You Can Make Easy No-sew Valances in an Hour

The most important thing when beginning a task is that you have the materials in ready when you are ready to begin. For this project you will need:
1 -2×4 cut to the width of your window plus 2 inches on either side (Home Depot can cut you wood if you ask)
4 -8″ screws to attach the board to the wall
– a drill with a Phillips bit

fabric….you can use anything, the valance shown was made from a tablecloth I bought for $5 and a napkin for $1
1/2″ seam tape- this is the magic ingredient. Seam tape is an iron-on adhesive, it works great for quick hems on pants too!
an iron and board
a staple gun

Okay, now you are ready to start. First, cut your fabric to the desired length plus 4″ and the desired width plus 15 inches. Turn your piece over to the wrong side. Run a strip of seam tape across the bottom edge of the fabric and fold the fabric over so that you have a 1″ seam. Iron this until the seam tape takes hold. Repeat on the 2 sides. Turn the fabric over to the right side and place the unfinished edge to the short side of the board. Find the middle of the fabric and the middle of the board and put a staple in. From the middle hold the fabric tight and put in a staple every 2 inches or so until you are 6 inches from the edge on either side. Now staple the finished end of the fabric to the end of the cut side of the board so it covers the raw edge. There will be a bit of fabric left between the last staple and the end of the board. You are going to fold that twice to make the pleats at the edge of the valance and put a staple into the top of the board to hold each pleat. Now the valance should fold over the edge of the 2×4 and make a nice pleated corner. I have taken a cloth napkin and used it for a jabot in the middle of my valance for added interest. Cut a strip of the valance fabric 5″ by 3″. Using the seam tape finish the top and bottom edge of the strip. Make a circle and adhere the two raw ends together with seam tape. You can slide this over your napkin and staple it to your valance making sure the bottom edges match. Cut any remaining napkin on the top edge of the board. You can now take that valance board and attach it to the wall above your window using 2 screws on either end. Now invite your Friends over for a drink and revel in the compliments.