How to add block-out lining to pre-made curtains for dummies like me (with curtain track hooks and lining tape)

Project to do BEFORE Christmas if possible:

So we recently moved rentals and it blessedly came with curtains (though most here do). However with rentals they are cheap light filtering curtains. One's that look like midday even though it's only 5 in the morning.

We didn't know this of course and by the time we had settled in we realized too late that baby's room was the brightest of them all!

1st Solution? New curtains!!!
off to spotlight and warehouse we went. Nothing in warehouse but spotlight has the perfect red curtains with polka dots that would go so well with her cute rosy red minnie mouse bedspread! Cost? $50 each!!!

hmmmmm cant afford that right now and need two so 2nd solution? Buy block-out lining and sew to existing curtains. We next went to Geoff's Emporium (love love love) and bought around 3 1/2m of block-out fabric at $9 per metre. At first I tried pinning to existing curtain but then found I came up short in width by about 5-10inches once curtain was flattened and straightened out...should I continue anyway? Then I thought I've already invested in privacy curtains out of my own pocket for the whole house (fishbowl) which I wont see again when I move, do I really want to part with $28 more on one room's set of curtains? NO! I'm a thrifty mum so there must be a better way.

3rd solution I'll make my own curtains from scratch!...Well once I added up all the costs it would probably on have come out marginally cheaper than buying new sigh.

4th and FINAL solution? Make block-out lining from existing materials and make them so I can attach and detach to use them now and take with me when I move or decide to make curtains later on.

Materials:

                    block-out lining ($9 per metre at Geoff's) if you look closely you should be able to see the black middle fabric if you look at the fabric from the side. So top and bottom white and middle black.
                    lining tape ($10 for 10m on trademe)
                    sewing machine and overlocker if available
                    thread
                    appropriate curtain track hooks (already on existing curtains)

Cost: for me came to $38.00 ( so not cheap in my opinion but cheapest I could source at the time)

Measurement: how to measure how much you need? I found all sorts of formulas and calculators for curtain measurement on google. I couldn't figure most of them out so I lay the existing curtain flat and measured it width and long ways adding in seam allowance given to existing curtains.
Measure where the lining is going to sit proximal to the existing curtains lining and measure again as this will result in a shorter measurement probably (it did for me).
Cut and off we go!

1. You don't need to overlock the edges but I did

2. Next I attached the lining tape to curtain. Which side faces the road you say? Always put the face side facing the street. For me this was the soft velvety side and the coarse side faced the inside. Some websites mentions rubbery side? Mine didn't feel rubbery lol.

3. Once pinned sew twice using a small needle (size 14) and straight line. You dont want to allow any extra light in if you can help it and zigzag means more holes so more light. Also I use number 11 shown here on my machine. The pins show where I sewed.

4. Overlock the ends and make sure the two looped 'strings' you can see running along the tape are also secured at the ends

5. Take existing curtains and join together using the curtain track hooks

6. YOUR FINISHED! Put back onto track and walla! Your baby or you should sleep in longer than 5am...hopefully till 8 but I think I'm dreaming here

 I moved the block-out lining to one side a little so you can see the difference

They still let in a little light at the top and a little at the sides but a BIG improvement.
DIY! It's not too hard and you dont have to be good or have much experience to give it a go. I'm proof!

Easy Peazy Christmas Bloomers

So I saw this idea on Facebook to create a Christmas Eve box to give to the kids at, get this, Christmas Eve. Inside this box were new Christmas PJ's, hot cocoa sachets, microwave popcorn and a christmas movie. This to me is a great idea! All kids want to open a present before the big day don't they? I know I did!

Anyway baby is only one so popcorn, cocoa and movie probably isn't the most fun thing to put in my box for her but PJ's....Now that will still be cool and the photos on Christmas day soooo cute! So I scoured Kmart, Warehouse, Farmers etc and no PJ's. Next I tried Trademe and hey presto! But problem...the PJ's I got (only worn once too!) were for boys and obviously so. Never mind I thought! I have a sewing machine so I'm sure I could whip something up!

So here is my blog on how to convert (Christmas) boxers into cute feminine bloomers!Anyone can do this, even probably your two year old!

1. Source your boxers! These are size 0. See? Super easy so far!

 

2. Measure out your elastic. How? First pin the elastic to the boxes above (the seam) and lined up against the seam line. Then stretch and pin as you go. The elastic for these came to 9". Once you pin one leg and measure, cut the second piece for the other leg....easy? Told you so!!!!

3. Procede to machine stitch or hand sew. If using a machine then use zigzag mode.

4. Stretch the boxers out while stitching...

5. And voila! Took about a total of ten minutes and looks great! Perfect for a cute little girl.

Crafts like this don't have to be difficult, expensive or take a long time. They don't even really require a lot of materials. What did I use? Boxers that cost me $2.50, green thread I had or can be purchased for $1-2 and elastic, which I had also or can be bought for about $2.50. Try something today!