Hourglass curtains. Unique and functional handmade hourglass

Despite the abundance of watch mechanisms and their various options, the need for an old hourglass is still present. They serve as a visual way to determine the time intervals in various everyday situations: when doing fitness, while cooking, brushing children's teeth, etc. We suggest you make a watch from improvised materials with your own hands. Lots of time this process will not take away from you.

materials

Before starting work, you should make sure that you have:

  • empty plastic bottles of the same shape and volume, 2 pcs.;
  • a piece of flat plastic or acrylic sheet;
  • sand;
  • sand seeders;
  • adhesive tape;
  • glue;
  • millimeter ruler;
  • sharp scissors or utility knife.

Step 1. Cut off the bottom of the bottles with a utility knife. They should be the same height.

Step 2. You will need to cut and upper part funnel bottles. They should also be the same height.

Step 3. For elements from the top of the bottle, be sure to cut off the threaded neck.

Step 4. Fasten the bottom and funnel together with adhesive tape.

Step 6. From a sheet of acrylic or a piece of flat plastic, cut a circle with a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the bottle neck. Make a small hole in the center of it. In this case, its parameters were 3 mm. Glue the cut circle to the neck.

Step 7. Sift the sand you have from debris and large lumps. If there is even a little moisture in it, be sure to dry it. IN good weather this can be done in the sun by spreading sand over a flat, clean surface. In a bad way, a conventional electric or gas oven is suitable for these purposes.

Step 8. After preparing the sand, pour it into the second available funnel. After that, assemble from two halves hourglass. Record the time of pouring out the full volume of sand. If necessary, pour it out or add a little more material. When the volume of sand is adjusted to the period of time you need, glue everything with tape or glue.

Interesting and educational toys for children of any age can be made independently. It is especially easy and cheap to make an hourglass with your own hands. The elementary device for counting down time will be pleasant to children in the course of game, creation and learning.

What can you make your own hourglass

In an hourglass, the main detail is a well-made case and an appropriate amount of sand is needed. You can find a lot of options for creating a case, the main thing is to show imagination and the ability to work with various materials.

Do-it-yourself hourglasses can be made from the following materials:

  • Processed incandescent lamps.
  • small glass bottles with a narrow neck.
  • Plastic bottles.
  • Glass that folds into the body. Glass can be attached to wooden frames Or stick to sealant.

The rest of the finish can be made in any form and from any material.

Necessary tools and materials for creating an hourglass

by the most simple option for work are plastic bottles. The material is affordable and easy to process, so no expensive or special tools are needed.

Do-it-yourself hourglasses made from plastic bottles require the following tools and materials:

  • 2 identical plastic bottles with caps.
  • Glue gun.
  • Corrected volume of clean sand.
  • Screwdriver or drill.
  • Decorative tape.

With a set of such materials, you will get a functional and safe do-it-yourself hourglass for kindergarten. Children will not be able to break or damage the case, which will turn out to be strong and durable against mechanical stress.

Creation algorithm

The algorithm for creating an hourglass from plastic bottles is quite simple and safe, so children can also participate in the work.

A step-by-step diagram on how to make an hourglass with your own hands:

  1. Clean bottles of labels and glue. It is better to choose a container with a wide neck.
  2. Glue the lids together on the outside. Pre-treat the surface with alcohol or acetone to degrease.
  3. When the glue dries, use a screwdriver or drill to make a hole in the middle of the covers.
  4. Pour sand into one bottle and use a stopwatch to measure the time during which the loose substance is poured into another container. Calibrate the amount of sand over time.
  5. Then screw the caps on the bottles and close them with a strip of decorative tape.

You can leave the product in this form or make a simple but original case. To make a frame, you will need cardboard, wooden skewers for barbecue, a glue gun. The manufacturing principle is quite simple:

  1. Cut out identical shapes from cardboard. In the middle of the cardboard cut, place the bottom of one of the bottles and circle with a pencil - this is the location.
  2. Cut the barbecue skewers according to the height of the finished hourglass.
  3. Glue the skewers to the corners of the cardboard cut. It is worth measuring the distance from the center to the edge.
  4. Glue the body of plastic bottles in the center.
  5. Glue the second part of the cardboard cut on top.
  6. The finished body can be painted with paint; paste over with cloth, ribbons; paper is suitable for finishing cardboard.

Additional options for decoration can be beads, stones.

Handmade glass hourglass

The principle of creating an hourglass from glass is the same as from plastic. It is enough to take two incandescent bulbs and gently pull out internal mechanism by unscrewing the base.

Making an hourglass with your own hands from light bulbs is easy:

  1. sandpaper wipe the places where the base was removed.
  2. Adjust the amount of sand over time by pouring it into one of the lamps.
  3. Glue the lamps by applying a thick layer of glue from a gun to one of the edges.
  4. Close the junction of the lamps with tape, tape, cloth.

