Collapsible Sun Shade for Cars: Free Crochet Pattern
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Could you use a snazzy new collapsible sun shade for your car? One that shows off your love of crochet and your yarn skills? I have good news! 😉 Grab your hook and let’s make a collapsible sun shade for your vehicle using this free crochet pattern.
Collapsible Sun Shade for Cars
You know the kind of collapsible sun shades you can find at big box stores or on Amazon… they suffice but can be a bit boring. This NEW free crochet pattern’s sun shades are SO SNAZZY I can’t stand myself!! And Fiona is looking all cute and sassy and she is just throwing out a whole crochet vibe and I just can’t get enough. 🧶 She even looks like she’s smiling…. 😁
One thing I have always loved about crochet is the usefulness of the craft. Not only do we get to enjoy watching a project come together, but then we get to use that item and enjoy it, all while making life a bit easier. All winners in my book!
In the 2022 Car Series we have been crocheting all kinds of things that are useful for the car. I absolutely LOVE how this collapsible sun shade turned out! This is probably my favorite pattern this entire series so far.
Some other free crochet patterns in the 2022 Car Series include:
And now let’s get down to the fun part… crocheting the sun shades! This is a very easy crochet pattern. We’re making two large double crochet circles, then blocking each to the size specified below, then single crocheting around a wire and weaving in all ends.
I will caution you that these shades may not fit well in all vehicles. You may want to make yours smaller or larger (by crocheting fewer or more rows) depending on the size of your windshield, when measured from the inside from bottom to top. My car is right at 30″ tall. In my research I discovered that most sun shades come in small, medium, and large, and this would be considered about a “medium” size. If you already own a pair of collapsible sun shades that you know fit well in your vehicle, I am certain you could repurpose the wire from those.
Sun Shade Materials:
Stroll Gradient yarn (Fingering weight) – being discontinued! 🙁 other yarn options listed below
-approx. 1200 yards total (about 600 yards per sun shade)
Crochet hook in size D/3.25mm
Steel Spring Wire (approx. 11 yards) – or repurpose used sun shades!
Other good yarn choices would be Cotton Kings, Red Heart It’s a Wrap, Curio #10 Crochet Thread, or any other lightweight, fingering/size 1 yarn.
Because this wire can be a bit difficult to find locally, for the same price (or so) you could instead purchase an inexpensive circular style collapsible sun shade for your car and just use the wire from that instead. Depending on the brand/style you choose it would be cheaper than buying the wire and constructing yourself. The only thing that would change is a slight alteration of the blocking dimensions noted below. Questions? Don’t hesitate to ask! Use the contact form here and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.
Gauge: Unimportant
Dimension: each shade is approximately 30″ diameter (roughly the same size as commercially available “medium” size sun shades)
Pattern Notes:
Pattern written using US terms.
Do not join, but work in a spiral throughout. Use a stitch marker to mark the first stitch of each round.
Magic Circle Alternative: Ch-4, join to top of first ch. Crochet into circle.
Grab the ad-free, printable version of this pattern on Ravelry, Etsy, or right here in the Heart Hook Home blog shop! Thank you!
Pattern:
Make two…
Round 1: Magic Circle, Ch-1, hdc, 11dc in circle. Do not join, work in a spiral throughout, marking first st of each round with st marker.. (12)
Round 2: 2dc in each st around. (24)
Round 3: * dc in next, 2dc in next * repeat between * * around. (36)
Round 4: * dc in next 2 sts, 2dc in next * repeat between * * around. (48)
Round 5: * dc in next 3 sts, 2dc in next * repeat between * * around. (60)
Round 6: * dc in next 4 sts, 2dc in next * repeat between * * around. (72)
Round 7: * dc in next 5 sts, 2dc in next * repeat between * * around. (84)
Round 8: * dc in next 6 sts, 2dc in next * repeat between * * around. (96)
Round 9: * dc in next 7 sts, 2dc in next * repeat between * * around. (108)
Round 10: * dc in next 8 sts, 2dc in next * repeat between * * around. (120)
Round 11: * dc in next 9 sts, 2dc in next * repeat between * * around. (132)
Round 12: * dc in next 10 sts, 2dc in next * repeat between * * around. (144)
Round 13: * dc in next 11 sts, 2dc in next * repeat between * * around. (156)
Round 14: * dc in next 12 sts, 2dc in next * repeat between * * around. (168)
Round 15: * dc in next 13 sts, 2dc in next * repeat between * * around. (180)
Round 16: * dc in next 14 sts, 2dc in next * repeat between * * around. (192)
Round 17: * dc in next 15 sts, 2dc in next * repeat between * * around. (204)
Round 18: * dc in next 16 sts, 2dc in next * repeat between * * around. (216)
Round 19: * dc in next 17 sts, 2dc in next * repeat between * * around. (228)
Round 20: * dc in next 18 sts, 2dc in next * repeat between * * around. (240)
Round 21: * dc in next 19 sts, 2dc in next * repeat between * * around. (252)
Round 22: * dc in next 20 sts, 2dc in next * repeat between * * around. (264)
Round 23: * dc in next 21 sts, 2dc in next * repeat between * * around. (276)
Round 24: * dc in next 22 sts, 2dc in next * repeat between * * around. (288)
Round 25: * dc in next 23 sts, 2dc in next * repeat between * * around. (300)
Round 26: * dc in next 24 sts, 2dc in next * repeat between * * around. (312)
Round 27: * dc in next 25 sts, 2dc in next * repeat between * * around. (324)
Round 28: * dc in next 26 sts, 2dc in next * repeat between * * around. (336)
Round 29: * dc in next 27 sts, 2dc in next * repeat between * * around. (348)
Round 30: * dc in next 28 sts, 2dc in next * repeat between * * around. (360)
Rounds 31 – 36: dc in each st around. (360) Do not fasten off. Block each circle to ~30” diameter.
While the circles are blocking it is time to prepare your wire. You’ll need 188” total per sun shade. Double up the wire to make two 94” rings (circumference) per sun shade. Use electrical tape or similar tape where the two wire ends meet to completely cover the wire ends. When the circles are blocked and dry, line up the wire around the outside edge. Where still attached and crocheting around the wire…
Border: Ch-1, hdc in first st, sc in each st around. Be sure to smooth out your stitches as you go so that the circle is lining up directly with the wire. Fasten off and securely weave in all ends.
That is it! I hope you’re as much in love with your new sun shades as I am! I pop the wire frame in between the window and the dash, then fold down my visors to keep them in place. These work remarkably well for being so lightweight – and even a bit holey! Please do share a photo with me by tagging @HeartHookHome across all social media and in the Heart Hook Home Crochet Community on Facebook.
More free car patterns:
Car Visor Sunglasses Pouch Crochet Pattern
Seatbelt Cover Free Crochet Pattern
