I've got 50 yds. of blackout fabric - making curtains

[elfinbaby]

Okay, here's where I am in my thinking and you'll have to tell me how illogical I'm being b/c I can't tell anymore.

You wouldn't believe how many windows/sliding glass doors I have in my house so I've selected the necessary ones that need the blackout fabric. I don't particularly like sewing curtains. I don't seem to be able to cut straight But it doesn't really matter b/c I purchased curtains for some of these windows/doors before I realized how badly they needed the blackout fabric. So I'd like to avoid sewing curtains if at all possible.

So, what is the easiest method to get these windows covered? Is it impossible to attach it to my store bought curtains? Should I just make a simple curtain and use a seperate rod? I'm okay with that. If I do that, will I be able to pull the blackout curtains to the side when I feel like it - I mean, it's pretty thick so I'm wondering how the thickness will effect ease of movement on a rod.

Any advice appreciated. If I could, I would cut big rectangles and nail it to the outside of the windows. That's how crazy I feel right now. Well, actually I will be doing that (sort of) with one sliding glass door. It's in the bathroom for pete's sake! And we already have to huge windows in the shower (yes, in the shower) to bring the outside in - I don't need the light or the door. Plus, these doors/windows are original - 30 yrs. old and our house is freezing right now!!

Help, please
April

[rubelin]

Whenwe moved into our current house (and I was too tired to sew new cutrains), I just cut panels from my old black-out curtains (which I'd sewn), and used clips to attach them to the rod (got the clips at the fabric store, they have a loop attached to a clip). You could probably attach the pieces to the store-bought curtains along the top edge, too, but it might make those a bit heavy.

[operamommy]

elfinbaby, we have 1 wall of our living room that's completely windows and 2 sets of sliders (we live in an A-frame). As they're original windows too, it gets cold as well. We've found that putting the plastic stuff that they sell at Target, Wal-Mart etc. on the insides of the windows that we can reach makes a HUGE difference.

[elfinbaby]

Thanks for the help I'm going to work on the windows this week.

The plastic stuff - you mean the stuff you seal on the window with a hair dryer? Does that mean I would have to take it down to open the window during other seasons?

April

[operamommy]

Yep - but we only leave ours on from about Nov. - early March.