Embroidered Ascot Valance

Treat your windows, and yourself, to something fresh and new with an ascot valance. It's constructed with separate panel pieces, which allows you to mix and match color schemes.

Named after the ascot necktie's pointed bottom, this neutral, yet elegant, piece can be made to coordinate with any decor!

Supplies & Materials:

Supplies needed:

1 1/2 yards fabric (We used 3 colors -- 1/2 yard each.)
14 x 18 inch sheet of doubled-sided, heavy-duty fusible interfacing
Cut-away stabilizer
Spray adhesive
Air-erase pen
Large sheet of paper or tag board

Designs Used:

Soft Shadow Daffodil -- large or small

We are making a valance for a 36 inch rod, so each finished panel will be 12 inches wide and 20 inches long (36 inches divided by 3 panels equals a 12 inch width per panel).

Measure the width of your curtain rod. If it is 48 inches long, just add a fourth panel. If you have a curtain rod of an unusual length, determine the number of panels that you'll want for your valance and divide that into the length. For example, if your curtain rod is 44 inches, and you want 4 panels, then each panel's width will be 11 inches. If you want 3 panels, each panel's width will be 14.66 inches.

Gather Materials:

The first step is to make a pattern. For a 36 inch curtain rod, draw a 12 x 20 inch rectangle on tag board.

Hand drawing a rectangular pattern on white fabric or paper using a blue pen and a black ruler on a dark table surface.

Find the center by measuring the short ends and dividing by two. Mark each center. Draw a line through the center of the rectangle.

Person's hand holding a blue pencil, drawing a rectangle on white paper using a black metal ruler as a straightedge.

The "V" shape point on each panel will start two-thirds from the top. Take the length measurement (ours is 20 inches) and multiply by 0.66.

For example, on a 12 x 20 inch panel, the point would start 13 inches down from the top.

Mark this point and draw lines connecting these two-thirds marks to the bottom center point.

Hand drawing measured straight lines with a blue pen on white paper. A black metal ruler with measurement markings is placed on the paper. A hand holds the pen.

Draw the seam allowances by measuring outward 1/2 inch on all five sides of the shape.

Draw lines connecting these marks. Angle the ends as shown.

Hand drawing a geometric pattern on white paper using a pen and a metal ruler against a dark background.

Following the outer lines, cut out the shape.

Two pieces of white paper with blue lines and angled edges are laid flat on a dark wood surface, resembling pattern templates for fabric cutting.

Draw a line across the pattern at the top of the "V". This line and the center line will be used for aligning the embroidery designs.

Now the pattern is complete.

Hand holding pencil draws straight lines on white paper using a metal ruler on a wooden table. The paper is cut into a pointed shape.

Cut a piece of fabric a bit larger than the pattern. We chose a shantung fabric for our valance. Many other fabrics, such as denim, jacquard or linen, will work well for this project.

Lay the fabric right side up and lay the pattern on top. Pin the pattern in place and trace it onto the fabric using an air erase pen. Poke a hole at the center point, and mark the fabric as well.

Paper pattern pinned to olive green fabric on a wooden table. A hand is holding a pen or marker, tracing the pattern lines on the fabric.

Remove the pattern.

Draw a line across the fabric at the top of the "V". Then find the center of the line by measuring and dividing by two.

Draw a vertical line between the top center point and the bottom center point. These lines will be used for hooping.

Close-up of a hand holding a blue marker, tracing a rectangular shape with rounded corners on a gray fabric using a black metal ruler on a wooden table.

Print a full-size paper template of the design. Poke a hole in the center of the template and align it with the center point on the fabric. Make sure the design fits well within the shape.

Hand holding a sheet of white paper with a pencil sketch of a flower, placed on a green fabric with black marker outlines for cutting or stitching.

Start Embroidering:

Spray a piece of cut-away stabilizer with adhesive. Hoop it with the fabric by aligning the marks on the hoop with the lines on the fabric.

Green fabric hooped in an embroidery frame with black outline marks drawn around the hoop for alignment, placed on a wooden surface.

Attach the hoop to the machine, load the design, align the needle directly over the center point and embroider the design.

Close-up of an embroidery machine stitching a gold leaf design on gray fabric secured in a white rectangular hoop with a green light on the machine.

After the design has finished sewing, carefully trim away the excess stabilizer.

Hand holding orange scissors cutting white paper folded over green fabric with faint embroidery design visible beneath the paper.

Cut out the shape.

We embroidered a design in the center of each of the three panels. Repeat the same marking, hooping, embroidering, and cutting process for the other two panels.

Green fabric with an embroidered white flower and yellow stem. The fabric is cut in a pointed shape with scissors held by a hand at the right edge.

Each panel has a coordinating back. Use the pattern to measure, mark, and cut the back pieces from each color.

Three fabric pieces in light beige, pink, and sage green colors are laid flat on a wooden table, each cut in the shape of an ascot valance.

