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From: Sew_Little_Time
Date: 11-02-2006, 02:03 AM (1 of 17)
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Hello - I am about to make some drapes to cover a single pane window that loses a lot of heat through this thin glass - my 90-yr. young dad is living with us, & this is for his bedroom. My question is where do I find a thermal type of fabric to line these drapes with? We live in a rural area - there aren't any local fabric shops, other than Wal Mart. Can anyone provide me with suggestions for where to look (even online, is good) & what to use to best help keep the heat in his room? If thermal fabric is costly, what else could be used successfully? TYVM for any help! |
User: Sew_Little_Time
Member since: 10-30-2006 Total posts: 13 |
From: Brenisback
Date: 11-02-2006, 05:15 AM (2 of 17)
 I realy don't know where to find a thermal type of fabric ...go to Google and type in what your looking for...Hope that helps . Brenda
People come into your life ...for a Reason a Season or a Lifetime. |
User: Brenisback
Member since: 09-20-2004 Total posts: 228 |
From: lsoutherla
Date: 11-02-2006, 12:54 PM (3 of 17)
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you may want to try blackout lining (which does come in white) and does give some insulation, but mainly from heat from the outside coming (and light) into the room. Since you're wanting to prevent energy escaping out the window, then you will want to prevent the heat from leaking around the drapery. You may want to extend your drape past the sides, top, and bottom of the window. Extend the draperies at least four to five inches past the sides, about 1/2 to 1 inch off the floor, and extend them as high as visually appealing. try this site for thermal insulation: http://craftandfabriclinks.com/store/insulation_batting.html Laura |
User: lsoutherla
Member since: 05-04-2006 Total posts: 72 |
From: Pudge99
Date: 11-02-2006, 01:29 PM (4 of 17)
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I asked this question once. I believe the answer I was given was add a layer of warm and natural batting between my curtain fabric and my lining. I have yet to try it but it is an idea.
Gina
Pictures of my successes and failures Pfaff 2040 Janome Mylock 134D Singer Futura CE-100 w/ Autopunch Husqvarna Viking 3D Sketch |
User: Pudge99
Member since: 10-30-2001 Total posts: 1375 |
From: Sancin
Date: 11-02-2006, 01:41 PM (5 of 17)
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I agree with Laura about extending the curtains. I was 3 years in this house before I realized that one particularly cold room only had single glass where the rest of the house windows were double paned - it was cold! You don't indicate where you are from. In Canada you can purchase black out curtain liners from Sear's catalogue - look for the ones with metallic type backing. Perhaps you could make curtains as you normally would and put some cheapish flannelette between the lining and the room curtain. Or, if you don't mind the look from the outside, simply line the curtains with a rougher fabric (maybe even fleece) which would trap the cold in the fibres. Unfortunately anything rough would likely collect dust more than usual. Another suggestion would be to put up some insulating plastic that sticks to the window frame (you tighten it by heating with blow dryer) - available at hardware stores. You can use this on the outside or inside of the window and the air between the pane and the plastic acts as insulation. It is very effective. *~*~*~* Nancy*~*~*~* " I try to take one day at a time - but sometimes several days attack me at once."
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User: Sancin
Member since: 02-13-2005 Total posts: 895 
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From: HeyJudee
Date: 11-02-2006, 07:55 PM (6 of 17)
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Yep, I was going to suggest the same thing as Nancy. In Canada the hardware stores like Home Depot sell packages to insulate windows. This would be the ideal solution to make the room more comfortable for your dad.
