How to make your own conservatory roof blinds

Update.
Original video suggested using Dunelm cotton canvas which unfortunately is no longer available. If I made these again I would maybe use 100% polyester exterior sail blind material which is widely available online in various colours (NB - not HDPE fabric which much thicker and coarser and totally unsuitable).
We now use 5mm white bungee cord to anchor the blinds which is much simpler to attach.
This year, after 10 summers use, we had to re-inforce the corners and put in new eyelets as the fabric surrounding the old ones had worn away. it would be best to do this at the start.

[@walshamite]

Excellent idea, and one I may well follow. Regarding the shrinkage after washing, it could be advisable to pre-wash the canvas in the washer before making the blinds up. This will effectively pre-shrink it, so avoiding the problem of reducing dimensions after the wash.

[@zeldagoblin]

This is brilliant, brilliant, brilliant!!! I've just bought some fabric for exactly this purpose. I'm backing mine with thermal lining left over from a camper van conversion, and wanted to see some ideas for sail blinds. Well done. And thanks very much!!

[@daveboyington6405]

Fair enough, not the exact look I'm going for but I'm pleased it worked out for you and cannot fault your ingenuity!

[@wordweaver58]

You are my new hero! Just bought a house with lovely glass roof conservatory and worried, as I am photosensitive I might not be able to use it much. No longer worried.

[@jemmahart5693]

Great idea will be making these! Thanks for posting the video!

[@Mattisskill2]

I will be sure to do this when I get home.. And when I own a conservatory! 10/10

[@rleduc8]

Those look fabulous, great idea! I am going to try it on my skylights!

[@Grandadkev]

They reduce heat radiated through the glass that they cover. With ventilation from window vents (and sometimes doors) they have reduced the temperature in our conservatory on hot days by between 5 - 10°C.

[@Grandadkev]

You could try blackout lining but you might have two problems: the lining being too thin and pulling out of shape (we tried a cotton bed sheet and weren’t impressed) and the lining blocking out too much light. In the end we chose cotton canvas. The thickness is 0.025” which is the same as deckchair canvas. We were able to turn and hem this on an ordinary sewing machine. After 4 years they have still kept their shape. If you Google cotton canvas there are plenty of UK suppliers. Good luck.

[@blackvueuser9528]

Wow. Great idea. Thank you

[@Grandadkev]

Glad you approve. If you plan to give it a try, see my previous comments about the cotton canvas no longer being available. I suggest you try outdoor sail blind material. Make sure you get 100% polyester, not HDPE, which is far too coarse for inside blinds.

[@familyfruit9833]

This is great, I'm going to do this!

[@tamar5261]

just been to dunelm,wasted journey. ..they don't do the canvas material, the nearest thing they do is blackout material which might do it, but they only do 1.73 m. and at £4.75 per meter it's going to cost about £200 to make mine.

[@wordweaver58]

I am using charity shop and used canvas curtains, flatfell stiching them together to make sheets large enough to cover areas needed. They are 3 different shades of natural, so will kind of look like real old sails.

[@Thisistrulyoddtv_Mark]

Then when washed measure fabric and then how it has shrunk is what your left with then make your item and. Wen you wash next time it won't shrink as you've done the shrinkage wash

[@bradzguy1893]

looks good... do they help make the room more useable on hot bright days ?

[@Thisistrulyoddtv_Mark]

Biggest mistake to make any fabric that is going to be cut and sewn to make an item must always first be washed to allow for shrinkage that's why they say buy extra material to allow for ths wash the material in washing machine to

[@philgillmartin5053]

Hello Grandadkev, thanks so much for your video. We need shade for our conservatory to cut out the glare mainly. I know it's a long shot as it's years since you posted the video, but could you comment on the possibility of the magnification through the glass causing a fire hazard? Have you had any problems with this? Thank you, Phil

[@Grandadkev]

There is no magnification through double glazed panels as the panes of glass are parallel. The blinds decrease temperature rather than increase. See my comments since posting on where to source the fabric. Also we now use 5mm white bungee cord to tension the blinds rather than nylon cord.

[@philgillmartin5053]

@@Grandadkev Sorry for the delay in replying. Thank you so much for your response - we are on our way to getting them done! Kind regards, Phil

[@Evamargo71]

Hi, not sure what fabric you used. I am considering blackout fabric, the one used for curtains.Do you think this would work? Many thanks for the video, I have been quoted over 1K for roof blinds for a very small conservatory, so I'm definitely up to try the DIY option!

[@PhyllisGlassup2TheBrim]

so how do you open and close the blinds? My conservatory is passive solar heating for the living room. In summer I need the blinds to keep the room cool, but on cloudy or cold days, I need them open or partially open.

[@Grandadkev]

Sorry but you don't: they just get put up in Spring and get taken down in Autumn. If you need blinds that open, you'll probably have to pay a lot to get Venetian blinds professionally fitted.

[@jlus2359]

A bit of a long shot as you made this video years ago but do you know the exact fabric you used from Dunelm? Thanks!

[@Grandadkev]

They were made from cotton canvas which we are still using but I'm not sure they do it anymore. If we were to make them now, I would probably use the 100% polyester from an outdoor sail shade which are advertised widely in various colours online. We have a cream one which would do quite well. Either that or we've just bought some tivoli heavy duty waterproof fabric to make some outdoor cushions. This might do (you can order a sample first). One tip - this year we had to reinforce and put new eyelets in the corners as the original ones has started to pull out. Also we now use thin bungee cord to achor the sails which gives a good tension.

[@clairecollier1665]

Hi I'm really interested in making these blinds but I've looked on the dunelm website and can't find canvas material! Is there another name for the material that you brought? Hope that you can help because they look like a fab idea. Claire

[@Bigblueone]

Great idea....but ...the music...😣

[@Grandadkev]

It was 8 years ago - and it seemed a good idea at the time. Sorry!

[@Bigblueone]

No worries great tutorial tho ....

[@romeliapolly1212]

Love your project. I made similar with Woodprix instructions.