Create Magnetic Blackout Reflectix Insulated Window Blinds/Covers for a Camper Van Motorhome RV Easy

An easy tutorial to make simple and affordable magnetic blackout blinds or covers for your windows on your camper van, motorhome or RV. I wanted something that looked neat and would easily fold up and store in the van as well as providing insulation.
The total project cost me a cheap £50 and I'm really pleased with how they worked out. Here's how with my step-by-step instructions!
The products I used:
► 25mm Bias Binding - amzn.to/2SCFTtE
► Reflectix Insulation Foil - amzn.to/36Hc3MH
► Magents - shorturl.at/apuE4
► Gutterman Thread - amzn.to/3ntMioY
► My material is from IKEA but you can use any patterned fabric you want
► Janome Sewing Machine - amzn.to/34xt0Xf
The back blinds we store folded above the windows while we drive and the magnets are strong enough to hold them in place. The side panel blind we either leave it in place or fold up and put it above the cab.
The reflectix definitely work to reflect the sun and heat back out of the van while you're in it! They're also easy to wipe down
So this tutorial is slightly different than my usual ones and introduces you to Athena Camper, my van which I converted. To learn more about her and follow her journeys make sure you follow Athena on Instagram at athena.camper
If there is a tutorial you'd like to see, please leave a comment below!
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Make sure you like, subscribe and check out more of my content.
► Instagram / createwithverity
► KZbin / @createwithverity
► Pinterest www.pinterest.co.uk/veritru/
I'd also love to see your creations so tag me!
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Welcome to Create With Verity.
For years, I've decorated my home with things I've made and created gifts for family and friends. They've always described me as crafty and been amazed by what I've made; however, I don’t agree.
Most of my gifts are cheap and easy, made with some basic skills so I started this channel not only to feed my craft habit (don’t tell my husband!) but to create instructional videos and tutorials to show you that you can create amazing things too.
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
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My recommendations to get you started with crafting!
► Crochet Hooks (the ones I have) - amzn.to/2Ul14Bp
► Basic Sewing Machine (a newer version to mine) - amzn.to/2YdwhaZ
► Macrame Starter Kit - amzn.to/2MF5Wxl
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Music Credits:
Cali by Wataboi / wataboi
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Free Download / Stream: bit.ly/wataboi-cali
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[@mybasecampisuptownhighrent]

When you are sewing fabric onto backing or silver foil, important to use pins or tape to make sure you have neat finishes with no folds. It is time consuming but worthwhile for a neater finish.

[@thepandemicdiva3369]

I've seen a lot of tutorials on this and your's is one of the best!

[@CreateWithVerity]

Thanks! Good luck with yours 😊

[@thepandemicdiva3369]

I was trying to work out a way to keep the covers up without having to take them down and store them. From your opening shot it looks like you just folded them under in half and moved them up using the magnets to hold them in place. It almost looks like a valance. Is that what you did?

[@CreateWithVerity]

Yes, they fold in half and the magnets are strong enough to hold them above the windows on the back doors.

[@sunnygram3850]

Very good idea.I like how you can fold them up too.

[@CreateWithVerity]

Me too, saves so much space.

[@leannarandall]

Great tutorial! Thanks!!!

[@CreateWithVerity]

Thanks 😊 Good luck with yours!

[@katbot2190]

Thank you for this. It looks awesome.

[@CreateWithVerity]

Thank you :)

[@pentleyholmes]

Nice tutorial. Thank you.

[@CreateWithVerity]

Thank you! Good luck with your blinds 😊

[@christinehowell]

thank you. This is really helpful

[@CreateWithVerity]

Glad you found it useful! ☺️

[@icarmalita]

I love this.

[@CreateWithVerity]

Thank you! :)

[@AmaLeigh_]

Great Video! And thanks for the links!

[@CreateWithVerity]

Thanks, you're welcome!

[@mustdodiving5263]

Thank you…that helps

[@CreateWithVerity]

No problem. Good luck!

[@jeffwalker7185]

This looks realy good - one suggestion - I am not sure if the music helps. I found it really hard to hear the narrative.

[@christinesmith8721]

Thank you for this very helpful video, your good spe aker too easy to listen 👍 and learn 😃

[@CreateWithVerity]

Thank you 😊 Good luck with your project!

[@ybarre]

Nicely done

[@CreateWithVerity]

Thank you! :)

[@Practice_Kindness-1st]

Very clever!

[@CreateWithVerity]

Thank you!

[@tauarikikaa9629]

awesome thanks for the demo i will definitely use this to set up my own ;

[@CreateWithVerity]

Good luck!

[@myralittle7352]

Wow thank you 🎉

[@CreateWithVerity]

You’re welcome 😊

[@rafaelamessinger4519]

I love this idea! I’ve bought all the supplies and have started but am having a difficult time with it. The insulation has started to break apart. Don’t know what to do..

[@rebeccastone8732]

Very nicely done, thanks for showing me how you did this. I just checked out the price of Van Made covers for our RV. UGH! $1400.00, for that price I'll do it myself. Thankfully, my Mom, 4-H, and 4 years of high school home Ec will come in handy..... thanks again

[@CreateWithVerity]

So much money! Sewing skills come in so handy sometimes.

