Message Forums

Quote: Originally posted by kathywall on 11/4/2011

---

thanks so much! this is fantastic - what a brilliant website this is! i really appreciate your advice, thank you very much. i'll check out dunelms right away! Thank you, Kathy

---

Hi Kathy,

Have recently had this dilemma myself, & this is what I did & works a treat... 

You will need...blackout material, dowel, double sided tape, 'No More Nails' Tape, cotton tape, about 2m of stick on velcro, scissors, pencil, tape measure & patience!!

Measure the windows from immediately below the 'pelmet' (bit of wood covering the curtain rail in my case) to either the shelf underneath + 3" OR, 5" below the bottom of the window. for width, allow at least an inch, & for front windows, measured to not quite (about 10mm) halfway between (if multiple front windows).

bought lining from Fleabay as cheaper - make sure to but the '3 pass' type as better for blinds.

Cut to size, use STRONG double sided tape (1 or 2") to attach the dowel by rolling it up in the material. The dowel makes it much easier to roll up out of the way during the day.

Depending on width, use 2 or 3 50cm long strips of cotton tape (about 10mm wide) & attach at measured, equidistant points using a small amount (1" long by tape width wide) of double sided tape - sticky tape in the middle of the cotton tape & attach to top of 'blind' so you can secure it during the day.

Then, using 'No More Nails Tape' (adhesive velcro really doesn't do it - believe me, I tried!!) stick it to either the wall or top of the tape & line the blind up & press firmly into place - take care & time though, making sure the cotton tape you attached to hold the blind in place when not in use has the bottom of the tape free behind the blind & the top folded over the top of the 'blind' before sticking.

Then cut a few lengths of velcro, about 3" should do it, remove the backing from the 'hook' side & attach to the blind near the bottom, then remove the backing from the 'fuzzy' side & press to the wall (with both sides of the velcro together so they match when you come to use them - the hook is on the blind so it doesn't snag the curtains or clothing if sat near it) - caravans are odd, have slopes, so this keeps the blind as close to the wall as possible, blocking out light from the edges & underneath.

Hey Presto - caravan  blinds at a fraction of the price of a dealer / breaker (we were quoted £400 for proper ones, did mine for under £75!!)

Happy blind making!!

What caught us out with out fist caravan was the light from the opaque skylights. I hemmed squares of dark dense cloth the size of each sky light and then as we went to bed we up them inside the fly screens.

Or, of course, you could always go to bed when it gets dark and get up when it is light.  That way you maximise seeing all that lovely country you'll be camping in !!!!

DaveS1