With summer still in high swing I think you will all enjoy this project. Mosquitoes are regular visitors this time of the year in sunny weather, so invest in the making of this mosquito net – you will thereby solve a problem for many more years. I made mine from recycled and newly bought materials.   Bellow you will find all the step by step instructions

How to make a Mosquito net

Recycled items

• Metal hoop that keeps an oak barrel together
• Mesh (To be effective the mesh of a mosquito netting must be fine enough to exclude such insects without reducing visibility or air flow to unacceptable levels. It is possible to increase the effectiveness of a mosquito netting greatly by treating it with an appropriate insecticide or mosquito repellant)
• Leftover fabric
• Artificial flowers and greenery

Also needed:

• Pins
• Needle and thread
• String/metal chain
• Hook to hang mosquito net from

Method

1. Cut long pieces of fabric and coil them around the metal hoop. Carry on doing this until the entire hoop is covered.
2. Decide how you are going to hang the net above the bed.  I bolted a hook into a wooden beam above the bed. Cut four pieces of string/chain that are the same length. The hoop will hang onto these string pieces from the hook.
3.   Measure the distance from the hoop to ground all around the bed. Use these measurements and cut the mesh accordingly. If you want you can give the mesh a seam by hand or use a sewing machine.
4. Put the mesh aside while you decorate the hoop. I decorate mine with handmade fabric flowers (see instructions bellow) artificial flowers and greenery.
5. Fold the mesh in a square and take the corner of the two folding sides. Place the mesh corner on the inside of the hoop. Fold the mesh and the strings together in a knot and hang from the hook. While it is hanging pin the mesh to the inside of the hoop and sew to the fabric with a needle and thread
6. Finally drape the mesh around the bed.

How to make the fabric flowers

Recycled items:

• florist’s wire (1 mm floral green stub wire)
• round or cylindrical object (to shape the wire)
• fabrics (shantung works best)
• Buttons

You will also need:

• small paint brush
• fabric glue
• sharp fabric scissors
• green florist’s tape

1. Before starting, decide how many flowers you want to make. You will need five petals for every flower, and 30 cm of florist wire per petal.
2. Shape one end of a 30-cm length of wire into a circular petal around a cylindrical object, and keep the remaining length of wire straight. Repeat this for each petal required.
3. Measure the length of your petals (they should all be the same), then cut out strips of fabric with the same length.
4. When you have enough petals, paint one side of the wire petals with fabric glue and place them firmly along the fabric strips.
5. Leave them to dry, then cut the fabric around the outer edges of the wire petals.
6. Bend the petal backwards from the stem. You can use pliers for a 45-degree bend.  Put a wire stem through a button to form the centre of the flower, and arrange five other petals and stems around it. Bind the stems together with florist’s tape.
7. Adjust the position of the petals to your preference.