TTFN from
Judy |
User: HeyJudee
Member since: 01-25-2005 Total posts: 1366 
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From: Miss Spring
Date: 11-03-2006, 01:06 PM (7 of 17)
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Here is a link to the site Im ordering all my drapery stuff from. Im going to try the blackout linning. I live in Southern NM so any kind of linning will work here...lol Right now I have some cheapy lace panels I found at the dollar store...so anything will be better then that. http://www.housefabric.com/categorysubview.asp?CategoryID=97&CategorySubID=209 I cant wait to see your finished product. Spring |
User: Miss Spring
Member since: 05-03-2006 Total posts: 87 |
From: Sew_Little_Time
Date: 11-06-2006, 05:14 PM (8 of 17)
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Thank you for your repsonses here - they are all very helpful to me! Miss Spring, I am interested in that site you provided, am thinking about the ivory flannel lining, but will probably go w/black flannel to hold more heat in....decisions! Sancin, how would I share the finished drapes here? I don't see "attach" anywhere....I'm a "newbie" at this site. I still haven't gotten my fabric yet, trying to settle the lining first to make them as dense as I can to hold in heat. Will also try the suggestion to look into Sears, Sancin - we are in No. Calif. so don't know if our Sears has the same as for Canada. Older people just get plain cold, no matter where they live, so I'm hoping our Sears agrees, lol! This is such a cooooool site - TY all! - |
User: Sew_Little_Time
Member since: 10-30-2006 Total posts: 13 |
From: Sew_Little_Time
Date: 11-06-2006, 05:25 PM (9 of 17)
Oops - forgot to tell Laura that thanks to her comments, I will make the drapes floor length now...was worried about Dad tripping on them so was just doing to do mid-length, about 12" below the window sill....hmmm...maybe I still will - maybe just velcroe the bottoms in places to the wall if they will still hang right.  The area where the drapes will go is only about a foot & a half wide of clearance from window to bed. |
User: Sew_Little_Time
Member since: 10-30-2006 Total posts: 13 |
From: Sancin
Date: 11-06-2006, 09:45 PM (10 of 17)
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Sew Little Time - I am unsure what you mean about share the lining with the drapes. Perhaps you mean how would you attach thermal or other linings to the drapes already hanging or about to be hung. The ones that I purchased from Sears (and elsewhere) have a line of loop lace thread (open weave) along the top of the liner. You put the hooks that you have in your regular drapes through the threads in the liners so they hang together. If you were to make your own you could sew on a similar sort of ribbing. One thing to note about drape liners is that they are generic and measured as wide as windows and are not necessarily as wide as pleated drapes may be, thus do not have the fullness when attached to the drapes. This is OK as it still has space to trap the air between the drapes and the liners. I wish I could help you - I just gave away 2 sets of full length drape liners. They were purchased from Sears and labeled as either black out or thermal lining. I would think you could get them in California as people may be lining drapes to prevent sun damage to drapes and the linings are pretty much the same. FYI - the reason I got rid of my linings is that I got new windows that are slightly tinted, have some sort of insulating gas between the panes - a lot of money in the window manufacturer's and installer's pockets. I doubt whether you will be able to get the plastic to insulate the windows. They are definitely a cold area product and I had never seen or heard of them when I lived 300 miles south. I think the plastic may become brittle in hot sunlight. Good luck 
*~*~*~* Nancy*~*~*~* " I try to take one day at a time - but sometimes several days attack me at once."
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User: Sancin
Member since: 02-13-2005 Total posts: 895
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From: Sew_Little_Time
Date: 11-07-2006, 01:55 AM (11 of 17)
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Lol, Sancin! My mistake re "sharing"....it twernt you that asked, it was Miss Spring that asked me to share a pic of finished product. Thanks for the additional explanation & tips though! It sounds like the liners you mention from Sears would have to hang separately? Good point about the plastic insulation - this window gets a lot of hot sun when we have it. I am so happy to get all this info before I get started! I think I'm liking more the idea of sandwhiching in a layer of flannel (?) between the lining & actual drapes - I just want to make his room warmer so am trying to figure out what to use that would do the best in this. |
User: Sew_Little_Time
Member since: 10-30-2006 Total posts: 13 |
From: Sancin
Date: 11-07-2006, 02:53 AM (12 of 17)
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"have to hang separately?" No, they hang the same as any liners do except these are hooked on vs sewn in. I think that the Sears mail order stuff is the same in both Canada and US. It would be worth a lot of time and energy to make a phone call. The drape liners are not very expensive. You may even be able to get them in a regular drapery shop or even Penny's. Maybe your father would be more comfortable wearing wool socks and a sweater. That way he would be warm and not the room. Old people have poor circulation and that is the reason they feel cold. *~*~*~* Nancy*~*~*~* " I try to take one day at a time - but sometimes several days attack me at once."
