Making Valances Instructions

A simple unlined valance is the easiest style to make and is ideal as a single treatment or to team up with blinds on small windows. The straight hemline will give the appearance of extra width on narrow windows.

Unlined valances can be made in all weights of fabric from the finest cottons to the heavyweights such as velvets and brocades. The picture displayed to the right has cord attached to the bottom edge to enhance the shape of the valance. The cord is backstitched in place once the pelmet is completed.

The free instructions below are for a simple unlined valance with a straight hemline, a fullness ratio of 2 and pencil pleat heading tape. It is hung from a valance track with curtain hooks. There are a total of 30 different styles of Valances in our e-book.

Requirements:

Fabric.

3" pencil pleat heading tape, enough for the flat width of the valance.

Matching thread.

Curtain hooks.

Measuring and Estimating Fabric Quantities:

• Fix the valance track in the required position.
• Measure the front and sides of the track, multiply by the required fullness ratio (2) allowing for the hem allowances of 4" (10 cms).
• For fabrics that are not railroaded, divide this measurement by the width of the fabric to be used and round up to the next whole number. This is the number of widths required.
• Decide on the finished length and add 3" (7.5 cms) for the hem allowances. If patterned fabric is used, extra will be needed for pattern matching. This is the cut length.
• Multiply the cut length by the number of widths to calculate the amount of fabric required.
• For fabrics that are railroaded, the measurement of the front and sides, including hem allowances of 4" (10 cms), multiplied by the fullness ratio (2) is the amount of fabric required.

Making a Simple Unlined Valance:

• Cut the fabric to the required size. If the fabric is not railroaded and more than 1 width is required, join widths together with a French seam making sure there is a full width in the centre with equal part widths added at each side and the pattern is matched across all widths where necessary.
• Turn in a double 1" (2.5 cms) hem down each side edge and pin.
• Turn up a double 1" (2.5 cms) hem along the bottom edge and pin.
• Mitre both bottom corners and stitch all 3 hems in place.
• Turn down 1" (2.5 cms) along the top edge and press.
• Free the cords, to the right side, at both ends of the heading tape.
• Place the fabric on a flat surface, wrong side up, and position the heading tape along the top edge, close to the fold.
• Pin the heading tape in place, positioning a cord tidy bag 2" (5 cms) in from each side edge.
  
• Stitch the heading tape in place, Working both rows of stitches in the same direction to avoid puckering.
• Pull up the cords in the heading tape from both ends until the valance is the required width. Secure them with a sliding loop, roll up the excess and place it in the cord tidy bags.
• Adjust the gathers evenly and insert a curtain hook into the required row of pockets on the heading tape, every 4" (10 cms).
• Hang the valance onto the track.

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