Sewing Instructions for a Scalloped Valance

Scalloped valances add visual interest to window treatments.

Changing your window treatment is one of the easiest and most dramatic ways to alter the look and feel of a room and give it a quick update. A scalloped valance, designed to hang over longer curtains or window shades, can give a window a homey, country cottage or sleek, modern look, depending on the fabric and color you choose. If you have basic sewing skills and access to a sewing machine, you can create a new valance in an afternoon.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• Fabric (at least 2 times the width of the window)
• Scissors
• Straight pins
• Iron and ironing board
• Protractor with pencil
• Scrap cardboard
• Tailor's chalk or pencil
• Sewing machine
• Thread

Instructions

1. Measure the width of your window and ensure that you have at least twice that length in the fabric desired for your valance. The wider the fabric, the poofier your valance will be.

2. Wash and dry your fabric to preshrink it, then iron it well.

3. Lay the fabric lengthwise on a flat surface.

4. Fold down, pin and press a 6-inch hem at the top of the fabric for the curtain rod.

5. Fold down, pin and press a 1-inch hem at the short sides of the fabric for the edges.

6. Fold the fabric into six even-sized sections. Open the protractor to one-half that length.

7. Hold the protractor on the scrap cardboard and draw a circle to use as your scallop template. Cut out the circle.

8. Lay the circle on the bottom of each section and trace the circle onto the fabric with tailor's chalk or a pencil.

9. Cut the fabric around the tracing.

10. Pin and press a 1/2-inch hem all around the scallops.

11. Thread the sewing machine and sew a top hem 3 inches from the fold, leaving a tube opening wide enough for your curtain rod. Sew the side hems. Then carefully sew scallop hems, pressing and arranging the fabric, as necessary, to get the fabric around the curves to stay flat.

12. Remove the pins, clip off excess threads and hang the scalloped valance.

References

• Teach Yourself Visually Sewing; Debbie Colgrove; 2006
• Sewing For Dummies; Jan Saunders Maresh; 2005