SEWING SUNDAY

With some time on my hands, the fact that my mother-in-law is waiting on a valance for her kitchen window, and the husband and daughter are busy building on the new green house, I decided to sew!

A valance is really a beginner project and all of the measurements I will list can be altered.
The window I was working with was 36 inches wide. Wanting to make a really full valance I purchased 4 yards of fabric.

Start by washing, drying, and ironing your fabric.
For a 16 inch valance, cut a 23 inch strip the length of the fabric.

On the 23 inch sides, fold and press at 3/4 inches. This will make a crease that you will then fold in half again to make a double folded seam. This just tucks the raw edge in the seam so that you don't see the raveling that will occur when and if you have to wash the valance.



Along the edge that you determine to be "the top", fold down 1/2 inch and press. Then fold down 4 inches of fabric and press again. Make an edgeseam to form a the rod pocket.  This is one of the areas that can be altered depending on the width of your curtain rod. I wanted to have a ruffle above the curtain rod, hence the 4 inch space.



Mark 1 1/2 inches down from the top for a seam if you would like to have a ruffle above the rod. Then stitch down your line!

Time to make the hem. Again, fold down 1/2 inch and press. Then fold down an additional 2 inches and edgestitch.  As a reminder, you always want to press after you make a seam to set the stitches.

This is the finished product...in my kitchen window....maybe I'll keep this one and make hers later :)

Matching napkins with the left over fabric will be nice or maybe an apron?

Would love to pictures of your projects if you have found this tutorial helpful!!