Blog Sitter – Amy from Maker Mama! Side Window Sunshade Tutorial…

July 21, 2011 3 Comments



Today we welcome Amy from Maker Mama to the Blog Sitting position! I absolutely loved what she had in store for us when she e-mailed me her idea, and knew I had to have her blog sit for me right away :) .

After taking a peak at her site, I was blown away! There are so many amazing people out there, and I love having this opportunity to make new friends and seeing all of the incredible creativity out there! Just take a look at what I found while browsing Maker Mama...






How cute are those sock kitties? And that quilt is made from recycled mens shirts!!! Love it!

Her idea for us today is something we with kids all use, know and love…and makes me smack my head and say ‘duh – now why didn’t I think of that?!’ So without further ado…I would like to introduce you to Amy, and her amazing Side Window Sunshades…

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sun shade tutorial


Hi everyone, I’m Amy, and I blog about my crafty life over at Maker Mama. I’ve loved making things since I was a girl, and as a firefighter’s wife with four little ones, I’m constantly thinking about how we can make things ourselves instead of taking another trip to the store (unless it’s the thrift store, of course). I started getting really crafty when I was pregnant with my third child, and taught myself to crochet, got reacquainted with sewing and embroidery, and have also learned how to knit and use a serger.

I live in south Texas where it is HOT this summer, and it’s essential to keep my kids (and their tempers) cool in the car. I already have a sunshade for our windshield, but needed something to shade baby Amelia in the back. So whether you’re sweating it out in 80-degree or 100-degree weather, here’s a little sewing project to help keep your little ones cool:


Supply List:
  • One large scrap of fabric (12 x 24 inches)
  • 2 11-inch dowels or grilling skewers (be sure to cut the sharp ends off if you’re using skewers)

  • 4 eyelets and an eyelet setting kit (you can find these at the craft store)

  • A hammer

  • 4 small suction cups with hooks (I found mine at Michael’s near the soap-making aisle.)

  • Iron and ironing board

  • Sewing machine

sun shade tutorial


First you want to hem all the edges of your fabric, so get out your iron and press the sides up half an inch.

Stitch the edges up.

Your corners should look something like this.

Now fold and press your fabric in half.

Pin the open edges together.

Sew as close to the edge as possible–you want to leave room for your dowel pocket in the next step.

Next, mark and sew along a line half an inch from both the top and bottom. These will be your dowel pockets.

After you’ve sewn your dowel pockets, you need to mark where your four eyelets will go. I marked mine about 1/4 inch from the top and bottom and an inch in from either side. You want to mark them as close to the top and bottom edges as possible (but not in the dowel pockets!) to ensure that the suction cup hooks will fit.

To make the holes for your eyelets, fold the fabric in half along each mark and carefully snip a small x in each corner.

You want to cut your x smaller than the eyelet itself, otherwise the eyelet will slide through the fabric instead of gripping onto it.

Slide your eyelets in (be sure to face them all out on the same side).

Fit the front part of the eyelet onto the bottom part of the eyelet setting kit.

Place the other part of the eyelet tool on the back of the eyelet (the bottom piece in the previous photo is beneath the fabric still).

Hammer the eyelet down to flatten the back.

The back of your eyelet should lay flat against the fabric.

add dowel

Now slide your dowels into the pockets.

sun shade tutorial

Hook on your suction cups.


And you’re done!

Now go hang it up in the car…

…to keep the baby cool!


Thanks so much for having me Jessica–I hope you’re all beating the summer heat!
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What a great tutorial! So easy, and so practical! I know tons of people will get great use out of this, especially when we can choose such great fabrics to put in our car now, rather then the mesh or character designs the stores have for us to choose from now :) .

Thanks so much for being here Amy, and don’t forget to go check out Maker Mama to see everything she has to offer!

Thanks so much for stopping by, and until next time…Happy Sewing!

Filed Under: blog sitter, maker mama, sunshade, tutorial

Comments

  1. יוצרת בשרון-yozert basharon says:
    July 21, 2011 at 11:02 am

    great one thank’s
    joining you on the making friend’s and enjoying other’s work’s.

    Reply
  2. ananchorage says:
    July 23, 2011 at 3:37 am

    I love the idea, but think it’s a not good to block any vision from your vehicle windows. Wouldn’t some sheer mesh type fabric of sunshade (like they sell in garden stores) work to keep the sun out but allow you to have sight out of the window?

    Gloria

    Reply
  3. Jessica at Me Sew Crazy says:
    July 23, 2011 at 10:33 am

    fabulous suggestions Gloria!

    Reply

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