How to Make a Turban Valance

A swag treatment softens the top of curtains.

Valances add a finished look to curtains. A turban valance is usually a more formal style where two swags overlap to look like the front of a turban. Making your own turban valance requires basic sewing and carpentry skills. While you can buy or order valances, it is cheaper to make your own. As well, making your own valance means you can match the material more precisely to the curtain.

Things You'll Need

• 1 inch by 4 inch board
• Saw
• Curtain fabric
• Staple gun
• L-brackets
• 2-inch long screws
• Straight pins
• Sewing needle and thread
• Glue (optional)

Instructions

1. Cut a 1-inch by 4-inch board to the width of your window plus two inches more to form the dust cap. Cut a strip of fabric to the length and width of the board plus about 4 inches more. Cover one side of the board with the strip and stretch and staple it on the opposite side of the board. The fabric-covered side will form the bottom of the dust cap.

2. Cut two end cap returns from the 1-inch by 4-inch board. Each return should be about 18 inches long. Cover these pieces in the same way as the dust cap in Step 1. Screw the end caps to the ends of the dust cap with the fabric covered side facing inward. The shape formed should be like a bench.

3. Screw two L-brackets above the window to hold the dust cap. Screw the dust cap to the L-brackets so that the end caps hang down on either side of the window.

4. Cut two pieces from the fabric, each to two-thirds the length of the dust cap plus four inches. The fabric pieces should be about three times the width of the finished valance height. Fold each piece in accordion-style pleats along its length at the lower edge until it is reduced to the length of the end caps, which is the final height of the valance. The pleats should be about two to three inches wide. Fasten the pleats with straight pins on either side. On one piece, sew the right edge to hold the pleats together. Loosely tack the left side of the piece and draw the string together to form gathers. This will be the right-hand piece of the valance. Repeat the procedure for the other piece but instead sew the left edge and form gathers on the right edge.

5. Staple the right hand piece of fabric to the top of the dust cap on the right hand side. Leave four inches of fabric on the right, enough to wrap around the end caps. Stretch the fabric around the outer side of the end cap and staple it on the narrow edge of the end cap.

6. Staple the left hand piece of fabric to the top of the dust cap on the left side, leaving four inches of fabric on the left to wrap around the end cap. The right side of this piece should overlap the other piece. The lower edge where they overlap should be aligned with the center of the dust cap. Staple the left edge to the rear of the left end cap.

7. Cut a strip of fabric the length and width of the dust cap. Glue or sew the fabric to the top of the dust cap to hide the staples.

Tips & Warnings

• Make the end caps smaller and let the fabric hang loose for a more casual look.

• Avoid using thick material which will make it difficult to form the pleats.

References

• Precision Draperies Education: The Easy Way to Make a Gathered Turban Swag Lesson