Well it's time I made some curtains for my '77 Kombi.
Does anyone have suggestions on where I can find some funky printed material??
Ideally I would get white material with multi coloured Kombi's printed all over it, or VW logo's, but I'm open to suggestions.
Or is getting some material screen printed an option??
Thanks for your help,
Andy

:sandrine
Hi Don't know of any material with Kombi's on it, but screen print it would be a nice way to go...kinda funky
Bug (o\|/o)

I've only just finished making my Kombi's new curtains, so I can pass on a few tips!

I found everything I needed at Spotlight. They have a HUGE range of materials in any sort of cloth, weave, pattern, density and colour you can imagine, as well as the gathering tape and cotton thread you will need. I do remember seeing one or two patterns with cartoon VWs on them, but they didn't suit my Kombi. I went to the Spotlight at Bankstown Square, but the one at Birkinhead Point is even bigger.

How opaque or see-through do you want your curtains to be? You can get cotton material in various densities, and the colour and pattern also affect the see-through ability. Your Kombi might be brightly lit inside, so people outside at night might be able to see your shadowy shapes through your curtains.

You could always make a double-thickness curtain, but they will be bulkier and won't gather as well. I chose a nice firm cotton material with a white coating on one side, to make it totally see-proof. The pattern faces the inside, where you see it, and outside sees the white side. My Kombi's windows are tinted anyway, so that doesn't matter.

You can use your old curtains as a pattern, or remeasure your Kombi's windows for a perfect fit. Remember to add extra cm at each edge for the double foldover, and increase the width by another 10% to allow the curtains to 'fill' properly.

I was amazed how easy sewing machines are to use, having never used one before. I had to make 7 curtains and was able to sew them all up on a Sunday afternoon and evening.

You can buy the little tiny plastic mounting thingies (that fit into the aluminium rail) at Caravan Accessories. You'll need at least 120 of them!

Hey Phil,
Thanks for the pointers, they will be very handy when the cutting begins!!
What I plan to do is stick with a cotton material, but in double thickness like you suggest. I'm looking at white with the printing on the outside to keep the heat out (I’ll investigate the screen printing option if nothing takes my fancy) and black on the inside so no light can get through (either way). I will attach the curtains with strong magnets, they work a treat (I’ve been holding up old sheets and towels when I go camping with them at the moment) and it means no drilling or screwing through my new head liner.
The magnets also mean the curtains sit tight all around the window and if I place the magnets strategically I can fold them back as needed or remove them completely.
Andy

Im trying to locate some Mambo material for my Kombi curtains. have seen it used on a beetle's doortrims and some surf shop furniture, but cant work out where to find it.

if you want something spacific and don't mind paying $$ try your local quilting store some of those ladies could find just about anything and order it in...be warned tho, materials usually rang from $14 to $60 per m.

also spotlight might be able to order something in just convince someone to let you get to their order catalogs.

My kombi curtains are 40+ years old approx and are the ogs fitted by the og owner. Maybe later, not sure as they have 60s paisley pattern and are double thickness and thick material. volma1