Utility Bill Just Jumped Today - Warming Up the Windows

[eleny]

We received our utility bill today. It covers gas and electric. We're on budget billing and today the monthly billing went up over $100.

I sew and like some "fabricoholics" have a stash of cloth. My goal is to learn how to make insulated shades for some of our windows and the sliding patio doors.

The Warm Window company has free instructions in pdf format to read or download.

[Joebert]

1. Damn! $100?

I don't want to see mine then.

I have the my sewing ability is only surpassed by my cooking ability. Both of which, are fatal. :-)

Thanks for the link though.

[eleny]

2. I forgot that you're probably an Xcel customer, too :(

A friend called today to say that her bill went up about $20. She's in Arvada and doesn't use her air conditioning much. The thing is, I was expecting a jump after we started using the heat - not yet.

One good thing about these window shades is that they pretty much require straight stitching. Or maybe even wiggly stitches could work. We'll call those "creative". I get all thumbs when it comes to the hardware and will leave that to the husband. I'll do the creative stitchery.

[Joebert]

3. Yep. Good ol' Xcel.

My bill is a little more because I'm 100% WindSource.

I'm going to dress warmer in the house this winter, and I already have 2 blankets and a comforter on my bed.

I also bought a flannel mattress pad. Overstock.com had everything so cheap!

[eleny]

4. "a flannel mattress pad" ...hmmmmm

We've never tried a flannel one. I'm going to jump over to Overstock and check them out. Hubby doesn't particularly like flannel sheets. But a flan mattress pad sounds like a possible compromise.

[Joebert]

5. Stays warm, under the cool sheets... mmm....

[BamaGirl]

6. Ouch!

Mine was up $60 last month which is typical for us this time of year, so luckily I was expecting it!

I'll have to check out the links. I have noticed drapes made a big difference on the sunniest part of the house, but they could stand to be heavier. All of my current stash is spoken for tho. I'll have to hit the thrift shops and see what I can scare up lol.

[MissB]

7. I've seen the warm window fabric at our local fabric store.

I'm cheap enough that I'd sub something like a cotton batting. It is thin and would give a nice weight and thickness to the shade for much less money.

Great idea! Thanks for the link.

[politicat]

8. I've built four of them so far....

But I played with the materials lists like mad.

NB: We had no window coverings in the house, save the mini-blinds, which had to come down when I put up the stretch plastic. I've had sheets tacked over the windows for a week.

Most of my stash was not useful for the windows, being 42-46 inches wide (my windows are 36 inches and 50 inches, so absolutely wrong for 45 wide fabric) , so I ended up going through the clearance racks at the fabric store. I got a lovely stripey in cream, gold and brown that matches the mahogany-stained floors for the living room and dining room and a neat old-fashioned botanicals calico for the exercise room. I've got a chintz for the breakfast nook and kitchen, and a red velvet upholstery for the bedroom, my office and the "random window" that is at the end of the hall. DH is getting a cream and black plaid for his office.

The Warm and Natural stuff was a bit high, but the fabric store had the fusible batting on sale for 50% off, and I had my discount card with me. So I got it for 40% off half off, making it cheaper than my original plan. The fusible batting saved me a ton of time and saved my sewing machine from having to deal with such unwieldy fabric.

However, my original plan was to use mattress pads. They're cheap at my local thrift (usually 2 for a twin, 3 for a full, 3.50 for a queen and 4 for a king) and essentially exactly what the Warm and Natural stuff is.

With the fusible (or Heat and Bond), the project goes quickly and efficently. I've gotten 4 done so far, while going to my continuing ed class and studying.

My total costs (in high cost of living CO) are: 30 for the batting, 48 for the fabric, 6 for the 1x2, 5 for the magnets and not quite 11 for the little pulleys, rings and cord (all bought at a hardware store, not the fabric store). For a catch, I'm using hooks that were already in the walls. So for just under $100, I've got window coverings that will work for the winter. (Summers, I have airy muslin curtains and bamboo shades that I've collected in the houses I've lived in for the past several years, but those don't work in December.)

[NMDemDist2]

9. now THAT's the way you do it!

$100 for all those windows, WELL DONE!

Excellent idea on the mattress covers, I'll steal that. I have a beautiful duvet that I got but it's too heavy for summer (which lasts about 8 months a year here) but I found a bunch of pillow shams in the same fabric that I'm going to take apart and piece together to make a lighter summer spread. old mattress pads will work perfect as the guts and I can use a coordinating sheet (or I may have enough to make it reversible)

thanks!

here's a pic of the heavy one and one of the curtains I made from the only sheet I could find, just cuz I like posting pics ROFL

[eleny]

10. Did you also need to use a vapor barrier? n/t