Sewing a window valence is such a practical way to add charm to your home. My valences I made for the living room have added so much texture to the room. They draw the eye to the beautiful windows letting in natural light.

Blue chair in front of a window with a pinstriped valence and a plant on a fireplace mantle

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It is currently summer and there is just so much going on. From cooking meals from scratch to raising disciples, we have been quite busy. Not to mention we just moved from our modern home to a 1964 farm house that we are making our home. It has been so fun to keep the character of this home while tweaking it to reflect my color scheme and rustic, DIY-style decor. One of my favorite projects so far that has made the house feel so cozy is the slipcovered and chalk painted, vintage furniture.

The farmers have begun harvesting the mint and wheat in the fields surrounding our home. We have been loving keeping the blinds open to watch the tractors work and smell the fresh plants. I am hopeful that we can start a garden of our own next year.

The couple who lived here for 60 years before us, left me her window valences. I loved the style but not the pattern. So, I figured I’d try out making my own modeling the ones she left and they turned out better than I could have hoped. The windows were already so beautiful in our living room and now they draw the eye even more with my pretty, hand-made valences!

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What Is A Window Valence?

A window valence is an aesthetic window curtain. Valences only cover about a quarter of the window and are mostly just for looks, though they do keep out some sunlight.

Why Sew A Window Valence?

Sewing your own window valence is great for living on a budget. Plus, if you’re like me and have a love for DIY then you’ll love this. I also wanted to create something that would look exactly the way I imagined. The only way to be sure I could get exactly what I envisioned, was to create it myself. I feel so much gratification when I create something beautiful for my home with my own hands.

Window valences also take little material, so I was able to use fabric I already had on hand to make them. This made sewing my own the absolute cheapest option!

Supplies You’ll Need To Sew A Valence

Measuring tape
Sewing machine
Fabric (Here’s the ticking stripe fabric I used and the drop cloth that I bleached and used in this project)
Thread to match your fabric
Iron
Scissors

How To Make A Valence

Step 1 – Sewing the main valence piece front and back

Begin by measuring the width of the window that the valence is for. Add 1/2 that length to the total and cut your fabric to that length. So if your window is 20 inches wide, you’ll need 30 inches of fabric in length.

Measure the height against the window to verify just how tall you want the valence to be as well and cut the valence to that height.

Lay your top and bottom pieces of fabric on top of each other, right sides facing inward, and pin together.

Top stitch around the perimeter of the fabric leaving 1/2 inch seam allowance from the edge. Be sure to leave about a 6 inch opening to pull the fabric right side out.

Cut the corners to reduce bulk before pulling the fabric right side out.

Fingers holding up fabric that has the corner cut off

After pulling the fabric right side out, press flat with an iron. Top stitch a hem 1/2 inch from the bottom of the fabric.

Hand holding a hemmed, pinstripe fabric up close

Step 2 – Create the top ruffle piece for the valence

It’s time to cut the top ruffle piece of fabric. Measure 1/3 of the way down on the main valence fabric. Cut the ruffle fabric to that height. Cut the top ruffle the same length as the main valence fabric, plus an extra inch for hemming the raw edges.

Fold the bottom of the ruffle piece over 1/2 inch and then 1/2 inch again. Press flat with your iron. Top stitch the hem. Do the same for each side of the valence, being sure to have the seam facing toward the valence.

Fold the top of the ruffle fabric piece over the main valence about 2 inches and pin into place.

Sewing pin in a bleached drop cloth for a window valence

A hand holding a bleached drop cloth pinned together

Measure 1 inch from the top of the valence and top stitch all the way across.

Measure 1 inch down from that top stitch and sew another top stitch. This creates the 1 inch rod pocket. Be sure to stitch back and forth a few times at the beginning and end to secure the thread.

Blue and white fabric laid on a wood table

Step 3 – Hang and Enjoy

Feed the bungee rod through the rod pocket you created. Hang in your window and enjoy!

Blue and white pinstriped window valence on a rod

You did it!

To ensure the longevity of your valence I recommend finishing off all the raw edges with a sewing serger. If you do not have a serger, you can zig-zag stitch the raw edges to keep the fabric from unraveling over time.

If you create a homemade window valence, I’d love to hear how it added to your home!

For more encouragement in DIY projects from My Abiding Home:

How To Sew A Window Valence

Learn how to sew a simple window valence that will add so much charm to your home!

Equipment

Sewing Machine
Scissors
Sewing pins
Iron

Materials

Fabric
Thread to match your fabric

Instructions

Creating the main valence piece front and back

Measure the width and height of your window.
Cut the front and back piece of fabric for your valence 1 1/2 times the width and about 1/4 of the height of your window (or the height that you want it to go down the window, plus 1/2 inch seam allowance on each side).
Place the front and back piece of fabric on top of each other, right sides facing inward. Pin them together with several sewing pins.
Leave 1/2 inch seam allowance and stitch them together around the whole perimeter, stopping 6 inches from start of your stitching. This opening is what we will use to pull the fabric right side out. Be sure to remove the sewing pins as you sew.
Cut the corners off to reduce bulk.
Pull the fabric right side out through the 6 inch opening.
Press flat with iron. Top stitch over the opening to close it.

Creating the top, ruffle piece of the valence

Measure 1/3 of the height of the main valence piece. Cut the top ruffle piece to the length of the main valence piece and 1/3 of the height of the main valence piece, adding and extra inch to the height and width for seam allowance.
Press the bottom and both sides over 1/2 inch and then another 1/2 inch. Press flat with iron.
Top stitch to create a hem on the bottom and each side of the ruffle fabric.
Place the ruffle fabric piece on top of the main valence piece and fold it over the top of the main valence piece about 2 inches. Pin into place with several sewing pins.
Top stitch 1 inch from the top of the valence to secure the ruffle to the main valence piece. Be sure to remove pins as you sew.
To create the rod pocket, measure 1 inch from that top stitch and top stitch all the way across again. You can place sewing pins across first to keep the 1 inch even as you sew.
Insert your bungee rod through the 1 inch rod pocket and hang in your window!

Notes

You could also create this valence without the top ruffle piece. To do so, you would just leave out the ruffle fabric piece and follow the rest of the instructions. Leave a 1 inch opening on each side for the rod if you do this.