Door Window Curtains

[Sarge]

Hello,

I'd like to add curtains to my TD. I've seen the curtains at West Marine that look nice, but I'm not sure how easy it would be to modify them for my doors (need to cut the rails). The Camp-Inns appear to use this type of system.

What have you done?

Thanks,

-Sarge

[len19070]

My Teardrop was just screaming for accessories. (I heard that on TV ) I made my own. I mean "I" made my own. You should have seen me for the first time on a sewing machine. Just the creative swearing was worth the price of admission. My only salvation was that I knew that they would always be bunched up, or if they were closed..it would be dark. Any way, used a straight top bar and two straps to hold them over. Of course the curtains match the bedding. You can't have your bedding & curtains Clash now can you ?

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/len19070/ ... pg&.src=ph

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/len19070/ ... pg&.src=ph

Happy Trails

Len

[Denny Unfried]

I made mine from some NASCAR sheets that I found at a discount store. Home Depot had some small diameter springs about a foot long that I stretched over each window for mounts.

[Jiminsav]

If anyone wants to look in and see my fat a$$ in bed..whoa be onto them..

[doug hodder]

I think that curtains are certainly one way that you can carry out any theme that you might have for your Tear. Check out any of the local fabric shops, there are tons of fabrics out there to suit your needs. Walmart, Joanns etc... don't have the same stuff as the independent shops. The thread count isn't as high and they will break down more rapidly. How do I know?? I own one of the largest quilt shops in No. Calif. and we have over 5800 bolts of fabric. I'm doing mine in a Route 66 vintage fabric. I don't have all our fabrics on the web, but if anyone has a request for something specific I can maybe find it. Usually any offical NASCAR fabric or Mickey Mouse stuff or similar is copyrighted and only the large outlets will have them. Our web site is www.highsierraquilters.com Since I own the store, and am a tear/boat builder, I'll be more than helpful to anyone looking for a specific fabric. Please bear in mind that there are thousands of new designs/fabrics out there new each year. I don't have them all, but we have a good selection. PS fabric typically comes 44" wide, you'll need 2x the width of your window, plus a hem top and bottom, and ideally a liner to help cut down on the UV. Also if you want a directional fabric, ie cars all going the same way and right side up that may add to your needs depending on how you cut it. Doug Hodder

[Laredo]

There is a cheat for this. Measure your windows. Buy a roll of heavy-duty Reynolds Wrap and a couple of rolls of clear Duck Tape (packaging tape). You will also need some 30-lb. test fishing line and a couple of small screw eyes/cup hooks.

Cut foil long enough to DOUBLE and still cover your windows' inside surface, plus about 1/2''. Fold it double, and make a finger-crease in the middle. Unfold carefully. Starting so that finger-crease is in the center of the tape, carefully cover the entire surface of the foil with the clear tape (you're looking for a laminated effect). Use two thicknesses of tape across the centerline on the inside to stop the fishing line from cutting through the foil.

Lay your fishing line along the crease, leaving about 6'' sticking out at each end (if you're into foofarraw you can use ribbon or twill tape or something fancy instead of fishing line here, but fishing line is the strongest cheapest solution) and fold the foil closed. Now laminate the top side, flip it over and do the bottom.

Tie a slip knot with a loop in each end of your string and mount your hooks inside the tear wall (HINT: if you stick a hook in each front/rear bulkhead, you get built-in storage runners to hang one of those handy mesh 'hammocks' across for keys, wallets, etc.). Slip the loops over/into the hooks, and adjust the tension to make the curtains as tight as you like against the windows.

They're a little stiff but they insulate and will last a long time. You can also use these as "liners" and put "pretty curtains" over them.

[Sarge]

Len 19070,

Dang, nice job with the curtains. I'm leaning towards the same hardware, but I doubt my 10 thumbs could produce anything as nice.

Jiminsav,

In the interest of the general public, I'd be willing to buy you a set a curtains.

Doug,

I hope we can send some business your way! What kind of hardware do you plan on using?


Great input everyone.

-Sarge

[doug hodder]

Don't know yet Sarge. Probably a rod on a hanger, cut down. I haven't finished up the doors, I laminated the 1/2" plywood with 1/4" marine grade mohogany and they curled a little, I need to cut some kerfs into them, flatten them out and epoxy them to get them to lay flat after I get the window cut. Then I'll laminate the interior birch, dye and finish it off. Right now. there is no way the doors are going to fit up worth a crap without some work on them. I sure wish I would have thought this out before I laminated them up. Not a problem though, just more time. doug hodder

[LeeB]

We used nice bath towels with the top folded over and safetypins on a spring. Later might use some fabric my wife quilts and is always working on one so will have to take a number

Lee

[beverlyt]

After measuring my windows, I decided that a long enough "valance" would work perfect for curtains since the windows are so short.

Went on Ebay since they have TONS of valances and looked for something I liked.

They were a little too wide, so I cut an end off on each one and sewed it back together. Also made tie-backs for each curtain out of the leftover material.

We keep them tied back much of the time.

Bev

[campadk]

Here at the Camp I had my loverly assistant pictured here print up some of our camping photos on some curtains, then used that plastic coated cord pulled tight as a curtain rod screwed in with eyelets.

They are quite effective, especially when trying to put on your pants in the tear.

[dmb90260]

I had the woman who made my avatar patch put them on some kitchen towels (her choice). I folded over the top of the towel so they fit nicely and attached them with velcro tape. Works fine for me and looks much better than the shop towels I had put up with duct tape before.

[purplepickup]

This thread got me thinking. Curtains might be a good use for some of the extra t-shirts I've accumulated over the years. I do a lot of different things and I've got tons of t-shirts that I hardly ever wear. They're really nice but I've got others that are favorites. I'm sure Sue would like to see some of them disappear.

I met a teardropper out west that had a comforter in his trailer that his wife made for him out of rodding event t-shirts. It was really neat.

I can see it now....going thru the "curtain drawer" to pick out the "right ones" for where I'll be camping.

[OurStuff4You]

Ohhhh, what a cool idea with the shirts! We attend a lot of car shows and end up with these shirts we rarely use. Making a quilt out of them is a FANTASTIC idea! Dang, that means I'd have to drag out the sewing machine ... something I try so dang hard to avoid.

[dmb90260]

Here are the curtains I have:



Velco works okay but may need some help in heavy rain but why would I have the doors open in heavy rain anyway

If anyone is interested in having an embroidery picture of their trailer, the name of the woman is in the archives some where and I can look it up.