Fly Lula

I feel this week all I have done is complain about the sun.

And try to hide from it.

I really do like it, honest!

We have a beautiful conservatory, along the back of our house.

The glass really helps to keep the house warm, with even just a glimmer of sunshine.

But with the full power rays we’ve been having, I had to create some sort of shelter.

The poor girls, where melting away, while eating their meals.

So I made:

Window sun shades

I gathered my materials:

• Fabric(how much depends on the window size)
• Cord( to be used like a hook)
• Some sticks, the width of the finished shade size.
• Suckers, for each end of the shade.
• Sewing machine and cotton.

I made a couple of sun shades in no time at all.

Firstly I measured how much of the window, I wanted to be covered.  Allowing for the suckers, and the cord that attached the fabric to the suckers.

I then added 2 cm seam allowance to each of the long edges.

And 3cm to each end, that I attached the cord to.

I started by doing the long side seams.

Folding over 1cm of the raw edge, ironing and then folding over another 1cm.  I pinned the seam closed, and then used my sewing machine to stitch it together.

I did this up both sides.

I then did the same on the short edge.

Turned it over 1.5cm and ironed.

Then turned it over another 1.5cm and ironed.

I made the seam wider, to be able to thread my stick through.  The stick will give it some rigidity, and stop it flapping away from the window.  Depending on what size stick you use, you would have to increase or decrease the seam size.

I then folded my cord in half, and pinned it under the fabric. I folded the fabric in half to determine where the middle was, and pinned it there.

Then folded the fabric flap completely over the cord.

And turn it back on itself.  I pinned like crazy so nothing would move.

I stitched close to the edge of the fold.  To give as much room as possible for my stick.

And yes I actually used some sticks I found in the garden.  I’m far to impatient, to wait to go to the shops, once I’ve had an idea!

Ease the stick down the channel, and then sew up the ends.  Either by hand or with a machine.

I had some super suckers that I got from Ebay.

They lock in place, and stay up for as long as you want them to.

Nasty, you can see how dirty my windows are!

And now we have a little shade while eating our meals.

These could be made for any angle window, or even for cars, as shade for the kids.