How to Make an Awning on a Playhouse

Your child will always remember the playhouse that you built just for her. The structure does not need to be elaborate -- it can be a simple plywood building or a converted garden shed. You can add charm with details such as a fabric awning over the window. Construct a simple awning from colorful weatherproof fabric hung on inexpensive curtain rods. Paint the playhouse door to match the fabric to give the house a coordinated look that makes it an asset to your landscape.

Curtain rod brackets and screws
Drill
Screwdriver
3/4-inch-wide curtain rod with 1 1/4-inch return
3/4-inch-wide valance rod with 8 1/2-inch return
Weatherproof fabric
Sewing machine
Upholstery thread

Instructions

- 1
  Hang the curtain rod brackets on each side of the playhouse window, one set directly above the other so that the top of the top rod will be 6 1/4 inches above the top of the bottom rod. Place each bracket against the wall, and mark the position of the screw holes with a pencil. Drill a small pilot hole at each pencil mark. Place the brackets over the holes, and screw the brackets in place.
  Hang a 3/4-inch-wide curtain rod with a 1 1/4-inch return on the top set of brackets and a 3/4-inch-wide valance rod with an 8 1/2-inch return on the bottom set of brackets. With this arrangement, the top of the awning is close to the wall, and the bottom stands away from the wall.
- 2
  Measure the front side of the bottom curtain rod. Cut a strip of weatherproof fabric twice as long as the front side of the rod and 13 1/2 inches wide.
- 3
  Finish the edges of the fabric with a medium zigzag stitch to strengthen them. Fold in a 1/2-inch hem on the short sides, and sew a straight seam 3/8 inch from the fold to hold the hem in place.
- 4
  Place the awning right side down on an ironing board. Make casings at the top and bottom of the awning by folding in 1 1/2 inches along both long edges. Iron the folds. Sew a straight seam 1 inch from the folds to hold the casing in place.
- 5
  Take down the curtain rods. Thread the top rod through the top casing and the bottom rod through the bottom casing, in this way gathering the fabric onto both rods. Hang the rods on the brackets, and pull the hems on the sides of the awning until they touch the wall on each side. Adjust the gathers in the fabric evenly.

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