Making window quilts

annie123 · 28 June 2011 at 11:19AM

Last year a new Canadian neighbour moved in nearby and one thing lead to another and she couldn't believe we all didn't have window quilts. Especially me as I have single glazed north facing windows at the front.
I spent an afternoon [STRIKE]helping[/STRIKE] watching her make one.
Bit like watching someone driving a car then having a go yourself:rotfl:
Took her 2 hours, took me 3 days

and mine looked like the equivalent of a small childs first lot of homemade cakes! DD's window is 7' wide and 4' tall so I made 2 quilts.

Probably more links than you can cope with, but includes homemade ones and pdf guides how to:

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Green-Homes/1983-11-01/How-to-Make-a-Thermal-Shade.aspx

http://www.warmcompany.com/warmwindow/Warm.pdf

http://energyboomer.typepad.com/energyboomer/2007/09/how-to-make-ene.html

http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/Conservation/Rayshade/ThemalShade.htm

http://www.windowquilt.com/products/WQ_brochure_web.pdf

http://www.manytracks.com/Homesteading/winquilt.htm

http://countrylife.lehmans.com/2007/10/10/making-old-time-window-quilts/

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art34745.asp

http://www.green-energy-efficient-homes.com/energy-saving-curtains.html

I made the first set without a vapour barrier.
1. I got a lot of condensation on the windows with and without window film.
2. Within a month, mould on the lining
If you have double glazing maybe you wouldn't need a vapour barrier?

So I removed the back and replaced with new old sheets and added an old shower curtain (cut to size obviously) on one and a £ store mylar sheet to the other.
Both worked really well and no more condensation or mould problems.

They were made with charity shop white sheets, charity shop cot blankets and I embroidered small flowers on the bottom to fit in with her room.
Hung them from a tension road at the top and used velcro to secure them to the frame at the bottom and sides.

They made a massive difference to her room temperature, more so than window film or the interlining I had put in the curtains.
I'd take a picture but they are in the loft at present.

For my sons tall windows I will make insulated roman blinds but for the other windows I will make quilts.
If your windows are the same size as pillow cases that would make it very easy to do.

I have seen them put up with magnetic tape, drawing pins, velcro, curtain wire etc and they can stay down all the time or hand rolled and caught in ties at the top during the day.

They are a step up from putting a fleece up at the window and I'm sure they will eventually become popular over here with the cold winters we seem to be having lately.

I also made a door curtain on the same principle for my sons flat to cover an opening between rooms but allowed extra floor drape and this worked well too.
Used an old single quilt, the other mylar sheet in the pack and a purple sari from charity shop for £1....(the amount of fabric you get in a sari is amazing) he has a hippy looking flat and it fitted in well with his wall hangings. He has asked me to insulate them too for him. I told him I'd lend him or his GF my sowing machine!

HTH

shazpea · 5 December 2012 at 9:51AM

Thank you so much for this post! I've been wanting to make some kind of blanket for the window but was concerned about the condensation problem, etc, so this is great! Sometimes the flat feels colder than the outside! :A

mapcr77 · 5 December 2012 at 11:05AM

Does this help against condensation in the windows, or does that confine condensation to behind the window quilt? My windows suffer terribly with it, dripping down in cold mornings. Thanks!

Alf1esmum · 5 December 2012 at 12:31PM

Thanks so much for the excellent share having just moved into an old cottage I will be looking at this with a lot of interest!:beer:

grump · 5 December 2012 at 1:34PM

Sounds good but I am not sure how I can fix them. I have an angled bay window so would have to make 3 quilts. There is no space above the pvc double glazed window to put a batten and I dont want to drill into the UPVC itself. Can anyone help?
The "ceiling" over the bay window is just plaster board. I have thought about a sort of roller blind set up but am not sure if the quilt would prove too thick for this to work.

macavity · 5 December 2012 at 1:47PM

thanks for this, ive just bought 2 fleeces and some mylar blankets and im going to experiment. the sitting room only has one badly placed storage heater and gets very cold and i'm loathe to use the bar fire due to the cost. i hope this will help a bit.

lobbyludd · 5 December 2012 at 2:58PM

Hi
last year I made (but have only just hung) roman blinds that are underneath my floor length curtain for the bay window. They are a sandwhich of lining, thermal blackout lining (vapour barier) interlining then facing fabric.

They are great and have made a massive difference to the warmth of the living room

Seakay · 5 December 2012 at 3:24PM

grump wrote: »

Sounds good but I am not sure how I can fix them. I have an angled bay window so would have to make 3 quilts. There is no space above the pvc double glazed window to put a batten and I dont want to drill into the UPVC itself. Can anyone help?
The "ceiling" over the bay window is just plaster board. I have thought about a sort of roller blind set up but am not sure if the quilt would prove too thick for this to work.

would some sort of stick and sew Velcro work? Stuck to the frame and sewed to the quilt.

dlni · 5 December 2012 at 4:00PM

Was thinking about doing this too until I thought about the foam insulation boards with foil on either side. Fitted them to the windows, not as pretty as the quilts though! The vertical blinds hide them from the outside and the curtains hide them on the inside. Go to work during the week so don't touch them, but remove bathroom, kitchen and large window in sitting room during the day during the weekend to let light in.

The house is now easier and quicker to heat but

Downside is.. as the windows are now freezing the any warm air that sneeks onto the windows are immediately turned into condensation, so during the very cold nights lots of water to wipe off. Will have to purchase a dehumidifier to counteract that .. after Christmas as I'm now broke (Christmas presents)

Meadows · 5 December 2012 at 4:08PM

dlni wrote: »

Downside is.. as the windows are now freezing the any warm air that sneeks onto the windows are immediately turned into condensation, so during the very cold nights lots of water to wipe off. Will have to purchase a dehumidifier to counteract that .. after Christmas as I'm now broke (Christmas presents)

Xpelair EverDri LongLife Ultra DC

http://www.cnmonline.co.uk/Xpelair-EverDri-LongLife-Ultra-DC-pr-38003.html

The Ever-Dri long life ultra system is based on a continuous supply of fresh, dry air into the home, with positive input ventilation. The effects of the moisture created by everyday living can quickly lead to the deterioration of the fabric of a building. Cooking, washing, showering and breathing all create water vapor – up to 9ltrs for a family of four per day. Without a home being able to ‘breathe’, this moisture has nowhere to go mould growth on cooler surfaces like window frames and in unventilated spaces like cupbourds, wardrobes not only does this look bad, it can be bad for your health. If the incoming air falls below 10°C, an inbuilt 500watt air tempering heater will automatically activate and shall pulse On/Off to maintain the air at 10°C. The Ever fan will automatically suspend operation if the temperature rises above 25°C and re-continue when the temperature falls below that point, continuously monitor the incoming air temperature and will automatically adjust the performance of the fan if the temperature rises above or falls below 19°C.

The LongLife low energy DC motor contained in the system is permanent switched on and automatically temperature regulated to ensure continual air quality. There are five house settings to choose from, small, average, large, extra large and summer setting, supplied with ducting and diffuser plates!

Shropshirelass · 5 December 2012 at 6:19PM

Thank you so much for this conversation everyone:j, lots of ideas, very interesting and will need to research and think about it!

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Making window quilts

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