How to Make Swags & Jabots
Swags and jabots are a classic decorative window treatment. They consist of a softly gathered "swag" across the top width of the window with pleated or draped "jabots"--narrow panels of fabric--at each side. They are fairly simple to make as only basic sewing skills are required. Take care while measuring and cutting out the pattern pieces to ensure you get the look you desire.
Things You'll Need
- Mounting board
- Measuring tape
- Muslin fabric
- Fabric marker
- Pins
- Scissors
- Sewing machine
- Decorator fabric
- Thread
- Staple gun
Instructions
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1
Measure the width of the mounting board, the length from the mounting board to the point where you want the outer and inner edges of the jabots to fall, and the length of the swag. To measure the length of the swag, drape the tape measure from corner to corner at the top of the mounting board, allowing it to fall as low as you want the swag to fall.
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2
Calculate and cut out your pattern pieces out of the muslin. For the swag, cut a large trapezoid of muslin measuring the width of the mounting board at the top and the determined length of the drape at the bottom.
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3
Cut a rectangle three times the finished width of each jabot and a length equal to the lowest point of the jabots. Mark the length of the highest point of the inner side of the jabots (on the right side of the left hand jabot and the left side of the right hand jabot) and draw a straight diagonal line from this point to the lower opposite corner. The shapes of the jabot pattern pieces should look like rectangles with one lower corner cut off.
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4
Take the muslin swag pattern piece and mark points at regular intervals along the sides to indicate four to six horizontal folds. Create horizontal folds in this test swag, pin the folds and allow it to drape down from an ironing board or table edge. Adjust the folds and pins to get the draping look you desire.
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5
Trim the excess fabric from the sides of the muslin swag piece and unpin and unfold it. The pattern piece will have zigzag shaped edges. Neaten these if the piece is not perfectly symmetrical and use it to cut out the decorator fabric for the swag.
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6
Cut the decorator fabric for the jabots; sew side and lower hems. Fold, press and pin even vertical folds/drapes in the jabots.
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7
Fold, press and pin horizontal folds in the swag by matching the adjacent outer points of the zigzags along the side edges together. Sew across the folds at each outer edge to hold them in place and hem the lower edge of the swag. Leave the side edges raw as they will be covered by the jabots.
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8
Use the staple gun to mount the swag to the mounting board along its upper edge. Mount the jabots with staples, covering the outer edges of the swag. Mount the board over your window.
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Tips & Warnings
If the fabric you are using is lightweight or see-through, add a lining to the swag and jabots before hemming and mounting them to help them drape well. Take the time to make adjustments to the muslin test swag piece to get the look you want before cutting your decorator fabric. Because swags and jabots do not open or close and do not cover the entire window, mount them over a simple blind if you want to block light or insulate from the window.
