Help! My home is freezing cold

-taff

katbradford33 wrote: »

Hi! My first post ever. I live in northern Maine, temps last few days in the low single digits.This home is new this spring to me and I'm in the process of making new window quilts. I don't know if anyone is interested but I make them for about $8-10 each.

Very easy straight stitch sewing. I use old, clean sheets, recycled green plastic bottle batting, 6 ml plastic moisture vapor layer) and velcro.
I cut the pieces approx. 4" wider and longer than the window- 2 of sheeting, 1-3 of batting (the more layers the higher the "r" value), and one of plastic. I lay them out, starting at bottom with sheeting (if print, put print side up, second layer sheeting print side down, desired layers of batting, then plastic.
I cut 8 strips of fabric about 12-14" long by 4" wide. Fold the strips in half, stitch down long edge, turn right side out, press. Stitch one end closed and to that end, sew on a piece of 3/4" to 1" wide by about 2-3" long velcro,

For each quilt you'll need 4 of these strips. Sew the loop velcro on 2 pieces and the hook velcro on the other two, about 1 " front end, just as you did on the first one.

The only slightly tricky part is to lay these two strips, velcro side up, loop side on top of the strip with hook velcro- between the two bottom layers of sheeting, with the velcro sides facing the second layer. Place them about 9" in from each side edge of the stacked layers, with the length going down inside the stack, and the top of these strips being even with the top edge of the stack of layers

(These strips with velcro tabs, when finished will neatly hold up the rolled window quilt during the daytime or whenever you don't want them down.)

Clip your two long sides together- it's a bit bulky- and stitch up each side, sewing together all the layers, keeping the stack straight and flat. I use the longest stitch length my machine will do. Once the two sides are stitched, stitch across the top, side to side, sewing through all layers of the quilt including the 4 strips with the velcro tabs on the ends enclosed inside.

Now you can turn the whole thing right side out and you're almost finished. Use something sort of pointy but not sharp to push the two upper corners out and square it up. ( I usually top stitch down each side at this point but it's not necessary.)

You'll need to sew a strip of hook velcro across the width of the top on the backside (side which won't be facing into the room) BUT BE SURE to have one of the long strips with velcro tabs flipped over onto the back side of the top edge and sew that long strip of velcro OVER it, across the entire top (one strip with tab front and back, on each side about 9" in front side edge.)

This way when you roll the quilt up you can easily seal the hook and loop pieces on the strips, front and back with one hand. Now sew strips of loop velcro to either the sides or the bottom of your quilt to seal it . Depending on you window framing, you'll need to attach hook velcro to the top and sides or the top and bottom of your window frame- I used staples because my window framing is wood, but stick-on velcro works if you've got plaster.

If you've sewn the loop velcro on the quilt you'll attach the hook velcro to the window frame. Hem the bottom and you're done!

Once you've made one they go together quickly. Cutting out the pieces is the most time-consuming part. They last for years and can be washed in a tub and hung to dry. I've made many of these for friends and relatives over the years.

Got the original pattern from the UMAINE Co-operative extension site and modified it for ease. (It's still there)My husband maintains this cuts our heating cost by 1/3 or more. I made them for my sister in AZ last year, using a space blanket (emergency foil type) inside instead of the batting to use on her full sun-facing windows which also tremendously cut down on her summer cooling costs. They really work. Good luck! Kat

Sorry, quoted to add paragraphs, one block of text was too difficult to read...:)Don't suppose you have a picture of these do you? And are these as well as or instead of curtains?

VfM4meplse

Ok, it's getting noticeably chillier now. I am clinging on to the happy knowledge that we have 12 weeks until BST, 13 until Easter but equally I don't want to spend the first quarter of the year shivering.

I have given up on my HWB - even with a cover, repeated usage left me with burn marks so have resorted to sitting under quilts / fluffy blankets with the heating plus fire on in whichever room I'm in. (Because there's just me it seems a bit pointless to dial the thermostat up higher for the whole house).

I see The Express is taking it's usual heartwarming tone when it comes to predicting the weather!

CapricornLass

I know it sounds daft, but: make sure your feet are warm (two pairs of socks?) and wear a hat - bobble hat variety will do. You lose 25% of your body heat through your head.
Just remember to whip the hat off if visitors call!

VfM4meplse

Well I am bathed, scented, socked, fired, candled and under a blanket now. Finally warm

Siebrie

I wear slipper booties in the house, to keep my ankles warm. I have asked my mum to make me fingerless gloves, to keep my hands and wrists warm.

Battybird

Go to Primark and buy some of their fleecy pyjamas. They are so warm and only cost £8 a pair.

Since I discovered these a few years ago, I live in them all winter if I'm not going out! Some of these have winceyette pants, but I don't find they are as warm as the fleecy pants.

VfM4meplse

Battybird wrote: »

Go to Primark and buy some of their fleecy pyjamas. They are so warm and only cost £8 a pair.

Since I discovered these a few years ago, I live in them all winter if I'm not going out! Some of these have winceyette pants, but I don't find they are as warm as the fleecy pants.

I investigated my local branch today and was not impressed by the limited range on offer. For a start, most of them were XS. And they seemed synthetic rather than fleecy.

For most of this evening I remained - as ever - cold in my living rooms, despite good output fires. Am now spending the evening under a fleecy blanket from Aldi and 2x15 tog duvets, with the heating on. I'm thankfully warming at last!

-taff

Heated blanket....

Battybird

VfM4meplse wrote: »

I investigated my local branch today and was not impressed by the limited range on offer. For a start, most of them were XS. And they seemed synthetic rather than fleecy.

For most of this evening I remained - as ever - cold in my living rooms, despite good output fires. Am now spending the evening under a fleecy blanket from Aldi and 2x15 tog duvets, with the heating on. I'm thankfully warming at last!

My local medium sized store had loads and loads of stock, just before Christmas, different patterns or plain colours I saw sizes xs-2xl. (not much help if your store has sold out!)

Maybe I used the wrong word, fleece. They're like fluffy dressing gown material.

Re. you feeling so cold, have you thought about having your Thyroid checked? I believe an underactive Thyroid can make you feel the cold. I take Thyroid tablets, but still feel cold at home without my jim jams on. Yet I'm absolutely boiling in shops and usually have to take my coat off!

VfM4meplse

-taff wrote: »

Heated blanket....

My Mum was gifted one a couple of years ago and loves it. I gave it a go but didn't think much of it.

I've always been colder than others, pretty sure my thyroid function is ok though.