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How to Make a No Sew Window Treatment

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How to Make a No Sew Window Treatment in an Afternoon

Once upon a time… after I graduated from college and before I was married I worked in retail display. It was in my first few years of working in the field that I learned the many tricks and tips on how to fake out decorating treatments, including this no sew window treatment.  I have posted quite a few no sew window treatments made using fabric, but also using tablecloths, cardboard and even seashells.

I worked in display back in the day when sheets began to come in lots of colorful patterns instead of solid colors.  The colorful sheets were perfect to use just like decorator fabrics.

Blue and white pattern no sew window valance.

One of my weekly duties was to make room vignettes in the home department to showcase the linens.  I used sheets and safety pins to create the no sew window treatments for these display rooms.

I constantly was asked by customers how I made the treatments and would literally write the directions on their shopping bags so they could do it themselves in their homes.  Fast forward to today and the method I used all those years ago to make these treatments can still be used to create fast and fun window treatments in your home.  I recently did just that to create new affordable valances in my bedroom.

How to Make a No Sew Window Treatment – Valance

I removed my summer tablecloth valance that used to cover up the conventional rod and the tabs on the curtain panels that I bought at Target. I needed to come up with something pretty, yet simple that would cover the rod and tabs again.

No Sew window Treatment

I made this no sew window treatment that only requires a small amount of fabric yardage which keeps it just my style – very affordable.No-Sew-Window-Valance

No sewing required. My valance measures 65″ x 22″.  This might be a better way to figure out how much fabric you will need. Width of window + projection of rod x   2 + depth you desire = width of fabric needed. Example of my measurements: 37 + 6 + 22 = 65″ width.

supplies needed:

  • 1-3/4″ the width of my window
  • 2 large safety pins
  • 2 medium safety pins
  • a straight pin
  • two vintage clip-on earrings

No-Sew-window-Valance-Supplies

You can use any rectangular piece of fabric to create this valance –with unfinished edges,  unlined, or lined.  You are the designer.

To create a no sew lined panel or valance:

Cut the fabric and lining to the same size.  Press all edges over 1-inch.  Use fabric glue or iron on-adhesive to attach the two pieces.

How-to-use-fabric-glue-to-mHow-to-line-no-sew-fabric-w

To hang the no-sew valance:

1.  Find the center along top edge of fabric and pin it over the center part of the rod.  (This pin will be removed later)

How to hang a no sew window valance

2. Spread the fabric to each side and use a safety pin to attach each end of the valance to the last tab or section of the curtain panel that is closest to the wall.

Easy no sew DIY valance

3. Once it is pinned on, let the fabric hang from the rod making sure it is centered.

How-to-make-a-no-sew-window

4.  With your hands gather the fabric on each side and use the medium size safety pin to secure.

Gather-fabric

5. Open a clip-on earring and slide the clip through the safety pin.

How-to-hang-a-window-valanc

 

6. Snap it shut and you have an instant decorative way to hide the pin.  Repeat on other side of valance.

How-to-tutorial-on-how-to-m

7. Remove the straight pin on the center front.

no-sew-window-valance

Vintage-earring-on-a-no-sew

Depending on your window and size of your fabric you can create many different looks by the way you drape and gather the fabric on the rod.

Now-sew-Window-Valance

Window Treatment Variation

Here is the same rectangular shape of fabric where the length is 2 1/2 times the width of the window which allows for more draping. This was one of the projects in my book, Instant Decorating. It was the window treatment I made for my daughter’s room.  Instead of using safety pins to gather the fabric, I painted clothespins to match the fabric and clipped them on the rod. The fabric valance is simply gathered behind each clothespin to hold in in place. The clothespins have matching fabric bows hot glued on. At the end of the rod on each side is where I pinned the valance to the curtain panel underneath.

Clothespin-Bow-Window-Valan

A peek at my stash of vintage clip-on earrings…

For those of you who have asked me what I keep in all the little drawers in my craft armoire – here is what is in a few. Lots of vintage clip-on earrings and buttons.  I love and collect them.  I use them in many different ways, but never on my ears.

Vintage-Earrings-and-ideas-

 

Related Posts

 How to Make a No Sew Drapery Panel

 How to Make an Easy No Sew Autumn Window Treatment

How to Make a Window Treatment Using a Tablecloth

 

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    Comments

    3. Nancy says

      This is so clever. I’m going to try it for my next project. Thank you so much for all your ideas. I have no imagination and your website is so helpful.

      Reply

    4. Rachelle says

      I love this idea! I’d like to do this in my kitchen bay windows. I don’t have a curtain panel to pin the fabric to a tab. I just want to add a valance. Any ideas on how to make it stay without a tab on a curtain panel?

      Reply

      • Diane says

        Hi Rachelle – You could just pin the valance to itself. Take the top edge on one side near the end of the fabric and wrap it around the rod and pin to the back of the valance fabric that is falling to the front of the rod. Repeat on the other side. You may have to play with it a little to get it to hang right. I did this in my very first house using a cafe style rod that sits in two brackets. I didn’t even use a pin for that – I just wrapped the top edge of the valance around the rod and then squeezed the wrapped section of the rod right into the bracket. Do the same on the other side. Since it was snug it stayed in place – the end of the valance hung down from each bracket. You might want to use some string to determine how long your valance should be. Drape the string over the brackets and rod as you would want the fabric to lay. This will give you a good idea on how how much fabric you will need.

        Reply

    6. Erin Spain says

      Love these! Just wanted to let you know I featured these on my blog today, in an article about the many different types and techniques of “no-sew” window treatments.

