Making Balloon Valance

For this valance the measurement for the window I am using is 40” wide
To make the balloon valance the first measurement you will need in the fabric is the length, for that I will measure a piece of material about three times the width of the window (120” long) by 30” width.

Next you will trim the both edge by turning and sewing as show.
Then you are going to make a casting by fording 10” of fabric as shown
I will then make a straight stitch about 8” from the top or as desire according to your curtain rods, you will them make another stitch in the middle to finish your casting.

You will now have two edges to work with, sew two row of running stitch on both edge and gather as shown.
Next you will need to hold your gather in place and form your balloon shape, for this you will need to measure a piece of fabric 45” long by 10” wide

To make your balloon valance you will gather both edge of the fabric, and use the piece of fabric to hold both edges in place.
Hang and shape valance, use newspaper inside for a stuffer fuller look, roll and shape your news paper as show, sponge can also be for fullness.

Follow pictorial diagrams for more information; please feel free to ask questions using the comment box.

Make regular Casting for window Curtain

A casing or rod pocket is the hem along the upper edge of the curtain or valance. The curtain rod is inserted through the casing so that the fullness of the curtain falls into soft gathers.

Before cutting the curtains, decide on the casing style. A simple casing places the curtain rod at the uppermost edge of the curtain.

For simple casings, add to the cut length an amount equal to the diameter of the rod plus ½’’’ (1.3 cm) to turn under and ¼’’ to I” (6 mm to 2.5 cm) ease. The amount of ease depends on the size of the rod and thickness of the fabric.

A heading is a gathered edge above the casing. It finishes the curtain more decoratively than a simple casing. Curtains with headings do not require cornices or valances.

For casings with headings, use the formula for a simple casing, adding to it an amount twice the depth of the heading. Headings may be from 1″ to 5″ (2.5 to 12.5 cm) deep. The depth of the heading must be determined before the curtains are cut. The heading depth should be appropriate for the length of the curtain: in general, the longer the curtain, the deeper the heading.

Wooden, brass or plastic poles may be covered with a shirred pole cover. The exposed pole between the curtain panels is covered with a casing made from a shirred tube of matching fabric (above). The casing may be plain or have a heading the same height as the curtain heading. Wide poles and casings are more than decorative. They often are used to conceal a shade heading, the plain heading on shirred curtains, or the traverse rod of sheer or lightweight curtains.

Wide casings are used on the flat Continental rod or cornice rod. These rods are 4-1/2” (11.5 cm) wide. A cornice rod is actually two regular curtain rods attached with a spacer between them. Finish lower and side hems of curtains before sewing casings and headings.

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Singer Sewing for the Home
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Before measuring windows, select the style of curtain, drapery or shade you will make. The style of window treatment determines what installation hardware is necessary. Next, decide exactly where the window treatment will be placed; install the hardware and measure this area for the finished size of the curtain, shade or drapery.

Curtain rods may be attached to the window frame, within or at the sides of the frame, on the wall above the frame, or at the ceiling. Mounting boards are necessary for hanging Roman shades and other shades based on the Roman shade construction. These 1″x 2″ (2.5 x 5 cm) boards are cut to the width of the shade, stapled or tacked to the shade’s upper edge, then installed at the window. An inside mounted shade fits firmly inside the top of the window frame. An inside mounted shade is installed on the wall above the frame. A hybrid mounted shade is a combination mount. The mounting board is placed inside the window, but the shade extends over part of the window frame.

Roller shades are installed inside or on the window frame, or on the wall above.
Follow these guidelines for accurate measuring:

1) Use a folding ruler or metal tape for measuring;
cloth tapes may stretch or sag.

2) Measure and record the measurements for all windows separately even if they appear to be the same size. Size differences, even if slight, should be taken into account when constructing window treatments.

3) When measuring for a shade that fits inside the window, measure the window width at the top, center and bottom to determine if it is true and square.

4) When measuring for curtains on a window without an apron, measure to at least 4″ (10 cm) below the sill.

Window Measurements for Curtains, Shades and Draperies

Estimating Yardage
Because fabric widths vary, yardage cannot be figured until the fabric has been selected. After
you have taken the necessary measurements and determined the finished size of the curtain, shade or drapery, you must add to the length and width for seams, hems, headings and fullness. This is the cut length. Use the cut length to estimate the amount of fabric you will need. For curtains and draperies, use the amounts as listed below and transfer the correct amount to the chart (right). For shade yardage, see individual instructions for each type of shade.

Determining Length
To the finished length, add the amount needed for lower hems, casings, headings and pattern repeat. Lower hems. Add double the desired hem to the finished length. For medium weight fabrics, use a 4″ (10 cm) double-fold hem on floor-length curtains or draperies; add 8″ (20.5 cm) to the length. Or on short curtains or valances, use a I” to 3″ (2.5 to 7.5 cm) double-fold hem; add 2″ to 6″ (5 to 15 cm) to the length. For sheer and lightweight fabrics, a deeper double-fold hem of 5″ to 6″ (12.5 to 15 cm) may be used; add 10″ to 12″ (25.5 to 30.5 cm) to the length.

Casings and headings: For simple casings with no heading, add an amount equal to the diameter of
the rod plus V2″ (1.3 cm) to turn under and 1/4″ to I” (6 mm to 2.5 cm) ease. The amount of ease depends on the size of the rod and thickness of the fabric. Lightweight fabrics require less ease; casings for large rods require more. For casings with headings, use the formula for a simple casing, adding to it an amount twice the depth of the heading.

Pattern repeat: Fabrics with patterns (motifs) need to be matched. Measure the distance between motifs and add that amount to the length of each panel.

Determining Width
To the finished width, add the amount needed for seams, side hems and fullness. Seams. For multi-width panels, add I” (2.5 cm) for each seam. Panels that is not wider than the fabric
do not require an extra amount for seams. Side hems. Add 4″ (10 cm) per panel for a I”
(2.5 cm) double-fold hem on each side of the panel.

Fullness: Fabric weight determines fullness. For medium to heavyweight fabrics, add two to two and one-half times the finished width of the curtain. For sheer and lightweight fabrics, add two and one-half to three times the finished width.