I think it just the two different types of material, but I am not a big sewer. See how in My3Dogs valance the middle swag is longer than the ends and the ends just curl in, maybe try tweaking what you have first to make it hang more like hers.

Without knowing what either fabric is, I would suggest that you make your curtain longer... How much longer is impossible to say without knowing what kind of fabric you have, and whether or not it's lined.

Do you have an old sheet or some other spare fabric that you can play with? Gather it until you get the effect you want, and then measure the ungathered length.

I hope this makes sense...

Ctlane - Yeah they are two different types. All of her valances look the same as far as fullness though. That's just the one I posted. I've messed with it a lot and there's just not enough fabric to gather the same.

Mclarke - The fabric is a "home decorators" fabric. Cotton maybe? I do have it lined. I'll have to try and find something to mess with and see.

Shee, I agree wth ctlane-- i am not sure you need it to be wider, I think you may need to futz with it a bit. It looks like my3dogs' valance is a fabric with some "tooth" to it so it holds its shape and folds well-- but I think she also has it bunched differently. The sides are shorter and don't hang lower .. I'd try moving your cords a little closer to the ends and playing with the drape.

Would someome please post the instructions to my3dogs valances. I had them saved in a folder and then my computer crashed and I lost everything. Thanks Patti

Funky - I guess I also should've of mentioned this isn't a current picture of how I have it adjusted. This was right after I made it.

Gotcha.. well hers doesnt seem to be gathered all the much across the width. What if you used a ribbon rather than a cord-- could the extra width help draw it all up more? I am reaching--as I never made one of these valances. I just hate to see you use up more of your lovely fabric and to find that you still arent happy with the end result.

Brutuses recently reposted the directions (she had saved them, too), so I am reposting them courtesy of Bru :) It says below that she uses 1 1/4 yds of the fabric for her valances, so it seems that she has more length...that would allow her more horizontal gathering and fullness.

