A really good, layered, winter curtain system

Another natural batting.  How about simply using the fleece right off the sheep.  If you are going to quilt all the layers together you can hold it all together that way.  I know small sheep producers in this area have to have the sheep sheered yearly for their health but unless they can fill a full wool sack worth it has no value so the wool may just be thrown away.  I know 2 people who have insulated their bee hives for free using raw wool.

Edward Norton wrote:I thought I should post an update. At the weekend I got a lift to Home Depot and picked up the wood for the frames.

I made some oil cloth for the first layer, the layer next to the window. You can read all about that here - Oil Cloth Badge Bit



The frame is a snug fit. I thought I'd need to make some toggles to hold it in place. Next up - add two handles and make the second frame.

Edward, I am beyond impressed. Quite the homemade, natural and low-cost solution to your problem.
I wanted to add a quick option for those in similar rental situations. There are lots of rigid foam scraps that get tossed on construction sites, or are leftover from neighbors' projects. 1" - 2" foam will more than double the insulation value of even double pane windows. Cut it precisely to fit your window opening so it fits tightly around all the edges. Put these up in the evenings and take them out in the morning, when you want light. Then use any light or heavy weight, nice looking fabric as a curtain to hide the foam. Really simple, and to me reusing foam that is being tossed is as helpful as reusing old wool blankets.

Jay Angler wrote: Windows tend to set up convection currents - I think the idea is to prevent that.

Yes, this!

But the other half of the equation is to manage moisture that may accumulate and cause trouble. We humans are a moist lot.

Douglas Alpenstock wrote:

Jay Angler wrote: Windows tend to set up convection currents - I think the idea is to prevent that.

But the other half of the equation is to manage moisture that may accumulate and cause trouble. We humans are a moist lot.

That's just the other 1/3! When the sun shines, the air in the window warms up and holds more moisture. Then the sun goes down, the temperature plummets, and that moisture condenses on the glass and may freeze. Then the sun comes up, melts that ice, which dribbles down the window and into any convenient crack into the wall where it wets the insulation - because water can sneak in *anywhere* given half a chance.

LOL, Jay, that's exactly how it works. It's a challenge to figure out a passive system that can handle all of these variables. It seems that the man/woman/person/human on the scene is still a relevant factor in managing this stuff.