Evan's Room - Window Valance

For this project, I used the fabric remaining from Evan's crib sheets to make a matching window valance. In total, I had ordered 3 yards of fabric, which left just enough for the valance. Here is the finished valance:

I more or less followed the following tutorial:
http://briandrew.blogspot.com/2012/09/valance-tutorial.html

To make the fabric long enough, you will need to sew two long strips together (cutting from selvage to selvage). Just be careful when cutting the second piece that the caterpillar treats line up properly. Since the treats make a sort of invisible line in the pattern, it will be very obvious if they don't line up. However, as long as the treats make a somewhat straight line, you probably don't have to use the same pattern for the second half valance. For example, if you look up 2 rows from the bottom, you will see that there is a piece of chocolate cake in that row of the pattern for the first half of the valance and not the second half. I didn't have enough fabric to match the pattern up perfectly and it isn't terribly noticeable.

I veered off from the blogger's tutorial a little. For example, I double folded all sides before sewing so that all frayed ends would be hidden inside the hem. I think she didn't do this for the top part edge of the valance.

Also, I left out the ruffle at the top. I did this by not folding the top part down as far as she did and only sewing along the bottom of the folded down piece.

Overall, this was a very easy, beginner sewing project. You could probably fancy it up a bit by adding bias tape along the bottom and sides or even a different fabric trim. The caterpillar dots would make an excellent trim across the bottom:

Picture from fabric.com. Fabric was designed by Eric Carle for Andover fabrics.

For a tutorial on creating a valance with a trim, go here:
http://www.hookedonneedles.com/2011/05/how-to-make-fast-easy-and-cute-window.html

Here's one more picture to send you off: