Pleated Valance – Scallops, Pleats, Piping It’s All in the Details

One of the best things about making your own curtains is the chance to incorporate all sorts of details. 

I love details. The little extra “something” that might go unnoticed by some but make all the difference in the final results.

Today I’m sharing a board mounted scalloped & pleated valance that’s traditional in design yet full of details that can be incorporated in so many different curtain projects.  

In the Gallery of this blog you’ll find two sections dedicated entirely just to details. Pillow Details for pillows of all shapes and sizes and Window Treatment Details. 

My client, Sandy, came to me with a vision for her living room windows. Her inspiration came from several valances found in the Gallery including this valance as well as this one. She sent the above photo showing how she’d like to use her fabrics.  

We started with 4 different fabrics.

1. polyester paisley (brown background)
2. small red check
3. upholstery weight paisley (tan background)
4. medium size red & gold plaid

We created one board mounted, pleated valance we paired with long panels and another we paired with cafe curtains. 

The first pleated valance was created using 3 scalloped panels. We placed the brown paisley in the center and the tan paisley to each side. The small red check was used for the pleats on each end. 

The matching piping was created by cutting the red check fabric on the bias and covering cording. The covered cording was used on either side of the center panel as well as at each corner. 

The valance was embellished with a coordinating tassel trim.

The second valance is very similar to the first. We used the same scalloped shape, matching cording and pleats. This time the brown paisley fabric was used for all three scalloped panels making sure to match the pattern repeat in each panel. 

The lower edge was finished with a flat seam binding made from the same red check. 

The matching seam binding ran along the lower edge encompassing the pleats at each end. 

This photo shows a closer look at the cording as it wraps over the top of the board.

We paired the brown paisley pleated valance with floor length panels made from the larger red & gold plaid. The panels are installed on a rod with rings underneath the valance. They were made using pinch pleats which allows them to hang so nicely. 

Notice the tan paisley fabric is also being used on a bergére chair in Sandy’s living room. 

I don’t have a photo of the first valance installed but it was paired with a cafe curtain and hangs in a stairwell window on an opposite wall in the living room. 

The cafe curtain was made using the same red & gold plaid. Here we used a pinch pleat design with only 2 folds instead of the traditional 3. This allowed the panels to be wide enough to cover the 36″ wide window when closed.  

A matching double ruffled pillow was made using left over paisley fabric. 

The zipper closure was sewn in & hidden between the ruffles. 

Good design is in the details. Whether you see those details or not. 

Some of the details we used here…
a scalloped design, covered piping, biased seam binding, pleated ends on a valance, tassel trim, pleated curtain panels, using 2 folds in a pleat instead of 3, mixing 4 fabrics to create 2 different valance designs, using cording to separate the fabrics, double ruffles on a pillow, hiding the zipper between the ruffles. 

 

Contemplating a similar project?

Here’s a few TUTORIALS to help you along. 
1. Another valance I made for Sandy as well as How to Make Bias Cut Seam Binding
2. How to Make Your Own Board Mounted Box Pleat Valance
3. How to Make Self Piping/Cording
4. How to Sew a Pinch Pleat Valance
5. A Buffalo Check & Floral Valance Tutorial
6. Visit the Gallery especially Window Treatment Details and/or Pillow Details for photo inspiration. 

Need help with your next project?
If you’d like help with a project visit the Services page here at Sonya Hamilton Designs for details. I’m happy to help you with any project you’re having trouble with or help you by making something for you. Pillows, window treatments, bedding, etc. 
You can also contact me at sonya@beyondthescreendoor [dot] com.

 

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