I want to make a blackout blind.

[UnicornsPooGlitter]

My plan is to use:
[[http://item.mobileweb.ebay.co.uk/viewitem?index=0&sbk=1&nav=SEARCH&itemId=271108749377 This material on the room-facing side.
Blackout material on the window-facing side - but should I use black or white? Would white help to stop the room heating up in summer?
These suction cups.

I'm not super-experienced, but I can sew by hand. Alternatively, I could use my new unused sewing machine.

Is this a terrible idea?

[UnicornsPooGlitter]

material

[UnicornsPooGlitter]

suction cups

[fossil971]

Do you just mean a square of fabric and sucker it to the window? . White fabric would be OK if you are say blacking out the room for daytime naps.

Yes you could hand sew it or machine. By machine, you could sew the 2 layers together and turn inside out. By hand, you could cut the star fabric bigger than the blackout layer, turn a hem to the back and slipstitch it all round.

In either case stitch through both layers together where you are attaching to the suckers so it stays neat and doesn't pull apart.

[UnicornsPooGlitter]

fossil, yes, I just mean a very simple blackout rectangle . It's for naps + night times.

Thanks for the tips, they're really helpful. I was thinking of sewing the material together at the sucker points for neatness.

I wish I had my sewing machine up and running, but I don't know where to start. My Granny taught me to sew, but I don't know many different stitches / stitch names etc.

[fossil971]

Did your sewing machine come with instructions? For most day to day sewing you only need the straight stitch. Have a little practice on some scrap fabric.

For the blind, turn a double hem to the back (so the raw edge is hidden) and fold the corners neatly. Slip stitch here Just pin it all together first to keep it neat, you will be fine.

If you want to do more sewing it might be worth getting a book out of your library or picking up something cheap from Amazon.

[Lora1982]

pinches sucker idea

[stealthsquiggle]

Brilliant idea. Come back and tell us if it works.

Be careful sewing with blackout lining - it's unforgiving. Every pin hole is there for ever (voice of bitter experience).

[SavoyCabbage]

We bought one of those poles that you cut to size and then you get a spring loaded end piece. then it goes in the window appiture.

I have sewn a blackout rectangle to fit the window with a slot at the top for the pole. Then I made a fabric tie back and during the day it is tied in the middle, like a sheaf of cornwith that.

[UnicornsPooGlitter]

fossil, I felt ashamed , so I got out my old new unused sewing machine, and got it set up with DH's help. I now have two pieces of practice fabric sewn together with a slightly odd rectangle!

So, I'm feeling a bit more able to tackle the blackout blind. But, how do I finish the machine sewing? I think you said to sew both pieces together then turn them inside out - do I only sew 3x sides? Or do I nearly sew all 4 sides? How do I sew the last bit? I know this is probably a really silly question!

I'm still wavering between the suction cup and tension pole ideas.

[UnicornsPooGlitter]

And thanks everyone for tips / ideas, it really is helpful .

[UnicornsPooGlitter]

Yay, it worked! I've made one, and now I just need to make one more . I think I had some beginners luck TBH.

I pinked the 2x materials, used my sewing machine for the seams, snipped off the corners, then closed the last bit using an even slipstitch. Then I attached 6x side pilot suckers.

I have more projects I want to do now .