Creating Custom Window Shades For Your Camper

Window shades are an essential part of any campervan conversion, providing privacy, insulation, and comfort. They can be expensive to buy pre-made, but making your own is a fun and budget-friendly alternative. This introduction will cover the tools and materials you'll need, as well as the steps to take, to create your own custom window shades. From choosing the right fabric to adding magnets or velcro for attachment, you'll be able to design shades that perfectly match your style and needs. So, whether you're an experienced sewer or a DIY novice, read on to discover how to make window shades that will elevate your campervan experience.

Tracing window patterns

Step 1: Tracing the Window Pattern

Use any kind of paper to make your pattern, including newspaper, packing paper, kraft paper, three-ply tissue paper, packaging paper, or even construction paper. The best kind of paper to use is as wide as your pattern needs to be, meaning a single sheet of tracing paper should be bigger than the size of the windows to be traced.

Kraft paper is more durable and easier to work with when tracing car windows, but it can be expensive. Newspaper and tissue paper are a great, more affordable option. You can also cut open a brown paper bag and tape multiple pieces of paper together to create a large piece of tracing paper.

Step 2: Tracing Technique

Use a felt-tip marker to trace the pattern from the inside of the window. The felt-tip marker shows up easily, glides smoothly, and helps prevent the tracing paper from ripping. Push the paper inside the window frame for a good trace. It is better to make the pattern a little larger than the window and then trim it down than to cut the pattern too small initially.

Step 3: Cut Out the Initial Window Pattern

Once you have the paper template, cut it out. Make your initial cut outside of the traced line to allow for errors in the pattern.

Step 4: Re-measure the Pattern

Double-check that the cut pattern fits inside the car's windows and is not too small or too big. If there is any excess material, trim it off with scissors. If the pattern is too small, add length or width when tracing onto the insulation or re-trace the pattern. Cut the paper pattern to fit snugly inside each window frame; you should not see any glass.

Cutting out the fabric

The first step to making window shades for your camper is to cut out the fabric. This process will involve creating a template of each window, cutting the fabric according to the template, and then trimming the fabric to ensure a snug fit. Here is a detailed guide:

Step 1: Create a Template

Start by measuring each window you want to cover. You can use cardboard or paper to create a template. Hold the cardboard or paper up against the inside of the window and trace around the edge with a pencil or marker. Cut out the template, adding an extra inch or two to the dimensions to ensure a snug fit.

Step 2: Cut the Fabric

Use your template to cut the fabric for each window. Place the template on the fabric and trace around it with a marker or pencil. Cut out the fabric, making sure to add a little extra around the edges (about 2 cm or 1-2 inches). This will allow for any adjustments and ensure a snug fit.

Step 3: Trim the Fabric

Once you have cut out the fabric for each window, it's time to trim it to ensure a perfect fit. Place the fabric in the window, and mark any areas that need to be trimmed. Carefully cut away any excess fabric, ensuring that the fabric fits snugly in the window frame.

Step 4: Final Checks

Before moving on to the next steps of the project, it's important to double-check that your fabric pieces fit well. Place them in the corresponding windows and ensure they fit snugly and securely. Make any necessary adjustments to the fabric by trimming or cutting accordingly.

Now that you have cut and trimmed your fabric, you can move on to the next steps of creating your window shades, such as adding insulation, sewing, and attaching fasteners.

Adding insulation

Materials:

• Reflectix Insulation: This is a shiny, insulating material that helps block out light and insulate your camper. A 25-foot roll is usually enough for a Honda Element, but you can adjust the amount based on your vehicle's size.
• Cardboard: Use big sheets of cardboard to create templates for your window shades. You can ask a local bike shop for leftover bike boxes.
• Fabric: Choose a fabric that suits your style and preferences. You will need enough fabric to cover all your windows. Consider using a patterned or blackout fabric for added privacy and light blocking.
• Adhesive: Use adhesive spray or spray glue to attach the fabric to the Reflectix insulation.
• Duct Tape: Maximum strength black duct tape will help secure the fabric to the insulation and give a finished look to your window shades.
• Tools: You will need a pair of scissors, a marker or pen, a tape measure, and a sewing machine (optional).

