In our sweet little new farmhouse in Tennessee I have a sewing room! (That deserves a few more !!!!!) Ok, it’s not just a sewing room, it’s a crafting, painting, jewelry, sewing room. What do they call those? Well, whatever it is, it’s all mine.
I’ve been working on getting some furniture set up in there and that’s involved some biggish time-consuming projects like painting and assembly. Not to mention all the organizing and putting everything away from the move. I wanted to do something in the meantime to make it feel more me – and something fast and easy!
So I raided my stash and did some ebay shopping. I changed out the heavy dark valances that were in the room and made up these pretty and colorful vintage handkerchief valances! I love them so much more.
There are a bunch of windows in the room so it really lightened the room and added a lot more color. Kato thinks so too.
These were so fast to sew too! Here’s a sort of mini tutorial for you in case you want to do something similar.
For the valances, I overlapped the handkerchiefs so the prettiest edges were showing. I sewed straight seams down the overlapped sections to hold them together.
For the casings, I used double fold quilt binding. I pressed the binding open and cut them a little longer than each valance section.
Fold the ends in and sew the casings down just inside the top and bottom edges.
Then you just have to slip in whatever curtain rod you are using. I am using those inexpensive tension rods.
That’s it!
The light shines through them and looks so pretty!
What do you think? Would you ever use vintage items as curtains?
What a beautiful result. Your sewing room looks lovely and bright.
Love your curtains! What a cute idea. I bought a quilt top at a thrift store that was made up of vintage linen calendars. I made it into a curtain for my sewing room.
These are adorable!! Love how breezy they look on your sunny windows. And, congrats on having a craft room!!!!
xox
I just love this, years ago I had one hanging in my bathroom.
These are adorable, I would love to do something like this. Great idea using the binding!
I wouldn’t really have dared to turn vintage hankies into actual valances before reading this; I would be more apt to just drape them over a curtain rod or even a tree branch. I did make some vintage hankies into table runners, though, so I think after reading this post I have the courage to turn some of my stash into valances. I love the look of these! Thanks for sharing how you made them.
CLEVER, COLORFUL & LOVELY IDEA . . . vintage thin hankies sewn together for a valance on the windows in your sewing room! Various florals in diverse bright colors add pizzazz to the window frames. Thanks for sharing. Sarah in Minneapolis
Very pretty!
This is just so sweet! Light and pretty. I wonder if those beautiful lightweight hankies will be damaged by the sun?
Bev, I think those curtains are just the cutest. But what I like even better is the hint to use quilt binding for the rod pocket. I can hardly wait to use that idea for new curtains in my “little house on the backyard” a.k.a. the craft shed.
I was thinking of doing the same thing. Did you move?
I love, love, love this!!! I’ve got a Craft Gossip post scheduled for tomorrow that links to your tutorial:
http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-vintage-handkerchief-valance/2014/09/04/
–Anne
How fresh and sweet, Bev! Those of us who don’t own sewing machines or, like Mrs. T, don’t want to alter vintage hankies, could use cafe curtain clips/rings to attach them to a (cafe) curtain rod. Thank you for sharing the photos of your lovely valances.: 0 xoxo
I’m sorry–that was supposed to be ” : ) “!
I think those look just wonderful. I love the different ones.
I am experiencing room envy! I love the entire room, especially your valances. Where did you find those pretty handkerchiefs? I might have to make some with handkerchief linen by the yard. Thanks for the inspiration.
I love the colorful vintage handkerchief valances.
I wish I could find some.
They are beautiful.
Thanks for sharing .
Bev
in Ohio
Great idea! I collect handkerchiefs at yard sales and have enough to do this.
Most assuredly, I would have and have done. On my bedroom windows I have hung vintage tablecloths. I wanted both of them to be lace but there is one lace and the other linen with embroider and lace on it.l I hung them with wood rings that have clips to hold the cloth. They hand on a bamboo rod that I bought at a garden store.
I am in the market for another lace tablecloth – quite long – to replace the linen one. I’m not in a big hurry though because this still looks beautiful and it doesn’t bother me a bit that they’re not the same.
I love this! I have a box of vintage hankies from my grandmother and aunt. What a great way to be able to enjoy them every day! I may grab this idea for my sewing room. Thanks!
I love the way you did this. I am going to do this same idea in my guest room.
I think the term you are looking for is craft room. ;) ;)
These are amazing!! And SO cute and SO you!!!
I still think a road trip to Ikea is in order. :)
Thanks for this simple idea and great tutorial. I might make these for my vintage camper we are fixing up!
Cindy Bee
So Perfect! This is just what I was looking for and Yes I Use Napkins and even Pillow cases for window treatments I hope you do an article on that next.
Sincerely
Robin
Very pretty. I love ideas like this that illustrate how to show-off vintage collectibles.
What a great idea! I was thinking maybe a quilt top with mine, but this is adorable, and fast. Thanks so much. Adorable!
These are just DARLING! I have several hankies from childhood, my mother and both grandmothers! Think I will make these for my north kitchen window at the lake house, and for a home bathroom window. Really like the quilt binding trick — you are very creative!
Love how you did the binding. Many years ago a friend bought her first home, I had a huge collections of hankies, so I made her kitchen curtains for a housewarming gift. now I’ve a new stash so will be making myself some kitchen valances.
These are adorable and perfect for an idea I had for my half bathroom! Thanks for sharing this cute idea.
Love-Love-Love this idea!
Thank you so much Bev for the cute lovely idea! Going to make a valance for the kitchen!
I love this idea. I’ve been collecting vintage handkerchiefs for quite awhile. I’m going to do this in my kitchen!
My daughter has about 50 vintage hankies she wants me to make into valances and café curtains! Will be doing that this weekend most likely!
This is an adorable idea. I just love it. I plan to try it very soon. I like that you overlapped the handkerchief to expose the decorative edges.
Sweetest idea ever! Thanks for posting!
If it were me, I would be obsessing over the fact that the hankies weren’t perfectly even hanging together! So glad to see that it doesn’t really matter! I love your valances!
Precious! I have some in my bathroom and get many compliments on them.
Love your hankie valance. I recently made a valance for my kitchen window out of a vintage tablecloth I found on ebay. I used a 2-1/2″ wide rod.
Beautiful, just love them
I made hankie curtains for my daughters kitchen and dining room windows. They turned out so cute!
I have a wonderful collection of hankies and I love what you have done with yours! I’ve got to go get them out right now! Thanks for sharing your space. It’s just beautiful!
Oh how beautiful and I will be making some. Have so many old hankie and want to make a curtain for the glass section of the door to the laundry room.
I have some vintage hankies. So now I think I will make a nice valance for my double kitchen windows. Yours look gorgeous.
I LOVE this idea–I have a stack of old hankies that were my grandmother’s, and I just can’t bear to get rid of them. I’ll be figuring out a window to try this idea! So pretty and light.