The glass watch case can be made of wood, polymer clay, plastic, cardboard.

IN modern design apartments and houses, more and more often you can find extraordinary solutions regarding window decoration. Curtains "hourglass" appeared on the market relatively recently and managed to gain their popularity. They got their name thanks to unusual shape reminiscent of the same hourglass.

How to hang hourglass curtains plastic windows when and where to apply this species curtains, from what fabric it is better to sew them, we will tell all this in our article.

"Hourglass" what they are and where to apply them

As mentioned above, curtains of this kind look like a traditional instrument for measuring time - an hourglass. Curtains "hourglass" is a piece of fabric, sized according to the window or doorway. It is fixed at the top and bottom of the frame, and in the center is tied with a beautiful ribbon, which actually forms a wonderful shape.

Hourglass curtains for doors and windows were also invented by our grandmothers, trying to decorate their home in a special way. Later they moved from interior doors to glazed doors. kitchen cabinets And balcony windows. They simultaneously perform both a protective and decorating function. After all, who will remain indifferent to such cute curtains?

Fabric choice

For different types rooms, you can choose fabrics of different density, it will still depend on how much the room needs protection from the sun and prying eyes.

Dense fabrics such as satin, cotton, linen are suitable for "hourglass" on interior doors. So tenants can not worry about the security of their personal space. We recommend using the same material for windows with sunny side: if you are afraid that the merciless sun will ruin your favorite indoor flowers on the windowsill, then this option is very acceptable for you.

But for such windows and doors in the kitchen or a not very lit loggia or veranda, you can use light fabrics such as a transparent veil, mesh, translucent linen and cotton. Do not be afraid that curtains made of such a boring fabric will turn out to be unpresentable, because beautiful delicate folds form on the canvas assembled in the center, giving lightness and charm not only to the hourglass itself, but also to the room where they hang.

As for the choice of color and pattern for such unusual curtains, it all depends on the style of the interior and colors. For the kitchen, floral motifs and light fabrics are often chosen, as well as floral ornament, cage and stripe always remain relevant, you just have to choose the right color. For the children's bedroom, gentle pastel shades, hourglass curtains made of pale pink veil, decorated with a satin ribbon with beads, look especially beautiful. For boys, strict models made of cotton or linen with stripes and a cage are more suitable.


Jewelry and decor

The main focus on the hourglass curtains is the ribbon that forms the image. It can be sewn from the same fabric as the curtains themselves, or it can be from a different one that matches the color. Bright contrasting trim will look beautiful on light fabrics.

Depending on the style of the room, the fixing tape can be decorated different ways: lace bows, homemade always look beautiful on veils and natural light fabrics fabric flowers, beads and rhinestones. You can buy ready-made decorated hourglass curtains, or you can sew such beautiful curtains yourself, and then your decor will be unique.



Mounting methods

There are several ways to attach hourglass curtains.


How to sew hourglass curtains with your own hands

Skilled craftswomen prefer to decorate their home with their own hands, and curtains are no exception. It is not difficult to sew hourglass curtains with your own hands, you just need to be patient and have the necessary materials.

How to take measurements

It is very simple to find out how much fabric is needed for sewing curtains: we measure the width and height of the window or doorway, add 5 cm to the width on the sides for processing the edge, add 10-15 cm at the top and bottom to create curtains and ruffles.

If your fabric does not stretch well, then on the pattern on the sides you need to make a small expansion, so it will be easier to form an hourglass shape.

Another point that is important to consider: if a dense assembly is planned throughout the curtain, then the fabric will need twice as much in width.


What you need
  • Textile.
  • centimeter or tape measure.
  • Scissors, thread, sewing machine.
  • Center assembly tape.
  • Decorating elements.
  • Eaves for fastening curtains.

Step-by-step instructions for sewing hourglass curtains

  • Take measurements and paper pattern as needed.
  • Cut out on the fabric required amount curtain fabrics, taking into account the side, bottom and top allowances.
  • Cut out the pieces along the seam lines.
  • Treat the side edges with a double hem.
  • Tuck the top and bottom 5 cm as well and stitch.
  • From the wrong side at the top and bottom, sew strips of fabric that form drawstrings for the cornice.
  • Prepare decorative ribbons to assemble the curtains in the center. They can be decorated with decorative flowers, beads, rhinestones, in general, whatever you like and your style.

Do-it-yourself hourglass curtains are ready, it remains to fix the cornice and hang them.

To do this, we first fasten one side of the upper rod cornice on the frame, put a curtain on it and form a dense assembly, fix the entire cornice. Then, on weight, we pass the second bar in lower part curtains, stretch the canvas well and fasten the cornice to the frame.

With ribbons, make a waist on the curtains and admire your work of art.

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