Decide the order of the front panels. With the bottoms pointed toward you, the first panel will be on the left, the second panel in the middle, and the third panel on the right.

Lay the first panel right-side up. Align the second panel on top of the first panel, right sides together. Pin in place along the right edge only.

Green and white fabric pieces pinned and partly folded on a wooden table, with faint embroidery outlines and a small pink stitched section visible.

Sew a 1/2 seam along the pinned edge.

Close-up of a sewing machine stitching a seam on a light green fabric with a straight stitch; black pin holds fabric in place.

Lay the assembled panels flat, right-sides up. Align the third panel on top, right-sides together. Pin along the right edge only. Sew a 1/2 inch seam along the pinned edge.

If your valance has more panels, continue this process until all the front panels are sewn together.

Three pieces of fabric laid on a dark wood table: pale pink, green, and off-white, each with a small embroidered design near one edge.

Lay the assembled panels wrong-side up. Open the seams and press them flat.

Repeat the aligning, sewing and pressing process to assemble the back panels. Be sure to arrange the back panels to match the colors of the front panels.

Iron pressing fabric with a pink cloth folded under a green cloth on a light-colored ironing board cover, with a white iron partially visible.

Align the assembled front and back panels, right-sides together, and pin in place.

Measure and mark 4 1/2 inches down from the upper left and upper right corners. The seam along the edge of the valance will start and end at each of these marks.

Person's hand holding a blue and white marker, marking a large light beige fabric using a 12-inch metal ruler on a wooden surface. A small cloth piece with red embroidery is partially visible in the bottom left corner.

Sew a 1/2 inch seam starting at the first mark. Sew along the first edge, around the bottom points, and up the opposite edge. Stop at the second mark. Do not sew above each of the marks you made or along the top just yet.

Close-up of a sewing machine stitching pink fabric; needle and presser foot engaged; small blue marking on fabric; dim background.

Turn the valance right-side out and press the seams.

Close-up of an ironing board with a pink fabric piece featuring a white and green embroidered floral design being ironed with a white iron.

Finish both the right and left sides of both layers above the mark by folding each layer in 1/2 inch and sewing a 1/4 inch seam.

Close-up of a sewing machine needle stitching pink fabric. The presser foot is down, guiding the fabric under the needle during sewing.

The lining is made of two strips of fusible interfacing. Each strip will be 3 inches tall.

For the length of each strip, take the measurement of the curtain rod, subtract one inch for a 1/2 inch seam allowance on each side, and divide by two.

For a 36 inch curtain rod, each strip will be 17 1/2 inches wide. For a 40 inch rod, each strip will be 19 1/2 inches wide.

Place the strips, short ends together, and zigzag stitch them in place.

Close-up of a sewing machine foot stitching light blue fabric, with a needle lowered and thread visible on the fabric surface.

Place the interfacing at the top of the valance, between the two layers. The top edge of the interfacing should be 1/2 inch from the top edges of the valance layers. Pin in place.

Four fabric pieces in pink, green, white, and light pink with floral embroidery lie partially folded on a wood grain table against a blue wall.

Sew along the bottom edge of the interfacing from side to side of the valance.

Close-up of a sewing machine needle and presser foot stitching light green fabric with a subtle satin sheen. The fabric shows faint quilted lines.

Mark the left and right side of the valance 1 1/2 inch up from the seam just sewn. Draw a line connecting the marks.

Hand marking fabric with blue pen using a metal ruler on a wooden table; three fabric pieces in pink, beige, and sage green are visible on the table.

Sew a seam across the valance, following the line, to create a "pocket" for the curtain rod.

Close-up of a sewing machine stitching a seam on a fabric with two colors, light pink and pale green, under the needle and presser foot.

Press above the pocket only to adhere the interfacing to the fabric - do not press the pocket area!

If the pocket area is pressed, the fabric will adhere to the interfacing and the curtain rod will not insert.

Green fabric with stitched hem lies flat on an ironing board next to a white iron, beige fabric is folded on the left side of the board.

Fold the front layer over the interfacing. Then fold the back layer over 1/2 inch and pin it to the back side of the interfacing.

Two rectangular fabric pieces, one pale green and one pink, pinned with black-headed straight pins along edges, laid on a dark wooden surface.

Sew a 1/4 inch seam along the entire top edge. Sew another seam as close to the edge as possible to finish it.

Close-up of a sewing machine needle stitching light-colored fabric, with a clear presser foot and part of the machine mechanism visible.

Below the pocket area, top stitch a 1/4 inch seam along the side and bottom edges of each panel. Be careful not to stitch inside the pocket area.

Close-up of a pink fabric with green embroidery being stitched by a sewing machine. The fabric is positioned under the machine's needle and presser foot.

Get Inspired:

And there you have it! A smart looking window treatment sure to bring a subtle, dainty touch to any room.

Three pointed fabric valance sections in beige, green, and pink, each with a different small floral embroidery near the tip.