will touch it up and hang it. I changed some of the directions since I made my shade with three layers of fabric: yellow duck cotton for the main shade, white fleece for insulation, and black cotton lining to filter the light out. There is no sewing in the tutorial, which I think would work fine if your weren’t making the shade as heavy duty as I am. But I stitched the blinds down for reinforcement, and I plan to sew the edges instead of fabric gluing them.
When they are finished and hanging up I’ll take some photos to share with you.
Update:
I guess that I’m going to have to change my original design and omit the fleece insulation layer.
My first shade is too heavy.
This is why I only made one at a time! Some thing I have learned over the years as a crafter. Once in a while (25%, I’d say) it just doesn’t work. Especially when I seem to be genetically incapable of just following a pattern. I have to change everything.
Trying again. Will post pictures next week.