A DIY “Roman Valance”

Right after we moved in, and I took down the prior homeowners’ lovely flowery valance covered in dust, the kitchen window looked like this …

 

And now that the walls and cabinets are painted, it’s about darn time I did something with it!

So off to the fabric store…!!

 

I found my fabric in the expensive decorator fabrics section…luckily it was 40% off, but it was still $20 for a yard.  I only needed one yard (whew).

 

Washed it to get the fabric softener out (per the directions on my hem tape) and hung it up to dry, wrinkles and all.

 

Then I got out the iron and hem tape.  First I ironed the fabric nice and smooth, then I pressed in the hems and secured them with hem tape.  Then I pressed in the rod pocket and secured that with hem tape too.

     

 

Then I got out my little sewing kit (no joke!  This is THE lamest sewing kit ever…but it works for the teensy bit of sewing I’ve ever done.)

 

I stitched three stitches to secure the rod pocket – one at each end and one in the middle, just to keep it from falling if the hem tape ever releases.

Then I just started messing with my fabric and various folds etc, until I found something I liked – no cutting involved.

 

After several iterations like the one above, and a lot of standing on the countertop messing with safety pins, I finally found a “design” I liked.

I used five safety pins (why sew if the pins work just fine?) to hold the folds where I wanted them. I safety pinned the fold to the back of the rod pocket so you can’t see the pins from the front.

This also helps to adjust it once it’s up and maybe not laying quite right.

 

 

I hand-stitched some sparkly trim to the bottom….(probably could’ve used hem tape for this too!)

 

And put up my new, custom kitchen window “Roman Valance”!

Because, after all, it’s sort of like a Roman shade, but it’s a valance too 🙂

 

   

 

 

I’m pretty pleased with my fabric + no sewing skills window treatment!  And it was $20 for the fabric, and $3 for the trim (with a coupon)!  Not bad, not bad at all. 🙂

I’m linking to:

The Shabby Chic Cottage

Beyond the Picket Fence: Under $100 Party

Tools are For Women Too: Just Because I Love It Party

Finding Fabulous

The Shabby Nest

Tatertots and Jello

Thrifty Decor Chick’s Before & After Party

Hop on over to these awesome sites to find some AMAZING projects and ideas!