How to Make an Awning Valance

An awning valance is a cute window treatment for a room that brings a little bit of the outdoors in. The bottom edge projects out from the window slightly, giving you the feeling you are enjoying a stroll down a pleasant little market street. The valance is shaped primarily from 3 basic pieces: One for the front and the two angled sides. It also uses two rods: One for the top and one with a larger return to set it further away from the window on the bottom edge. The awning valance is lined to allow it to lie nicely and to avoid shadowing of the rods underneath. This pattern is for the basic structure of an awning valance. You can add scalloped or geometrical shaped edges to yours if you wish.

Things You'll Need

• Valance fabric-determined by window size Lining fabric-determined by window size Curtain rod with a 3-1/2 inch return Curtain rod with a 5-1/2 inch return Tools for attaching rod hardware Sewing machine Scissors Straight pins Hand sewing needle and thread Measuring tape Newspaper Iron

Instructions

1. Attach your curtain rods. Attach the rod with the 3-1/2 inch return at the top of the window frame. Attach the rod with the 5-1/2 inch return 10 inches below the top rod.

2. Draw the side pattern on newspaper. Draw a 6-1/2 inch wide by 2-1/2 inch tall rectangle. Connect a line extending from one 2-1/2 inch side that is 11-1/2 inches long, giving you a total length of 14 inches. At the top of the 14-inch line, draw a 4-1/2 inch line that is parallel to the 6-1/2 inch bottom line. At the end of the top line, attach to the last 2-1/2 inch line of the beginning rectangle below. Cut out the pattern and compare it to the side returns on your curtain rod. There should be a 1/2-inch extra on all sides for a seam allowance. Adjust your pattern if necessary.

3. Layer your awning valance fabric with the right sides together. Pin the side pattern to the fabric and cut out. Layer your lining pieces with the right sides together. Pin the side pattern and cut out.

4. Measure the front width of the window curtain rods and add 1 inch for a seam allowance. Cut a piece of awning fabric using the width measurement by 13 inches long. Cut another piece using the lining fabric.

5. Lay the awning fabric front right side up on your flat work surface. Lay a side piece right side down on the short end of the awning front. Match the angled side and pin. Sew the pinned edge using a 1/2-inch seam allowance. Repeat for the opposite end of the awning fabric front using the other side piece. Press the seams open.

6. Repeat Step 5 for the lining pieces.

7. Lay the sewn awning front right side up on your work surface. Position the sewn lining right side down on top of the awning front. Match the edges and pin. Mark 1/2 inch down from the top sides of the awning lining, skip 1-1/2 inches and mark again. Mark 2-1/2 inches up from the bottom on the sides of the awning lining, skip 1-1/2 inches and mark again.

8. Sew the awning front and the lining together using a 1/2-inch seam allowance. Starting at a top side, sew a 1/2 inch, skip 1-1/2 inches and sew halfway down the side. Leave a 4-inch section unsewn for turning the awning right side out on this side only. Continue to sew to the first mark, skip 1-1/2 inches and sew to the end of the side. Repeat for the other side of the awning. Sew across the bottom and the top of the awning valance.

9. Clip the corners of the awning valance and turn right side out through the 4-inch opening on the one side. Press the valance seams. Hand sew the opening closed.

10. Insert the curtain rods through the 1-1/2 inch openings on the side of the awning valance and hang.