[@YANDEX30V]

Great in principle..id have spray glued the fabric though. Ty

[@CreateWithVerity]

Thanks for watching :)

[@linz_in_NZ]

They look great. I made plain Reflectix shades with stick on magnetic strips for my Sprinter, and they are okay, but a bit of a pain at times, especially on the slider. Your method of using the magnets in pockets and sewing the fabric to the Reflectix looks so neat and makes them much easier to store too. Will be using that to upgrade my current plain shades to add fabric and proper magnets - thanks for the inspiration and instructions!

[@CreateWithVerity]

Good luck!

[@linz_in_NZ]

@@CreateWithVerity Have just completed the re-vamp of the window shades for the rear doors, slider and cab doors, they look amazing, even with my sometimes squiffy sewing. Added bonus they now fold nicely for storage. Will add a few more pics on Insta once the campervan comes back from the mechanics. Thanks again for your great video!!

[@melisahinton3972]

Maybe adhesive spray would help hold everything together while sewing. I like what you did here.

[@CreateWithVerity]

It definitely would! Thanks :)

[@robertschulke1596]

Nice job! Consider having one side silver white cloth to reflect heat, and the other dark to improve privacy at night. Put the silver side out in the summer heat, and in when you’re running the heater. Soft batting will give an air gap between the Reflectix and the window for even better insulation.

[@CreateWithVerity]

The reflectix has air bubbles within it so it’s quite a good insulator in itself, but yes a batting in between will increase the insulation even further. I’d leave the reflectix as the external material though. Turning it around depending on what you’re doing definitely works though!

[@anitaandrew1479]

I made mine like that, but added some "suckers" to the glass as well.

[@CreateWithVerity]

Works just the same!

[@markhall3323]

Can use spray contact adhesive also

[@gmaflor]

very good tutorial. I just would add black solid, to the outside

[@CreateWithVerity]

Thank you 😊 we went with the blue to match the seats but a year later they’re still going strong.

[@mollygardens6646]

I used cheap black felt for the fabric side and stapled it together instead of sewing. Not as nice looking as hers but effective!

[@RuthMAA]

Thankyou gor sharing. Do you know about wonderclips?

[@CreateWithVerity]

I don't, no. Sorry!

[@jeannettelee2806]

Do the reflective side blind disturb drivers or people with the sun hit them in the daylight or if headlights shine on them?

[@freedommusicireland7398]

LOVELY BLINDS! fOR THE SMALLER BACK DOOR WINDOWS... WAS THAT 2 MAGNETS ON TOP AND 2 ON BOTTOM?

[@CreateWithVerity]

Two on each edge, yes.

[@immortalfruits311]

I don't sew. I think spray adhesive could work as well?

[@CreateWithVerity]

I think it will be fine with a glue rather than sewing. Just make sure it’s not one that makes the fabric brittle. Good luck!

[@darinladd5312]

Or learn to sew. It's sooooo easy--even for a guy. But your comment hints at how I plan to solve the issue--spray adhesive to tack the cloth to the reflectix, and then sew (that way, there should not be a bunching problem).

[@marshahatton8848]

Can't you use fabric glue for those of us without sewing machines?

[@CreateWithVerity]

You would be able to definitely yes! Just pop the glue in between the bias binding. You’ll probably want to put the magnets within the bias binding as well.

[@christmasfairy8291]

Mine are really large windows they sag so will need to spray glue on to hold fabric in place as sewing alone isn't enough what glue have people used or would you recommend ?

[@CreateWithVerity]

I've heard that glue can melt apart as they're in the sun a lot. I'm sure they'd hold for a period, but some small stitches would hold them forever.

[@johncramer9564]

Try carpet tape.

[@craigfrood7710]

Did you do one for the windscreen?

[@CreateWithVerity]

No I didn't, we have a curtain that pulls across the cab instead. It would work the same in principle but I think it would be better on some suckers instead of magnets.

[@Chriswoodworker]

Do they stop the condensation or help?

[@CreateWithVerity]

They definitely keep the van warm and block out any additional heat when it's warm outside. Nothing stops the condensation sadly, but the reflectix doesn't allow them to get mouldy as a standard fabric would do!

[@mfrehwater]

What type of needle do you use?

[@CreateWithVerity]

On the sewing machine? They’re just a standard 12 or 14. I can’t remember which one I had on at the time.

[@hannahbosland7319]

The magnet link is expired, could you tell me which size and thickness of magnets you used?

[@CreateWithVerity]

These ones are the same. Good luck! www.amazon.co.uk/Neodymium-Extremely-Powerful-Double-sided-Multi-Use/dp/B0B2W2MX3X/ref=sr_1_8?crid=2ESRSDCLRGAX8&keywords=magnets%252Bthin%252Bstrong&qid=1695996844&sprefix=magnets%252Bthin%252Bstrong%252Caps%252C75&sr=8-8&th=1&_encoding=UTF8&tag=veritru-21&linkCode=ur2&linkId=6c99ed60be79c81c218e8ea5e2d88029&camp=1634&creative=6738

[@MaryWehmeier]

Nice but use a binding foot to do a smooth job.

[@CreateWithVerity]

Very good point! I didn't think about it until afterwards.

[@stefrbt]

I love your non visible magnets technique. The only issue is that your information finds me in the stage that I have already sewed all magnets in the polyester tape🫠🫠 No other option thst to go with the ugly visible way! Congrats anyway 🎉

[@CreateWithVerity]

You could sew them on top over the bias round the edge. Thanks for watching!

[@colblimp]

How is that easy? Way too complicated