PLEATED VALANCES OR LAMBREQUINS
For places where a flat valance seems too stiff and severe, a number of simple, but dainty and graceful, treatments have been evolved.
One of these is the plain box pleat surmounted by a French ruffle. (See Figure [16] on opposite page.) The box pleat is made with various degrees of fullness and in many different ways. The usual method is to allow each pleat to be as wide as the spaces between them—as illustrated. For a valance pleated in this way allow about three feet of material to one foot of finished pleating. After the goods are hemmed the proper width for the valance, they are pleated on the table, the pleats are tacked top and bottom to keep them in place temporarily, and the folds are pressed.
The tops are pinned while still in this position and the whole is then turned face down, each pleat being tacked to the next one with stout thread (see Figure [16A]) to keep them from becoming disarranged in use. The top is either attached to a pole or is nailed flat to a board cornice and the top edge finished with a moulding or French ruffle. (See Figure [16].)
When the pole is used sew a flat tape to the back of the heading, and sew lambrequin hooks to the tape.
The French ruffle illustrated in Figure [16] is made of a strip of goods about four inches wide, lined with window holland wiggin or fine canvas to give it stiffness.
Hem both edges, allowing about two and one-third times as much strip as the finished ruffle is desired; turn on its face and mark every two inches on the back on or slightly below the centre (A to B in Figure [16B]). Then take a needle and stout thread or twine and draw together every alternate mark and knot them securely (B to C). At the top and bottom of these alternate spaces pinch them together and knot them about one-half of an inch from the pinched point, which should be in line with the centre of the space (C to D). Then turn face side up, and a slight pulling or stretching from end to end will start the pleats into shape, when a little manipulation will make them take the desired shape, as sketch Figure [16C], showing the face side; the back should appear as D to E, Figure [16B].
The double box pleat is a little more decorative than the ordinary pleat, and is made as illustrated by Figure [17]. The top is turned forward and pressed flat, as shown in successive stages by drawings 17A, 17B and 17C. And another style by drawings 17D, 17E and 17F, which can be quite easily followed.