Making a sun-screen
Our attractive sun-screen is quick and easy to make and will
roll up and stow away neatly when you don't want it or pack into the car for a
day at the beach. With our uncertain climate you may find it better protection
from the prevailing wind on a British beach, than to keep the sun off you! But
even in the garden it has its uses, particularly if you want to keep the sun's
rays from a baby or toddler.
You will need:
A piece of canvas (the kind used to make deck-chair covers
is the right weight and comes in bright colors and bold stripes) measuring
about 200cm x 250cm (6ft 6in x 8ft 2in); 2 wooden tent poles poles about 200cm
(6ft 6in) long — if you are going to pack the screen in your car boot then buy
telescopic tent poles (obtainable from most good camping shops) as they will
save space; 3 tent pegs for the screen and two for the lines; 2 strong lines
and five strong metal eyelets; a couple of hooks to screw into the tent poles
on which to hook the screen.
Method
Hem the two ends of the canvas, leaving the selvedges as
they are, making the hems deep enough to take the metal eyelets. These go into
the doubled thickness of material for extra strength. If you don't want to use
metal eyelets you can make buttonholes, but sew them up with waxed yarn for
greater strength. See diagram for position of metal eyelets. Two go in one hem
at each end, and three into the other hem — one at each end and one in the
centre. Screw the two hooks into the top of the tent poles and hook the end of
the screen with two eyelets into the hooks. Hammer the poles into the ground at
the right distance from each other, for the screen to pull taut. Slot three
tent pegs into the eyelets at the other end of the screen and push the pegs
into the ground. The lines, secured to the tops of the tent poles, can be
tightened as you wish and secured to the tent pegs. This colorful sun-screen
will be much appreciated by young children, who prefer the cool shade to the
sun. |
