Choosing Window Valances When Making Curtains

Series Summary

Window treatments can add a sense of completeness and enhance the appearance of any room. Curtains, drapes, blinds and shades not only offer privacy, but can help save energy by keeping your home cool. Making your own curtains is a great way to save money and get exactly what you want from a design standpoint. The process is fairly simple and doesn’t require a highly developed sewing ability.

In these free video clips you’ll learn how to make your own curtains. Expert artist and fashion designer Lindsay Sanders demonstrates the process of making window treatments composed of a valence and panels in easy to follow steps. She discusses the types and styles of valences and panels that you can make, and offers tips on marking and measuring your windows and fabric. She then demonstrates how to hem casings for the rods and sew tabs for hanging the panel. The process is easy and makes a great do-it-yourself weekend project.

Video Transcript

"Hello! My name is Lindsay on behalf of expertvillage.com. In this clip I’m going to be showing you how to make a valance. There are three different kinds of valances that you can make, there’s a basic valance which is straight or short fabric panel that can be stapled to a mountain board or it can have a rod pocket opening. There’s also a scarf valance that is normally 6 to 8 yards of fabric that is draped over a rod and also you can drape it over wall sconce. The third one is a called a blouson valance it is similar to the basic valance except this one is going to have two layers, it is self lined and you sew through both layers, it is also going to be stuffed with either tissue paper, newspaper, you can even use plastic bags and it makes it pouf at the bottom. A valance can be pleated, gathered, have a rod pocket opening or it be mounted to a mountain board. And today I’m going to show you how to make a blouson valance."