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User: Sancin
Member since: 02-13-2005 Total posts: 895
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From: katiesmom
Date: 11-08-2006, 08:53 PM (13 of 17)
| Please take a look at the Warm Company website...www.warmcompany.com...they have a new product out called "warm windows"...although they are pricey, they give instructions for making these yourself...I ordered (all from Newark Dressmaker Supply) the "Insul-Bright" for the outer side, placed "Thermal Fleece" next and then placed my fashion fabric (to show inside the house) and tacked it all together...instead of using magnetized strips (not sure if I could sew this on my computerized machine), I used Velcro strips on the inside of my window sill and on the "Insul-Bright" side of my shade (Roman shade)...love these!!! They are really making a difference in the inside temperature of the house! I did one room at a time...saved money...did another room...saved, etc. Love it!...hope this helps. |
User: katiesmom
Member since: 10-30-2005 Total posts: 4 |
From: Sew_Little_Time
Date: 11-13-2006, 01:54 PM (14 of 17)
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Thanks so much, Katie's Mom! I wanted to tell you that I caught your post here just before I left for the day to go to a JoAnn's Fabric store - they have the Warm Company product line & this looks like exactly what I need! I'm going to re-measure the window asap & get started on this idea - will probably end up doing as you did, covering most of my windows this way - TYVM! |
User: Sew_Little_Time
Member since: 10-30-2006 Total posts: 13 |
From: texasmom_35
Date: 11-21-2006, 10:36 PM (15 of 17)
I live in Central Texas and have an old home that has single pane drafty windows. My husband would like to have blackout curtains on each of our windows because he is like a Gremlin "bright light, bright light"  What I did to cut down on light, stop the heat/cold from coming in and save on the price of purchasing curtains was to "sandwich" material. I took the material of choice for the outside and sandwiched a blanket (or multiple layers of other material) between the fabric. If you want to stop light then use heavier material or a very, very dark blanket between the layers. I sewed a very simple curtain that had fabric loops for the hangers (which by the way I used a larger dowel rod for the hanger) and had a simple rectangle with double single stitch around the edges. They each took maybe 30 minutes to make and keep out all the heat/cold that needs to be. Debra Texas |
User: texasmom_35
Member since: 08-05-2006 Total posts: 11 |
From: Sancin
Date: 11-22-2006, 03:46 PM (16 of 17)
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Sew Little Time What did you decide to go with? At one point in my life and in another house I looked at making the warm windows but found them prohibitively expensive. 
*~*~*~* Nancy*~*~*~* " I try to take one day at a time - but sometimes several days attack me at once."
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User: Sancin
Member since: 02-13-2005 Total posts: 895
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From: Sew_Little_Time
Date: 11-25-2006, 11:05 PM (17 of 17)
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Sancin - Hi - I didn't have time to price out the warm windows when I was last able to travel to Joann's fabric - I'm getting the feeling from a few posts here that it could be kinda pricey and the window in my dad's bedroom is quite large, ugh. I am still going to look into it though. I liked the ideas of other posters here about using a flannel or other dense fabric sandwhiched in between drapes and lining - that may be the way I'll have to go. We've been blessed with sunshine lately - plus I just put a nice new electric blanket on his bed - so have been devoting my sewing time right now to finally getting to my husband's father's ties I have collected to make up gifts for Christmas for his siblings using the ties...course, this has lead to new problem and I need to find the area on this site to get some advice about the jam I'm in with them...double ugh! This is typical for me...always a gazillion projects going all at one time - nice to take a break here from time to time! |
User: Sew_Little_Time
Member since: 10-30-2006 Total posts: 13 |
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