      -Erin
      diyonthecheap.blogspot.com

      Reply

    8. Katharine says

      I went to FIDM in Los Angeles and my funnest class was the Visual Merchandising class. I love all your clips and buttons. What a treasure! Thanks for the tutorial. Now if I can figure out how to use iron adhesive (I always mess up) I’d be doing good. I guess I could just sew it. lol

      Reply

    14. Lisa says

      This looks so perfectly done and I love the repurposing of anything..like the earrings. The fabric is so pretty. Thank you for sharing!

      Reply

    17. RStephensArt says

      Wow, that looks great. It’s very creative, I would never have thought of that. I have been trying to come up with something but now I know how to fix up my windows! Thanks for sharing this.

      Reply

    19. Mary says

      Love this idea! However, I’m a bit confused on the measurements.
      You say that the width of the valence needs to be twice the width of the window. So, am I correct in saying that if my window is 50″ wide, that I’d need the fabric to be 100″ wide? It seems to me that that would give me a gathered look, but I don’t see that in the photos. Instead I see the fabric laying flat against the window (no gathering). So, I’m feeling confused here.
      Help!
      Thanks so much. I admire your creativity and appreciate your willingness to share it with the rest of us.

      Reply

      • Diane says

        Hi Mary-

        Sorry if I confused you. The actual width of my fabric is just a bit short of 2 times the width of my window. My window is 37″ wide. My valance measures 65″ x 22″. 1 3/4 times the width of your window would be sufficient. The reason you need to have the fabric wider than your window is so that when the fabric is gathered along the bottom edge and pinned you will still have fabric framing the sides of the window. If you only use the width of your window and gather the bottom and pin, the outer edges of the fabric that frames the window on either side will be pulled in. Which is ok, but would give your valance a different look. It would look like triangles or pointed ends on either side. You also have to add in the fact that the rod projects from the wall a few inches. I pinned the fabric to the last drapery panel tab. Doing this wraps the top of the valance around the rod and the excess fabric on either side drapes down nicely. My rod projects 3 inches from the wall. This adds 6 more inches to the width of my window.

        This might be a better way to figure out how much fabric you will need. Width of window + projection of rod x 2 + depth you desire = width of fabric needed. Example of my measurements: 37 + 6 + 22 = 65″ width. So if you have a 50″ wide window + 6″ projection + 22 = 78″ width of fabric needed.

        The nice thing about creating this valance is that you can create a few different looks just by the size of your fabric. The one with the clothespins is a much wider piece.
        I hope this helps.

        Reply

    21. Kim {ShopKim on Etsy} says

      They look great!! I’m going to have to keep this in mind for my room.

      And can I just say that I am completely coveting your collection of buttons and earrings. I would stare at it all day!

      Reply

    28. Sheryll & Critters. says

      This is so perfect. I love these tips/wonderful ideas/instructions. You are the most clever woman I know (internet wise). Actually, I take that back, I think you are the very mostest, cleverest of all I know anytime, how or where.

      Sunshine added the mostest….. grin…. my little darling fur baby (one of them anyway).

      Sheryll & Critters.
      Galahad, Sunshine, Shadow, Sugar, Sapphire, Sadie Lady, Siara & Shaymus!

      Reply

    30. Sue says

      Thank you so much for posting these ideas!! I have 3 teenagers who want their rooms changed at least twice a year. This is going to save me tons of headaches and some cash! Love your collection of clip ons and buttons. I miss going to antique stores, flea markets and garage sales; i used to get tons of ideas and items for projects. Thanks again for sparking memories and imaginations.
      Sue

      Reply

    31. Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions says

      Such a great idea, Diane! I love how the earrings you chose work so well with that fabric. Love your stash, too. Whenever I made a trip to Goodwill I would look for some earrings or brooches; just to use as embellishments on projects. I’ll have to start doing that again.

      Reply

    32. Lesley says

      I am pinning this tutorial!! I am sure it will be re-pinned. Super duper idea! Thanks so much for sharing this! I have a ton of vintage clip on too, btw! lol

      Reply

    33. Athena at Minerva's Garden says

      This is so pretty, and I love the use of the earrings–I’m going to have to try this in our bathroom!

      Reply

    34. NanaDiana says

      Great idea. I am a pinner from way back too! I can remember the first set of “drapes” I made out of floral sheets-a Laura Ashley set that I found on clearance. Love the idea of the clip on earrings though- I always hid my pins behind and fussed to get them to not show. xo Diana

      Reply

    36. Linsey @ The Famrhouse porch says

      Love,Love,LOVE. I’m a no-sew girl all the way…this is for me and just what I need in my new house right now. Gonna try this above the master bath jetted tub! I’ll post pics when I do. THANKS so much!
      ♥Linsey

      Reply

      • Diane says

        Hi Linsey-
        It is so easy and fun to make as you can customize it in so many different ways. Looking forward to seeing your pictures.

        Reply

    37. Mel says

      The ol’ pin and tuck method :) It looks so pretty and the earrings are the perfect finishing touch.

      What a fabulous earring/button collection you have!

      Reply

      • Diane says

        Thanks Mel-
        I admit – I am a vintage earring junkie. I can’t pass them up when I see them for sale at flea markets and thrift shops.

        Reply

    38. Beverly @ The Buzz says

      I did something like this in my kitchen using lace tablecloths. Easy and stylish. I don’t have nearly the number of earrings you do, but love to collect them as well. At Christmas, I use them to bling up the wreath and garland on my mantle.

      Reply

      • Diane says

        Hi Beverly –
        I love using them to bling up just about everything – they add the perfect finishing touch. I bet they look very pretty on your Chirstmas greenery.

        Reply

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