DIY Sewing Towel Valances

Install the curtain rod per the directions, using the hardware provided. Mount the brackets so that the curtain rod extends past the window frame at least 1 inch.

Measure the width of the curtain rod to the nearest inch and multiply by two. Divide that number by the width of your tea towels to determine how many towels you need to sew the valance. For example if the rod width is 30 inches and the tea towels are 18 inches wide, 30 x 2 = 60, divided by 18 = 3.3 towels needed. Round down for a bit less of a gathered valance, or round up for a bit more of a gathered final look.

Place two towels good sides together, and use straight pins to pin down one long edge of the towels. Sew a 1/2-inch straight seam down the pinned long side. Add another towel to one end of the sewn piece, and repeat as many times as needed depending on the amount of towels you are using. This creates one long piece of fabric.

With the printed side down, lay the strip of towels out flat and measure 2 inches from the top edge, making a small mark on the back with a pencil. Repeat this, marking every 18 inches. Fold the top edge of the fabric valance down 2 inches, using the pencil marks as a guideline for where the fold should land. Press the fold in place and use straight pins to secure the loose edge.

Sew along the bottom of the pressed folded edge, using a 1/4-inch seam allowance. This seam creates the roughly 1.75-inch pocket for the curtain rod.

Slide the valance onto the rod. Install the rod with the new valance in place. Slide the fabric so that the gathers are even on the rod.