Greetings,
We just acquired a 68 Overlander and I'm considering sewing drapes/curtains (depending on what you call them in your neck of the woods). Any experience or advice?
The drapes are the only things that I had made by someone else for the interior of the trailer.
I had James P Ambruso make them. They were not inexpensive. I paid $290 for my 6 Metre' Minuet.
They last nearly forever. My sister had a set made for my family's old 1973 31 footer. Those drapes cost right around $500 for that size trailer.
Here is a picture of my drapes. Not an extremely good photo I will post more when I find them.
Looks like a brand-new trailer. I'll be anxious to see it in person in Otisville at the forums rally next month.
Has anyone replaced their day/nighters? I like the day shade but the cardboard nighters swell up with humidity and bend out of shape when closing. I wonder if they make an overlay of some sort that I could just slip over and restring the shades, a color might be nice too.
Quote:
Originally Posted by pattersontoo
Here are a couple more pictures that I dug up for this thread.
My drapes were professionall made too; however, with a little talent and the right attachments, I think they could be made at home. Lots of work. I also had the beds custom made, but I've seen those done beautifully by some more talented than I.
My drapes were professionall made too; however, with a little talent and the right attachments, I think they could be made at home. Lots of work. I also had the beds custom made, but I've seen those done beautifully by some more talented than I.
Thanks for the info. Have any of you used the plastic "T" clips? If so do you have vendor info?
Tikiman
www.airstreamdreams.com
They seem to have the best price for them. Considering the sheer number you have to buy, even a difference of 10 cents a clip can really add up.
Looks like a brand-new trailer. I'll be anxious to see it in person in Otisville at the forums rally next month.
Has anyone replaced their day/nighters? I like the day shade but the cardboard nighters swell up with humidity and bend out of shape when closing. I wonder if they make an overlay of some sort that I could just slip over and restring the shades, a color might be nice too.
AWWW!!!
You are just saying that so you can have a seat of honor at "Lou-A-Palooza '05"!
Let me say, that it is not so hard to do but it takes lots of material to include the new tabs at about 30 cents apiece
and if you desire the UV backing material, you need a very good sewing machine and a LOT of time.
I paid some one to do the first set I needed. I was not completely satisfied with the job and it was a little pricey.
To do it yourself is worth the effort. But If I could afford to pay some one to do them just like OEM, I probably would.
I recently made a set for my new to me Classic MH. It took me about 20 hours to do a full wrap around rear window without pleats. Pro is less time, con is more material.
I have done them with pleats and it takes much more time.
Here is a photo of some I made with pleats
The blue ones were made by some one else. I did not care for them but they worked
The cornices (dark blue material over white curtains) was re-upholstered by me
I placed my order with James Ambruso two weeks ago. His letter said they would start on them before or after 22 September!! They must really be backed up.
__________________ 1958 Overlander
2011 Wolf Creek 850N TC
2011 Ford F-250 Crewcab (6.2L), 3.73RE WBCCI #5661/AIR #5661/TAC # AZ-6 4CU 1st VP
We just ordered our drapes from Jim Ambrose and I hope they'll be in within 2 months. I contacted all of the other folks mentioned in the forums, but Jim seems to have his stuff in order.
I also contaced Melina Copass about her fabric and she has some really cool stuff. I guess my reason for not having her build the drapes is that she's not as familiar with the styles. Here's her link if you like retro looking fabrics.
These were made by my Mom. She didn't tell me how many hours she spent on them but I know she worked on them on and off over a couple months. She quilts full time, has a dedicated room and multiple sewing machines for different purposes, and even she said they were a pain in the ass with all of those damn 2" pleats. They have the roclon thermal suede lining which really helps block out light and insulate the trailer - but as someone said in an earlier post, adding the roclon really increases the work involved in making the drapes.
Also, I too got a quote from James Ambruso prior to my Mom volunteering to make these and he quoted over $1,200 for my trailer.
James Ambruso is making the drapes for our Sovereign...total will be a little over $700. If they last as long as advertised, I'm willing to pay the price, as my 7th grade Home Ec sewing skills are but a distant memory.
Frederic
__________________ Frederic 1971 Sovereign International - SOLD
2004 F-350 King Ranch AIR # 8239 EX-WBCCI # 8371
About a month ago I installed Ambruso drapes into my Argosy -- ordered them 'bout a year before, so something like $400 fits in my head -- for the front Panoramic window and the long sides over the two twin beds. Ambruso does not do roller blinds (if that's what you have over your sink and in the bath). The UV fabric layer on the glass side gives these curtains a substantial feel and nice body.They are done very well and with snaps for attaching to the interior wall so the termination ends look right. The new drapes on my Safari don't compare at all to Ambruso's! There's no UV guard that I can see either.
Anybody considering making their own should probably look at just how they're done -- go to a rally, PM a forum member near you, or what-evah... From the experience of placing the Ambruso order, I can tell you to measure at the front, middle and side of every window. The rails are not necessarily mounted the same distance apart at each end. And some trailers/windows have different plastic slides top & bottom, or between side & front windows. This would be easier if you have any remnants of the former curtains.
For the grizzled DIY-er and some pretty interesting responses, I'm just waiting for the "I want to reupholster it myself" question.
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