Make a Fishtail Valance

Purchasing valances for your windows need not be an expensive project. You can make your own "fishtail" valance very easily. There's no need to pay hundreds of dollars. These are very simple to make!

Steps

1. Measure your windows from the outside of the trim on one side to the outside of the trim on the other side. (Measurement "A")
   
   
   
   
2. Decide how long you want your valances to be. (Measurement "B")
   
   
   
   
3. Add A + B + B.
   
   
   
   
4. Add an additional two inches (5 cm) to the length to reach your "final" length of material needed for the valance. (Measurement "C")
5. Square the ends of your fabric. Cut straight across the squared end. You can use a carpenter's square, T-square or similar tool to help with this.
6. Transfer Measurement C to your fabric.
7. Cut the second end square also.
8. Hem the selvedge edges to hide the selvedge.
9. Hem the two short ends.
10. Find and mark your folded angle using the following steps.
    
    
    
    
    • Fold your fabric in half, short end touching short end.
    • Add 10 inches (25 cm) to your window width measurement above (Measurement A) and divide in half to get a length we'll call Measurement D.
    • Transfer measurement D to your folded material. Measure and mark its length FROM THE CENTER mark. Place two pins to mark Measurement D's distance from the center mark in each direction.
    • You now have your angle point marked.
11. Fold the fabric at the angle point, pulling the corner of the fabric over until the crease of the fold runs from the angle point to the opposite corner.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
12. Sew/hem the fabric edges down.
    • Your material should be a longish trapezoid at this point.
13. Sew or glue any desired edge trim to the three shortest sides of your trapezoid.
    
    
    
    
    
    
14. Install your hanging knobs or hooks at the top corners of your window opening at this point.
15. Lay your fabric, "right side" or pattern side up on a flat surface.
    
    
    
    
16. Pleat the material, starting from the narrowest long side (top) of the trapezoid. You should end up with a thick, long, narrow bunch of pleated fabric.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
17. Hang your pleated fabric over the two knobs/hooks with the narrowest edge facing down and the longest edge against the wall.
18. Allow the pleated fabric to sag slightly in the center.
19. Pull the back (longest) edge of the fabric taut against the wall and thumbtack it into place.
20. Tweak the pleats into a pleasing symmetry and you're done!
    
    
    
    

Video

Template:Video:Make a Fishtail Valance

Tips

• Plain wood finials ($1.50 USD each) can be stained and used for your window corners in lieu of standard swag hooks and knobs. ($5-10 USD each).
  

Things You'll Need

• Fabric - the width of your window plus twice it's length. (varies)
• Sewing Machine
• Sewing notions (needles, thread, scissors, tape measure, etc)
• Finials / knobs / pull back hooks for the upper corners of your window.

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See also

• Make Tab Top Curtains
• Make a Hobbled Roman Shade
• Shorten Mini Blinds
• Wash Net Curtains
• Cut Blinds
• Hang Roman Shades
• Make Roman Blinds
• Line Curtains
• Make Kitchen Curtains
• Hang Curtains

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What links here

• Choose a Sewing Machine
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