Valance Designs & Lambrequins

Create beautiful period window treatments with valance designs from a turn-of-the-century magazine. These designs are appropriate for a variety of old house window styles from French windows, double hung, bay windows and casement windows.

Figure 1 valance design shows a pelmet or lambrequin composed of a center piece and two end pieces, shaped, joined together with cord and tassels and provided with a pleated valance to fill in the space between the flat pieces.  The arrows at the top indicate the distance which the valance extends beyond the opening and it will be seen that by drawing the ends apart or telescoping them together the whole length may be increased or lessened as desired.

Figure 2 valance design is composed of two pieces with a central shield to cover the join. The two ends indicated by the center arrows may be the width of the shield apart or may be right together, thus lengthening or shortening the whole pelmet.

Figure 3 shows simply a shirred valance with a loose tape permitting the fabric to be spread out or contracted to fit varying dimensions.

Figure 4 valance design is similar in principle to Figure 2, with the exception that the outside pieces come in front of the center piece and, being fringed, is a little more decorative.

Figure 5 valance design is composed of five pieces and, with 6 and 8, follows the same principle as Figures 2 and 4.

Figure 7, after the same style, is still further augmented by soft cord festoons.

Figure 9 valance design relies for its extension feature on the cascades which are moved toward each other or separated to shorten or lengthen the scheme. The tops of the cascades being sewn solidly and backed by a piece of buckram, may be moved out so that they just cover the end of the flat-shaped back.

Figure 10, composed of two flat backgrounds, two festoons and two cascades, this valance is somewhat more intricate than the others, but its extension qualities are provided in the same way.  The festoons, while appearing to go over the top of the lambrequin and down behind, do not go farther beyond the edge than is necessary to conceal their fastening.