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Sun Visor Covers and summer go hand in hand.  Since we live in Texas that means it gets hot in the fall and spring and even hotter in the summer. Sometimes in the winter too, but we kind of enjoy that! As they say, everything is bigger in Texas, and the hot summers are no exception.

Sun Visor Covers to Block the Sun and the Heat

Anyway, I was trying to find a way to make my Car’s Sun Visor work better. Although the visor prevented the sun from getting into my car, it was still really hot inside. Since I haul my grand kids around, I needed to come up with something to make it cooler.  Thus, an idea popped into my head that maybe blackout curtain material would work.  My first experience with blackout curtains was at my daughter’s house.  She had a sliding glass door that faced the sun all afternoon, which made her kitchen and living room miserably hot.  This all changed when she picked up a set of blackout curtains.  I couldn’t believe how much cooler it was – it made a world of difference in the temperature and made the rooms actually comfortable to be in.

In Search of Black Out Curtains

My search for black out curtains led me to Big Lots, hoping to find an inexpensive set. I was able to find a set for $12.00 and headed home to see what I could make.  Honestly, the hardest decision was what pattern I wanted to have in my car, a thought, which hadn’t even occurred to me! Since my sun visors are two individual reflective ovals that fold up into a smaller circle while not in use, I wanted to keep them light and flexible. In the end, I went with a medium blue pattern in a pretty lightweight blackout curtain.

Work on the Visor Covers Began

Once I got home, I laid the folded curtain on my cutting table.  I wanted to be sure to have enough to cover each visor, so I placed a visor on top and traced around it with a black magic marker.  Then, I cut them out along the line. Pretty simple process so far.  For the initial set of covers I made for my car, I serged the edges; however, this fabric doesn’t fray.  Therefore, when I made them for my hubby, I ended up just pinning it to the sun visor and sewing as close to the edge of the wire as possible using my zipper foot.  I was able to fold it up and use the rubber band to keep them compact and out of the way while they weren’t in use.

Surprisingly, Hubby Wanted Some Too

I loaned my sun visor covers to my hubby, so he could test them out in his truck.  But after a couple of days without my covers, I told him I needed them back, because my car was so hot! I practically had to pry them out of his hands to get them back.  Yes, they work that well!  Especially if you auto start your car and wait a few minutes.  You will be absolutely amazed at the difference.

Where to Get the Goods

Luckily, I discovered that JoAnne’s Fabrics carries the fabric in bulk in varying weights and colors ranging in price from $7.99 to $11.99 per yard.  I shop at JoAnne’s quite a bit because they typically have a 40% off coupon (only good off the regular price – it can’t use it on sale items).  In addition to their coupons, they also accept Michaels and Hobby Lobby’s Coupons.

Determine How Much Material You Need

My visor size is 31” X 27”; thus my material size is 31” X 27” this is because once I sew it, it will be just a bit smaller than the visor.  Since the fabric is 54 inches wide, and the folded width is 27”, you will need to get at least 31”, or 1 yard, (which is 36 inches) to be safe.  At $7.99 per yard and with a 40% off coupon, you can get it for $7.99 Less a 40% Discount of $3.20 = $4.79 plus tax. Talk about an inexpensive way to keep your car a little cooler in the heat of summer.  A total win – win for me!

Happy Sewing!

Sherri