Sew Precious - Makeovers and Mountains Part 2

For the kitchen windows in the cabin that we are remodeling, I chose a sheer fabric. I was conflicted about the windows to begin with; should I have curtains or should I not. I did not want to block any views to the outside beauty but I needed to soften the area and this fabric did the trick.

For starters, I choose a sheer fabric. This project is favorable for a sheer fabric since we will fold the fabric over onto itself to make the layer and the pocket for the curtain rod. Why is that important to note? Because you will see the top side and the bottom side of the fabric once the valence is finished. Use a fabric that has very little difference between the two. Eeekkk…I can almost hear the screams of professional seamstresses all over the world…professionals would never do this but I do. And I intend to teach you this trick without any disrespect to the real sewers out there. Read on….

Gather tools. You will need:

Sewing machine

Sewing machine needles – Have plenty in case you break one, or two

Scissors

Thread to match your fabric

Straight pins

Curtain rod

Before you get started, make sure you have the proper thread weight and needles for sewing on sheer. There are many great resources on the internet that can help you through this process. This project was the first time I had ever sewn using a sheer fabric and so I searched for and found videos that helped me understand what to buy. And for the record, I used a Microtex 80/12 needle and InvisaFil 100 weight thread.

Ready to begin? OK!

Measure the window’s width. Double the measurement. This will be the width that you cut for your fabric. My window was 44” wide. Doubling the width, my measurement became 88”. You can add or take away depending on the fullness you wish to achieve. This is a picture of the finished project. You can get a sense of how full my curtain is by doubling the width.

Decide how long you want your valance to be. Double the measurement and then subtract 5 inches. These 5" will allow for the ruffle, or second layer. Of course, you can choose to make your top layer longer or shorter. Mine is 5".

Lay your fabric out on a flat surface and cut to your measurements. I cleaned my kitchen island off and used it for this project, but I have used the floor in past projects. Do whatever it takes!

Once you have the fabric cut to the proper length and width, do a simple rolled hem on all edges. Considering that we will overlap this fabric on itself in order to make the second ruffle and the pocket for the curtain rod, there will be an exposed hem on some of your fabric. To say that another way, some of your hem will be wrong side exposed. But don't worry...only you will notice this. Especially if you match the thread to the fabric and keep your rolled hem small.

Once all of the edges have been hemmed, lay out the fabric on a flat surface. With your overall length measurement in mind, fold the fabric over while allowing for the 5” (give or take a few centimeters). “Sew” you end up with two layers, the bottom layer being 5” longer than the top.

Pin the fabric in place and prepare to sew the seam that will make the second layer (or ruffle) and the pocket for your curtain rod. In the next step below, you will sew a straight seam all the way across the entire width of your panel. One seam – Two outcomes! That's what we in the business world call efficiency.

From the top of your fold, measure down and mark an appropriate width to accommodate your curtain rod. My curtain rod was small so a 1 and ½ inch seam gave me plenty of room to insert my rod. When I say “mark”, don’t make an ink mark…use your straight pins to mark the approximate seam line. Then use your measurement gauges on your sewing machine to help you sew a straight seam.

Thread your rod into the pocket and hang your new valence.

I made two valences. From start to finish, this project took approximately 4 hours to complete. If you follow these steps to make your own valences, I would love to see your photos. Paste them into the comment section on the blog post. Until then, be happy, be healthy, and enjoy the process…no matter what you’re creating.