Today I'm sharing the steps I took to
create these valences. What I won't be doing is sharing measurements.
The reason is that all windows are slightly different, and the
measurements will depend on personal preferences such as whether the
valence will be gathered or flat and how much of the window you are
looking to cover. The valence I made is gathered, and the typical
rule of thumb is to have about 2 or 3 times the length of the window
itself to get a full gathered look. Of course, it will depend on what
look you are planning. That's the beauty of sewing it yourself –
you get what you want in the end!
Materials:
Two pieces of contrasting fabric
Scissors
Pins
Seam Gauge, Ruler, or Measuring Tape
Iron
Coordinating thread
Instructions:
2. Next cut the contrasting fabric to a smaller rectangular. This will depend on how much of the accent fabric you want to show at the trim of the valence. The length should be the same as the piece from step 1. The width can be smaller. In my case, I used a 11 ¾ inch width for the contrasting fabric and the same 36 inch length.
3. Hem the two short sides of the
main fabric piece. I used a .5 inch seam allowance.
4. Hem one long side of the same
fabric. I used a 5/8 inch seam allowance for the bottom. Only hem
one side – not both. We'll get to the other side in a moment.
5. Do the same steps 2 and 3 now for
the smaller contrasting fabric piece.
7. Flip the contrasting fabric piece
behind the main fabric. You should have the right side of the main
fabric facing you and the right side of the contrasting fabric resting behind
it, also facing you. Allow the contrasting fabric to fall below the hem of the main
fabric piece. Here you will need to determine how much of the
contrasting fabric you want to show below the main fabric valence.
Use a ruler to measure the width and the pin pieces together (anywhere –
just to secure it) when you have the correct placement.
8. Measure 2 inches from the top of
the valence and pin along to form a line.
10. Sew along both of the above pinned lines creating the pocket.
11. Iron to remove any creases. Trim threads. Thread the window rod into the pocket valence.
9. Now measure 5 inches from the top
of the valence and pin along to form a second line. This will create
the 3 inch pocket at the top of the valence as shown below.
10. Sew along both of the above pinned lines creating the pocket.
11. Iron to remove any creases. Trim threads. Thread the window rod into the pocket valence.
There you have it! Homemade home décor.
If you have any questions, feel free to
comment or send me an email!
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