Step-by-Step Process:

• Create Window Templates: Use cardboard or matte board to create templates for each window. Hold the cardboard up against the inside of the window and trace around the edge with a marker. Cut out the templates, ensuring they fit snugly into the recessed area of the window.
• Cut the Reflectix Insulation: Place your window templates on the Reflectix insulation and trace around them. Cut out the insulation pieces, making them slightly larger than the templates. Test fit them in the windows, trimming as needed to ensure a snug fit.
• Prepare the Fabric: Cut out fabric pieces using the window templates as a guide. Make sure to add a little extra fabric (about 2 cm or an inch) to allow for folding and attaching to the insulation.
• Attach the Fabric: Spray adhesive or glue on the Reflectix insulation pieces and carefully attach the fabric, smoothing out any wrinkles. Alternatively, you can sew around the edges to secure the fabric to the insulation.
• Add Duct Tape: Use black duct tape to secure the edges of the window shades and give them a finished look. Make sure to use long pieces on straightaways and shorter pieces on curves.
• Final Touches: If needed, add suction cups, magnets, or velcro to help keep the window shades in place. Test fit each shade in its respective window, making any necessary adjustments.

By following these steps, you will have insulated window shades that provide privacy, block out light, and help regulate the temperature in your camper.

Sewing the fabric

Step 1: Prepare the Fabric

Before you begin sewing, ensure that you have cut out the fabric pieces for each window, using the templates you created earlier. It is important to iron the fabric to remove any wrinkles, as these can cause issues during the sewing process. You will need three layers of material for each window shade: the outer fabric of your choice, a layer of blackout fabric, and a layer of insulation such as Reflectix. Cut the blackout fabric and insulation slightly larger than your template, by around 2 cm or an inch, to allow for a snug fit in the window frame.

Step 2: Sandwich the Layers

Now, it's time to assemble the layers of your window shade. Place the blackout fabric on the outside, facing the window, followed by the insulation, and then your chosen fabric for the inside of the van. Ensure that the layers are aligned correctly, especially if you are using patterned fabric. Pin the layers together to secure them in place.

Step 3: Sewing the Layers Together

Using a sewing machine, sew straight lines across the window shade to secure the layers together. For larger windows, divide the length of the shade into quarters and mark with pins before sewing. This will allow your window shade to fold more easily for storage. Use a large stitch to prevent puckering of the fabric.

Step 4: Adding Bias Binding

Pin the bias binding around the edges of the window shade to give it a neat finish. You can use an iron to help create a crisp edge. Sew the bias binding in place, ensuring that you catch the bottom edge of the binding with your stitches. This will join the three layers of fabric together securely.

Step 5: Adding Magnets (Optional)

If you are using magnets to secure your window shades in place, you can add them as you sew the bias binding. Mark the desired locations for your magnets with tailor's chalk, and sew up to that point. Insert a magnet into the opening and push it into place with a sewing needle. Continue sewing the binding, adding magnets as you go.

Step 6: Finishing the Edges

When you reach the end of the bias binding, fold the edges in to create a flat ending, and sew it in place to complete your window cover.

Now, repeat these steps for each of your camper van windows, and you'll have custom-made window shades in no time!

Attaching the shades

Now that you've cut out your window shades and sewed them together, it's time to attach them to your camper van windows. There are a few different methods you can use, depending on your preference and the materials you have used to make your shades. Here are some options:

Magnets:

If your camper van windows are made of metal, you can attach your shades using magnets. Cut out small pieces of magnet and slide them into pockets sewn onto the edges of your window shades. This method works well if you have a lot of windows, as it allows you to easily remove and reattach the shades as needed.

Suction Cups:

Another option for attaching your shades is to use suction cups. You can sew loops of fabric or bias tape onto the corners of your shades and attach them to suction cups placed on the windows. This method is useful if your windows are made of glass or another non-metallic material.

Velcro:

If you want a more permanent solution, you can attach your shades using velcro. Cut strips of adhesive-backed velcro and stick them to the edges of your shades and the corresponding areas on your windows. This method provides a strong hold but may be more difficult to remove if you need to take your shades down.

Duct Tape:

For a simple and inexpensive solution, you can use duct tape to attach your shades. Place strips of duct tape on the edges of your shades and stick them to the windows. This method is quick and easy but may not be as secure as the other options.

No Attachment:

Depending on the size and shape of your windows, you may find that your shades fit snugly without any additional attachments. This is the easiest method, as it requires no extra materials or steps. Simply cut your shades to fit tightly in the window frames, and they will stay in place on their own.

Once you've decided on an attachment method, take the time to carefully measure and mark the placement of your magnets, suction cups, velcro, or tape. This will ensure that your shades fit properly and securely. After attaching your shades, test them out to make sure they provide the desired level of privacy and insulation.

Frequently asked questions