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SDSU Extension Fact Sheets SDSU Extension

1981

Cornices, Valances and Lambrequins

Cooperative Extension South Dakota State University

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Recommended Citation South Dakota State University, Cooperative Extension, "Cornices, Valances and Lambrequins" (1981). SDSU Extension Fact Sheets. 940. https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/extension_fact/940

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SDSU Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer in accordance with the nondiscrimination policies of South Dakota State University, the South Dakota Board of Regents and the United States Department of Agriculture. FS 778 Cornices, valances and lambrequins

Whether you choose draperies decorative or plain fabric or insulated Roman shades for angle irons for hanging your window, you can gain drapery hooks (pleated added energy-efficiency by valance) adding a cornice, valance, or heavy-duty staples (pleated lambrequin. valance) All of these treatments are lining fabric (bubble valance) designed to reduce heat loss due cord for piping (bubble to convection by enclosing the valance) top of the window treatment and Fig 1. Plain cornice . Directions for construction: the window frame. The pleated valance lambrequin also encloses the 1. A pleated valance is sides of the window. treated the same way as a very The type of treatment you short drapery. choose will depend on the mood 2. The valance can be you wish to set in the room and attached to a mounting board how much you want to spend on using drapery hooks which materials. To get an idea what fasten into staples on the edge of each of these treatments would the board. do for your window, cut patterns Fig 2. Decorative cornice with contrasting 3. A pleat should be out of cardboard before you fabric binding. positioned on the corners of the invest your time and money on 5. Fuse fa bric to lining with a valance. Pinch or box pleats or the actual project. fusible mesh (to prevent wood shirring may be used for the from showing through the valance. Cornices cornice fa bric ). 4. The valance may be Cornices are frames, usually 6. Cut bias strip that is 1-inch perfectly straight, with or made of wood or a stiffly woven (2.5 cm) wide to go around entire without trim. and coated fabric called cornice (for decorative cornice, corner pleat buckram or permette (Fig 1 and as in Fig 2). 2). The directions are for wooden 7. Sew right side of strip to cornice construction. right side of cornice using ¼-inch (6 mm) seam (Fig 2). Supplies 8. Clip curves and turn strips ¼ -inch plywood to back, mitering corners. decor a tor or plain fa bric Adhere to plywood cornice with fusible mesh glue. lining fa bric 9. For a finishing touch, cover angle irons the entire back with fa bric, nails, glue using the glue. Fig 3. Pleated valance . Directions for construction: 10. Use angle irons to mount cornice cornice to wall just outside the 1. Measure inside window window frame. Directions for construction: width and length. Determine bubble valance length for cornice in proportion Valances 1. The bubble valance should to window. A cornice is usually Valances not only add a be made of a medium to 1/9 to 1/6 the length of the finishing touch at a window but lightweight fabric that is firm window. they also conceal the hardware and crisp; polished cotton works 2. Cut a pattern from heavy and mechanical workings of the well. This treatment requires a pa per and tape to the window to window as well. Valances are cornice board which should be check the design you have made of soft or slightly stiffened constructed and attached before chosen. fa bric and are suspended over the valance is made. The width 3. Cut the fabric and lining, the window in a wooden frame. of the cornice board should be in using this pattern. Also cut Valances are really a cornice proportion to the window. plywood to form top, sides, and with a softer look. 2. Measure the length of the front of cornice. cornice board including both 4. Assemble plywood base, Supplies returns. The outer fa bric should using small nails and glue. plywood for frame be cut 2 ½ times the length of 2 the cornice board (including of cornice; stitch in place. 4. Clip curves and corner. returns) and the width of the Valance may be attached with Turn to back; tack or staple to cornice board plus 2 ½ inches staples along top and down sides frame, pulling cover smooth (Fig (5.7 cm) for seams and bubble close to piping (Fig 6). 8). (Fig 4 ). (The return is the 5. Trimming neatly conceals distance the window treatment any spots where the covering and/or hardware sticks out from has puckered. Flat trim should the wall.) be glued into place. 3. The lining fa bric should be 6. To hang lambrequin on cut the length of the cornice wall, screw two angle irons to board (including returns plus 1 Fig 6. Finished bubble valance . top of frame, position on wall, inch (2.5 cm) for hem on sides and screw into place. and depth of the cornice board Lambrequins plus 3 inches (7.6 cm) (Fig 5). Lambrequin is a word that is outer fabric rather new in the decorating vocabulary. A lambrequin is a ::J. ..,_ 2 ½ times length --~1 ~ ~1- structure that frames a window. ' Usually covered and trimmed, it width 2¼ inches (5.7 cm) can add importance to Fig 4. Bubble valance dimensions. insignificant windows, unify windows of odd shapes and lining sizes, or frame a view. Ideally, a -1'- shaped lambrequin is made of : length plus 1 inch (2 .5 cm) ~ plywood; however, it can be ,,,j,, heavy cardboard. Fig 8. Staple fabric to frame . width made from plus 3 inches (7 .6 cm) Supplies Fi~ 5. Lining . plywood decorative or plain fabric Swags and jabots 4. Make enough piping to go staples and staple gun Swags and jabots are among around the upper and lower glue the most decorative window edge of board and each end of foam for padding (optional) treatments. They can blend with return. The piping shold be made angle iron for hanging any scheme, from the formal with ½ inch (1.2 cm) of seam Directions for construction: French to the casual remaining to attach to valance. lambrequin contemporary. Swags can be 5. Using a heavy thread or 1. Cut plywood into desired used singly, doubly, alone or light cord, zigzag over the cord shapes (Fig 7 is a plain one). with jabots. They can be lined at the upper and lower edge of 2. Glue and nail plywood with a contrasting print or solid outer fabric. Divide fabric into together to form frame, sand. fa bric as well as a neutral lining fourths. Divide cornice into 3. Cut fabric so that it will material. Jabots can be almost fourths and gather the fa bric to extend 2 inches larger than any length, from one-third to full­ fit the cornice. Attach piping to frame. If you are using foam floor length. The sill-length jabot upper edge of valance, leaving a padding, you should also cut it 2 is best with sill high paneling or length of piping at each end to inches larger than frame. chair railing. correspond to width of cornice Directions for construction: board. swag 6. Attach piping to lower edge 1. The depth of the swag of valance. Press under ½-inch should be in proportion with the (1.2 cm) seam on each end and height of the window. The center top edge of valance lining. of the swag is usually 12-15 Attach lining to valance at lower inches (30.5-38 cm) for an edge. Piping will be between average window. Use muslin to lining and outer fabric with experiment and try different ½-inch (1.2 cm) seam. widths. The muslin will be used 7. Bring folded edge of lining to make a pattern. The top of the to cording so that seam is swag is cut on the crosswise covered. Stitch in place. Ends grain of the fabric. Begin with a are to be finished by gathering muslin piece about 3-6 inches outer valance to fit lining fabric. (7.5-15.2 cm) wider than the Stitch excess piping to lining at board and 36 inches (91.4 cm) ends. Attach outer fabric that is long; with basting stitch, mark gathered to ends. center of fabric. 2. Use push pins to pin muslin 8. Miter upper edge of Fig 7. Lambrequin . valance to correspond to corners to the top of the board, matching 3 center of board to center of stitch twill tape to top of swag 12. Pin edges to top of jabot muslin. 1/8 inch (3 mm) from fold line. and stitch. 3. Begin pleats working from 8. Pleat the swag and stitch 13. Press. the top. Put 4-6 inches (10.2-15.2 the pleats in place. Attach the 14. Fold strip over top of cm) in each pleat. Measure down swag to the top and side of the valance board and tack in place, 4-6 inches from top of board and board with staples. or use snap tape to attach to the fold. Bring fold line to top of Directions for construction: board (Fig 12). board and pin. For second pleat, jabot measure down another 4-6 1. Make a muslin pattern for inches and fold. Bring fold line to cascade before cutting the within 1-1 ½ inches (2.5-3.8 cm) fabric. of first fold line and pin in place. 2. For the average window the Continue making pleats until the outside length should be about center of the swag is in 30 inches (76.2 cm) long. There proportion with the window (Fig should be about 20-25 inches 9). (50.8-63.5 cm) across the top plus enough for valance board return (Fig 11).