"Posted by my3dogs (My Page) on Thu, Jul 17, 08 at 20:01Hi everyone! Here are the directions for the valances that you saw in the post linked below. They ARE EASY - but the directions are long, because I am trying to give you enough detail, even if you are a beginner. Read them all the way through so you understand them, and ask any questions you may have. If you are a real novice, you may want to make a sample using just muslin, or other inexpensive fabric, til you get the hang of it. This is a no-pattern valance that I started making last summer. It requires just straight stitching. My windows are generally about 50" (more or less)in height. If your windows are very short or very tall, you may want to vary the length of the fabric you use. I would say to err on the 'buy more' side though, so they don't look skimpy. The fullness adds richness. I generally use 1 1/4 yards of 54" wide home dec fabric to make the valance. You will need an equal amount of lining fabric. If you choose to put trim on the bottom (it adds a lot to the treatment, IMO) buy 1 1/2 yards of trim to make sure you have enough to go across the length of your 54" wide fabric. If your fabric is wider than 54", buy enough trim to cover its width. Cut your valance fabric and lining to equal lengths. I always measure the side edges of my fabric and mark the length before cutting. It may have not been cut straight at the store, and you want to be sure that your left side is the same length as your right side. Pin the two rectangles of fabric together on all sides, with the RIGHT (front) sides of the fabrics inside, facing each other. Before putting the fabrics together, I mark lightly on the back which is the TOP of the print (if using a print) and which is the bottom, so your print will end up right side up! Depending on the type of rod you plan to use for the valance, you need to leave openings on each side that will become your rod pocket. Continental rods (the flat wide plain ones) need a 4" rod pocket. If you use a decorative rod, with finals on the end that screw off, I would recommend making your rod pocket 2" wide. For a small tension rod, I'd make the rod pocket 1.5" wide. You don't want to force your fabric onto the rod - allow room to make it easy for you. Measure down from the TOP of your pinned together fabric, and make a light mark with pencil on each side, the size of your chosen rod pocket, plus 1/2". That 1/2" is going to be the width of your top seam. You'll be making a mark on the left and right sides 4 1/2" down from the top if you use a Continental rod, for example. Stitch from these marks down each side to the bottom, using a 1/2" seam. You'll need to leave an opening in the top or bottom to turn your valance inside out when you're done stitching. I'd suggest a 4" - 6" opening for turning. If your rod pocket openings are 4", you don't need to leave another opening, you can use them to turn it inside out. Mark the opening you need to leave, then stitch across the top and bottom edges, using a 1/2" seam, leaving your opening...well...OPEN! Clip your fabric corners off OUTSIDE of your stitching. This is just a small triangle of fabric from each corner. This will allow you to get nice sharp edges on your corners when your turn the valance right side out, as it reduces the bulk of fabric there. Turn your valance right side out, pulling it through the opening you left. I use a wooden chop stick to push the fabric gently at the corners to make them nice and square, once I have turned mine right side out. Don't push too hard, or you may poke a hole through your valance! At this point, you should have a lined rectangle of fabric, with rod pocket openings near the top of each side. Close the opening you left for turning, either by folding and pressing the edges in and hand stitching it closed, or use 'stitch witchery' type of fusing tape to do it. You can also sew it closed with your sewing machine, but you want to do it right at the edge. You want to make this closure as 'invisible' as possible, so I always use fusible tape. Carefully iron your valance. Use your fingers to work the edges, so that you have your seam right in the middle of each edge, so you don't see the front fabric on the backside, and you don't see the lining from the front. Now, to stitch the rod pocket. You will be making one row of stitching across the front of your fabric from side to side. Measure down from the top edge, so you have the same length opening on each side. The size of the opening you left on each side was determined above by the type of rod you're using. You can lightly pencil on the line that you need to stitch across, or do what I do - Place the fabric on the sewing machine, and put the needle down on the place where you'll start stitching. Take a 4" (approx) length of masking tape, and lay it against the upper edge of the fabric, to the right of the needle, and stick it to the sewing machine base. You can use this tape edge as a guide to hold the top edge of your fabric against as you stitch across. It helps you make a straight, even rod pocket. My sewing machine has tape on it for all different widths of rod pockets! If you chose to put trim on the bottom of your valance, do it now. I use 'Aleen's OK To Wash-It' fabric glue that you can get at WalMart or a fabric store. If you use glue, just follow the directions on the bottle to glue your trim evenly to the front bottom of your valance. I lay my valance on my kitchen island, and let it set overnight, while the glue dries. You can also stitch your trim on, either by hand or by machine. I prefer the glue, because you see no stitching on the back side. (I'm anal.) Now to make the ties. You can simply buy ribbon (such as grosgrain) or use purchased cord (see my dining room silk ones in the link) or make them out of fabric. Use either the same fabric or a coordinating one. Here, you first need to decide if you are going to tie your valance up with bows, or do knots. Bows take longer ties. Allow yourself a MINIMUM of 36" long ties. You can always cut them shorter if necessary, but you can't make them longer. I suggest hanging your valance up and using string to tie them up temporarily to see how long you need to make your ties. (It's longer than you think!) Cut your strips of fabric approx 4" wide and the length you have decided on above for your ties. Fold and pin the strips in half the the short way, so you have a long strip of fabric that is 2" wide. Make sure the right sides are together, (inside) because you are going to turn them inside out after stitching. Stitch along the pinned edge of each strip, about 1/4" from the edge. Now the fun part - turn those narrow strips inside out. My chop stick comes in handy for this, but use whatever method you choose to accomplish this. Press the ties just as you did the valance rectangle, making sure your seam is even on the edge. I fold in the raw ends and use my fusible tape to close them, but you can machine stitch them closed or do it by hand - Your choice. Your valance is done! Put it on your rod, using the rod pocket. Hang it in your window. Now, take the ties, and simply drape them over the rod on each side, having half of the tie fabric strip hanging in front, and the other half of the tie hanging behind the valance. Now, gather up one side of the valance in your hands, and reach behind it it grab the dangling tie in back. Tie up the valance, by tying the front and back pieces of the tie together, either in a knot or a bow. Do the same with the other side, making sure your ties on each side are tied up at the same length. Now stand back and make sure your valance looks even at the bottom on each side. Use your hand to 'finger fold' and drape your fabric until the look is what you want. You'll be surprised at what a difference it can make in the look by spacing your ties closer together, or moving them further apart on the rod. Also by tying the ties higher or lower... This is where you need to play around until you get the look you want. On the HGTV message board, a woman made these and kept posting pics asking for advice - Higher? Lower? Move the ties apart or closer...It's really all up to you. Hers looked GREAT when she was done, and she was so pleased to have made her own custom valance. I hope you all feel the same way, if you try them!"

