I'm No Martha Stewart...

...but making valances is a project anyone with very basic sewing skills can tackle. There are several reasons you may decide to sew your own curtains or valances. You may have odd sized windows, or a specific decorating scheme that you can't find just the right window treatments for. You may not necessarily find them cheaper than buying ready made, but you will end up with a unique look that you won't find anywhere else.

For a standard 15 inch valance, I start with two 27 inch lengths of fabric. This will give a 44 inch wide window double fullness. Make sure your fabric is cut square. I use a cutting board and rotary cutter to line the fabric up straight and square, and I use a yard stick to run the rotary cutter against.

Hem the sides first. I can't stress enough how much your iron is your friend when making curtains and valances. Trim any selvage from the two short ends, then iron a two inch hem. Fold one inch against the fold, creating a one inch side hem. Repeat this process on the other side, and the other valance piece. Stitch this hem down. There is no need to back stitch this hem, and I just sew one piece after another, not bothering to cut them apart until I'm done with this step.

For the heading iron down 6 inches on the top of each piece, then fold 3 inches against the first fold, so you end up with a three inch double heading. Stitch the fabric down, and then sew a second line of stitching one and one half inches from the folded edge. I put a piece of tape on my sewing machine to line the edge up and make it easy to sew a straight edge.

For the bottom hems, fold 6 inches and iron, then fold 3 inches against the fold to create a 3 inch double hem. Stitch the hem in place.

I find it quickest to sew these assembly style when making for multiple windows, doing all the side hems first, then all the headings, and then all the bottom hems. I like to use spray starch of the fabric isn't as stiff as you like.

If your curtain rod isn't a standard cafe style rod, adjust the rod pocket size. I can make a valance for a standard sized window in less than an hour.