How to Make a Tailored Balloon Valance
Creating a sophisticated window treatment for your home doesn't have to break the bank if you opt to make it yourself. A classic style like the tailored balloon valance adds body and character to the upper portions of your window while making use of lavish fabric prints to give your room a rich look. That same elegant valance is also one of the most straightforward valances to make and can be completed in one to two hours. A tailored balloon valance differs from a shirred valance in that the tailored version lies flat, with all the fullness coming in the balloon pleats at the bottom of the valance. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Tape measure
- Fabric
- Scissors
- Pins
- Sewing machine
- Pencil
- Ring tape: 5/8-inch rings spaced 6 inches apart
- Fusible ¼-inch-wide, double-sided tape
- Iron
- String
- Curtain rod
Instructions
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1
Measure the width of your curtain rod. Add 2 inches. Measure the height of the window from the curtain rod to the windowsill. Divide the height in half and add 6 inches. Cut your fabric to these measurements.
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2
Spread the fabric on a flat surface, patterned side facing down. Fold each edge over by 1 inch. Pin the folds in place. Sew the folds using a straight stitch ¼ inch away from the raw edge of the fabric.
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3
Spread the fabric out again. Fold the long bottom edge of the valance again by 1 inch. Fold over the long top edge of the valance by 3 inches to form a rod pocket. Pin the folds. Sew across both folds with a seam set ½ inch from the first folded edge.
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4
Lay the fabric out again, patterned side down. Divide the length of the fabric by 10. Round up to get a whole number. This is the number of strips of ring tape, fusible tape and strings you will need.
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5
Measure the width of the fabric from the bottom to the bottom of the rod pocket. Cut the number of pieces of ring tape needed from Step 4 to this length, with each piece starting just before a ring. Cut the same number of fusible strips to this same length.
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6
Peel away one side of the fusible tape's paper. Stick the fusible tape to the back (non-ringed) side of a strip of ring tape. Apply a strip of fusible tape to each length of ring tape.
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7
Lay the ring tape strips over the fabric with the starting rings aligned over the bottom fold of the valance and running up toward the rod pocket. Space the tapes evenly apart with the outermost strips resting on the side hems. One strip at a time, remove the other paper side of the fusible tape and stick the ring tape to the fabric where it was positioned. Iron over the ring tape, without hitting the plastic rings, to fuse the ring tape and fabric.
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8
Cut one length of string for each strip of tape at two times your window height. Pair each string with a ring tape strip. Tie one end of each string to the bottommost ring. Snake the string through the rings above where it is tied until all of the strings come out of a ring along the top of the valance.
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9
Snake the loose ends of each string toward the left through the uppermost rings of the tapes until all of the loose ends come out the same ring along the left side of the valance. Knot the strings together where they meet at the last top ring on the left.
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10
Hang the valance on the rod with the rings facing the window, not out into the room. Pull the knotted strings to draw up the balloon valance to a desired height. Knot the strings together in this position to hold the valance as drawn.
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Tips & Warnings
Select a fabric that drapes well and isn't stiff to achieve the maximum effect in the balloon valance.
Not all fusible tape is the same, so follow the manufacturer's instructions for ironing directions.