I am guessing how much fabric you buy would also depend on the width of your window, the width of the fabric, as whether or not the fabric is 36, 45, 54 or 60 inch fabric and whether or not the window is 30 or 40 inches wide, and how long you want it? Is your window 6 ft long or is it 2 ft long?

There are professional patterns you can buy and fabric stores who sell them and people who work there who sew who can help. The texture of the fabric would make a big difference as well as what kind of liner your used? Is your fabric soft, fluffy, hard, silk, cotton, brocade? All these things will make a difference in not only how much it takes (and don't even mention pattern repeat) as does the size of the fabric and the window.

Southernheart, thanks for posting those directions. In the photo above in my DR that is silk fabric. No matter what type I but, I would never use less than 1 yard length, usually 1 1/4 yards. I'd use 1 yard if the fabric was very limp, like some linens, as I don't want it to all 'clump' at the bottom.

The two valances look to be about the same size. My guess would be that your fabric has more drape to it while 3dogs's fabric is stiffer.

Your valance is already covering 1/2 the window. I don't think you want it any longer, nor would making it wider help. 3dog's valance appears to be covering about 1/4 of the window but is started higher on the wall. It looks like you don't have that option.

Well I decided to futz with it again since it's been awhile.

I tied the rope tighter and think it looks better. I know it's not perfect and still needs adjusted but wanted to get some more feedback. It doesn't want to lay nice at the bottom. I could bunch it together a bit at the top.

The length of the valance is only 2' but I wonder if going another 1' would make it too lumpy at the bottom. The material is pretty thick with both the fabric and lining. The window itself is 33" long.

I'd love to be able to make this one work. I'm dreading trying to get the bobbin thing back in the machine! :) I just want to get that trim on!

So whatcha think now? To me it still looks kind of ...wide... or something.

Graywings - You're right, there's no room for me to raise the rod up.
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my3dogs wrote: "Now stand back and make sure your valance looks even at the bottom on each side. Use your hand to 'finger fold' and drape your fabric until the look is what you want. You'll be surprised at what a difference it can make in the look by spacing your ties closer together, or moving them further apart on the rod. Also by tying the ties higher or lower... This is where you need to play around until you get the look you want."

Shee, I could be wrong, but I don't think you need to make a new valance out of the same material. Just keep adjusting until you get it to fall right. Adding your fringe will also help a lot, so baste the fringe on before you adjust again so you don't get it perfect and have to take it down and start over.

Your latest adjustments just need a bit more tweaking. Maybe it's easier to see from a photo than head-on, so if that's the case just keep checking your pix until you get the look you're after.

I think it is looking better already. Just a little more tweaking and add the trim and you're done.

Well I glued the trim. Yes glued. :) 'Aleen's OK To Wash-It'. Tomorrow when I put it back up I'll fix it for real and post a pic when I'm done.

Thanks everyone!

Well I raised and lowered, fluffed and pulled..here's the final product. I see it still need tweeked.

I think trim made a big difference. It's not perfect but will have to do for now. I'll be sure to use more fabric when I make one for the bathroom.
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It is perfect now. What if you used gold for the cords so they would show up more, otherwise its great. Trim made a huge difference.

Congrats! Looks wonderful after trim and tweaking.

Thanks!

I was thinking about making (thin) ties out of this fabric that's on the chairs. What do you think?
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Good idea. Its all coming together now!

Sheesharee,

Your valance now with trim is just perfect. I really love it. Looks like a very expensive custom made valance.