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Tag: Fabric

How-To Make a Fabric Valance

Written by Jenna on . Posted in DIY, Window Treatments.

This post is a tutorial on the box pleat valance that I made for my master bathroom makeover three years ago.  I’ve received many emails asking about a tutorial and after the recent post on the roundup of all my handmade window treatments + the feature of the bathroom in the current KBMO, a dedicated post was needed.  Better later than never, right?

So here we go.  The details on how I made this super easy loose-style (no pleats) box valance with a stylish greek key design…

Box Pleat Valance with Greek Key Design {Tutorial}

>>> how-to make a box (loose, no pleat) valance

Note: for this part of the tutorial, I am sharing another valance I made using a printed flower fabric

1. For a loose box-style valance, I often like to have them sit as close to the ceiling as possible and position them about 1/2″ wider than the edge of the moulding.  It’s best to mount the rod first (before making the valance) so you can measure the total width of the rod from end to end.

2. Once you know the total width, cut your fabric to that same size + add 1″. Then measure the length you want the valance to hang + add 4″.

Box Pleat Valance with Greek Key Design {Tutorial}

Box Pleat Valance with Greek Key Design {Tutorial}

So you have your fabric cut…

3. Position the fabric so right sides are together.  One side will be folded.  Sew the two shorter sides using a 1/2″ inseam. Leave the other long edge unsewn.

Box Pleat Valance with Greek Key Design {Tutorial}

4. Once sewn, turn the fabric right side out and iron the newly sewn edges.  Then taking the unsewn side, fold it over 4″ to create the rod pocket.

Box Pleat Valance with Greek Key Design {Tutorial}

5. And sew at the 3.5″ mark – this will leave you a nice large pocket to feed the metal rod through.

Box Pleat Valance with Greek Key Design {Tutorial}

Iron and it’s done!  Super simple loose box valance.  I could have added pleats at the corners, but that is beyond my skill-set.  And anyway, I like the more tailored look better.  Don’t you?  Or do you prefer pleats?

>>> creating a greek key design

Jumping back to the valance for my bathroom, once the valance was made (using drop cloth by the way – I forgot to mention that), I hung it up and marked it for the positioning of the greek key design.

Box Pleat Valance with Greek Key Design {Tutorial}

Box Pleat Valance with Greek Key Design {Tutorial}

1. Once I made the markings on the valance, I used 3m painters tape to lay out my greek key design.

The pink tabs mark where the valance turns to the side, so from that point + the top and bottom, I marked 2″ in for the design to start.

Box Pleat Valance with Greek Key Design {Tutorial}

2. Once the overall design was made, I cleaned up the tape.

Box Pleat Valance with Greek Key Design {Tutorial}

It’s looking like something…  The part that was taped would soon be the part for the greek key design.

3. Then using a pencil, I outlined the edges of the tape.

Box Pleat Valance with Greek Key Design {Tutorial}

4. I then pulled the tape off and filled in the areas that I didn’t pencil in.

Box Pleat Valance with Greek Key Design {Tutorial}

Box Pleat Valance with Greek Key Design {Tutorial}

5. The best and last part was filling it in!  Using a light blue fabric pen (that matches almost exactly to the other blue hues in the space), I colored in the design.

Box Pleat Valance with Greek Key Design {Tutorial}

And that’s a wrap.  From start to finish, the project took about an hour.  And finally after three years, I’m sharing the tutorial.

This is the overall master bathroom space with the greek key valance…

Box Pleat Valance with Greek Key Design {Tutorial}If you haven’t seen the before & after of this once horrid space, you have to check it out!

You also might see it in the current issue of Kitchen + Bath Makeovers magazine…

My master bathroom featured in KBMO

One more look at the finished valance…  Layered with a simple bamboo roman shade, this valance is perfect for the bathroom space.

Box Pleat Valance with Greek Key Design {Tutorial}

Box Pleat Valance with Greek Key Design {Tutorial}

Want to see more DIY window treatment ideas?  Check out this post of mine…

9 Ideas for DIY window treatments

What DIY window treatments have you created?  Do you like to make your own window treatments or would you rather buy them done/totally complete from a store?