,~ '--..,,-) ~ : pleat meets I Fig 9. Pleated muslin pattern . I 3/8-inch ~:return seam (9 mm) 4. Keep pleats at both ends on I grain of the fa bric, I~ 3/8 (9 mm) seam crosswise I Fig 12. Completed jabot . and keep the center marking in line. Trim sides with end of board. ;/ 5. Swag will have a zigzag pattern to indicate placement of pleats (Fig 10). V \I Fig 11 . Measurements for jabot.

3. The facing of the jabot is I ~ usually of matching fabric, but I \ i\ I C: I ~ I can be of a contrasting or coordinating fa bric for a more 1 interesting effect. Cut the facing 1 ------the same size and shape as face fabric. 1 ~ , t.1, Fig 10 . Pleat fold lines . 4. Seam fabric and facing Fig 13 . Completed swag and jabots in place over drapery . 6. Use the muslin as a pattern together along the top, sides, and for cutting drapery. Add an diagonal. additional 1 ½ inch (3.8 cm) for 5. Press seams open with tip Variations hem at the top and ½ inch (1.2 of iron. As many variations on these cm) for seam on the sides and 6. Turn and press flat. basic directions exist for lower edge. Cut lining the same 7. On lower edge of return, cornices, valances, lambrequins, as the swag but make it 1 inch fold 3/8 inch (9 mm) to inside and swags, and jabots as your (2.5 cm) shorter at the top. With slip stitch. imagination can conceive. right sides together, stitch lining 8. Pleat according to markings 1. Use different fabrics-an and swag together, leaving the on pattern easy way to change appearances top open. 9. Zigzag across to hold pleats easily. 7. If the fabric does not ravel, in place. 2. Wide framing or molding trim the seam to ¼ inch (6 mm). 10. Cut a 2-inch strip (5.1 cm) can be used for the face and If the fabric ravels, leave ½ inch of the fa bric the length of the sides of a cornice. This requires (1.2 cm) seam. Press open seams jabot across th!} pleated edge mitering the corners, but does · and clip the seam. Turn to right plus ¾ inch (1.9 cm). give a more elegant appearance. side and press. Stitch lining to 11. Turn strip to underside 3/8 3. If framing or good quality swag across top. Turn under ½ inch (9 mm) at the ends and fold wood is used for cornices and inch (1.2 cm) on top edge and through the center. lambrequins, they can be 4 finished with a clear finish or painted instead of covering with fa bric. Paint is easier to keep clean than fabric.

Fact sheets in this series FS 776, Energy-efficient window treatments FS 777, Energy-efficient draperies FS 778, Cornices and lambrequins FS 779, Insulated Roman shades FS 780, Insulated shutters and panels

Prepared by Mary Ann Sward . Extension housing and interior design specialist. Based on New views for windows . prepared by Julia B. Taylor . Professor . and Naomi H. Willis . Instructor . Home Economics . The Clemson University . Clemson . South Carolina .

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