Facing the street!!!
Kathi

Thank you, Kathi.

Nancy

According the a lining supplier I deal with, the rubbery side is supposed to face the street, because it provides better insulation that way, however, most workrooms put the fabric side to the street, because it looks nicer. I think either way is OK.

On the ones i bought the rubbery side faced the street!!! That's why i said street.But as shadylady said either would be ok.
Kathi

My blackout fabric is white on both sides with a layer of black in between.

Donna

I'd probably put the fabric out on the sunny side of the house because I'd be worried that the sun would break the rubber down faster than it would the fabric. How's that for a run-on sentence?

I have always been told that from the street you should only see white fabric on windows. That is why expensive drapes are always lined in white. Years ago when I worked at an apartment complex, their leases stated that all drapes, blind, etc. must show white from the street. Good luck.

I ended up putting the rubbery side facing the street. Anyway, the shade turned out beautifully. I used an ivory cotton pintuck fabric I got from Ballard Designs. And the window already had a 12 inch upholstered cornice I had made out of the same fabric two years ago. So for less than $100 ($40 for the shade, $60 for the cornice) I have a custom window treatment that would have cost hundreds of dollars if they'd been professionally made.

Now that we know which side faces the street, what size needle do we use, which tension setting, etc.

I'm doing roman shades with the same kind of lining. Not sure if it is blackout lining, but it's white on both sides with one side rubbery feeling. It seems that both ways are correct, but I am really concerned that if I put the rubbery side out it will crack because my windows face south and get very hot. I wonder if anyone has had any experience with cracking. I had a pair of drapes with this lining and they cracked, but they may also have been rather old.

nancynancy, how are yours holding up to sunlight?

I had drapes and separate blackout lining and it lasted at least 20 years for me and one of my sons is now using the lining. My living room window faced south and the dining room window, north. They held up great!
Kathy G in MI

Are you using a lining fabric in addition to the blackout or is the blackout itself serving as the only lining?

Here is a link that might be useful: Nouveau Stitch Home Dec Sewing Forum

Way back when there was only the white or cream blackout lining now you can get colors I believe so they wouldn't look so ugly or get that yellowed color to them. After trying them both ways in my van windows I can say the fabric side facing out not only looks better it kept the heart and light out more efficiently.