How to Hem the Sides of a Valance

A valance is a short curtain that decorates the top one-forth of a window. You can use a valance on its own, or you can add a valance to curtains or mini-blinds that are already on the window. You can make your own valence by cutting a large rectangle and sewing the sides. Here's how to hem the sides of your valance.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Fabric
• Sewing machine
• Straight pins
• Iron and ironing board

1. Fold the hems of each side of your valance. To do this, fold three-fourths of an inch of the edge of the fabric under so that the two wrong sides of the fabric are touching. Use an iron to press the seam flat. Then fold it again in the same direction and press with an iron. Repeat this process on the other side.

2. Secure the fabric in place with straight pins. Place your straight pins through all of the layers of fabric so that the head of the pin is on the left hand side and the point of the pin is on the right.

3. Use a sewing machine to sew down the hem. Begin by back stitching about one inch. This means sew from the edge of the fabric forward and over the pins for one inch. Then press the back stitching lever on your sewing machine and stitch backwards. When you reach the beginning again, sew forward normally.

4. Finish your valance by sewing down the hem on the other side in the same way you sewed your first hem in Step 3.

5. Remove the straight pins, and you're all done sewing the sides of your valance.