When you prefer to create your own window treatments, you may find that looking through different valance patterns will make the job a bit simpler in helping you decide on style. Whether you want swag curtains, victory valances, box pleat valances or pleated balloons, you can find having particular window valance patterns will give your home just the look you want. However, as you determine the type of window valances you like, you should pay particular attention to the type of material or fabric to find what works best with each design or pattern.
For example, you may need to choose among drapery fabric, decorative silks, outdoor furniture fabric made of 100% acrylic or polyester, specialty fabric, upholstery fabric, upholstery hides made of 100% leather and vinyl fabric. You may also look at event fabrics when you need to make valances for a special occasion such as a wedding, family reunion or other event. You can also find specialty fabrics such as black out cloth, fire retardant fabric or other durable, easy care fabrics.
Once you have gotten your material, you can use curtain valance patterns to create all kinds of unique and decorative valances. For instance, the Casta Valance can be altered to any width and length or used in combination to accommodate larger windows. This valance can be made with pleated or unpleated cascades. If you decide upon the unpleated style, you might decorate the valance with three tassels instead of one tassel. This particular pattern includes the yardage requirements, supply list, illustrations and an oversized recloseable bag along with the full-size pattern printed on heavy 20-pound paper.
There are other valance patterns for windows including the Annalisa, Elaine, Josephine Victory, Kensington, Lisabeth Pleated, Madison, Magnolia House, Mt. Vernon, Pagoda, Petticoat, Regency Empire, Tulip Lane and Windsor among many other mix and match patterns. Many of these patterns may use embellishments such as buttons, grommets or tassels as well as cording or other trims. In many cases, the patterns may include more than one variation of the same design.
When you choose your valance pattern, you should consider designs that give you some leeway in adding your own personal touches as well as work with any variations in length and width you may need for your windows. Instructions should also be detailed and thorough with plenty of illustrations to eliminate any confusion. With the right patterns, making valances can be a fun project that allows you to provide an extra special touch to your home décor.
How To Make Window Valance Patterns
When choosing to make your own window valance patterns follow these simple instructions for easy pattern making.
Items you will need: a sewing machine, a fabric pencil, paper, small tape measure, calculator, yard stick, sewing pins, a pair of scissors, heated iron, your chosen fabric and appropriately colored thread.
Using newspaper to draw and fasten your pattern to a fabric is the easiest way to go about your design. Newspaper is typically larger and more readily available than normal paper. Another alternative is to purchase large sheets of colored paper. This is the best approach since you can have the sheets cut to any length.
You need a large flat area to work with. A dining room table or open floor space is advised. This will allow you to spread your work out so that all your supplies are easily within reach without overcrowding each other.
1. The first step is to measure your valances to the length that you want. Remember, valances typically do not cover more than a third of a window. Allow enough extra fabric to sew hems and casings for rods. Six to eight inches is more than adequate for both top and bottom hems. So, if you are making ten inch valances with six inch hems, for example, your fabric will account for ten plus six inches for the top and six inches for the bottom for a total of 22 inches of fabric (10 + 6 + 6 = 22).
For width it’s a bit trickier. Fullness will be a factor as you don’t want your valance treatments to fall flat. To get a standard fullness you will need about twice the width of material as your window width. So, if you have a 35 inch window, you will need 70 inches of material width.
Fabric is sold by the yard in bolts (the rolls of fabric), so you will have to convert inches to yards.
1 inch = 0.0277777778 yards
So our 35 inch window is just under 2 yards of fabric when doubled for fullness.
The area of the fabric you will need will be the final length times the final width.
Area = length times width. You can do this in inches and then convert to yards. You’ll probably be looking at about 3 yards per window for fabric.
2. Take your new fabric home and wash it. It will shrink and if you don’t prewash it you will be disappointed when it comes time to hang your valances. Fold them with the outside showing once they are dry. Use your iron to get any wrinkles out.
3. After drying, take your time, use a pencil for lighter material or a marker is fine for darker fabrics to outline your pattern and draw out all the parts of the valance before cutting anything. Use your yardstick to get straight lines. Start with your top line and work every other point from that reference so that your curtains will be straight. Mark two points down from each side of your top line at the length you want your valances and then use your yardstick to connect those marks. This is your bottom line. Find and mark the middle point of the width by measuring in from the sides of the fabric (this will be more of an eyed middle, but it should be close enough for great results). Make two marks, one at the top and one at the bottom, and draw that line. From the midpoint, measure back out to the edge of each side for the width of the valance.
4. Now that you have your valance pattern drawn, fold and mark all hem points.
5. Repeat this process for the other side of the valance.
6. Mark the top hems about three inches down. Mark the bottom hems about four inches up. Use your yardstick for straight lines. Mark the side hems at the inch mark. Fold fabric over ½ inch and then another ½ inch for a total of one inch. Press and stitch fabric at the side hems. This gives you one piece to work with from here on out.
7. Fold the top and bottom hems the same way, ½ inch and then another. Press and stitch. You should now have a top hem of two inches and a bottom hem of three inches.
Slip your valance curtain rod through the top hem and hang your new treatment. Decorate the rest of your windows with other valance patterns the same way you made these.