Swag and Jabot

Author Donna Babylon shows how to make a basic but elegant window treatment with a minimum of sewing.

All About

Product Ideas

Note: Because you will be custom sizing the swag and jabot to fit your window, first make a muslin pattern. This will also help you avoid the possibility of ruining your expensive decorator fabric.

Swag
1. Cut the muslin a trapezoid shape, the narrow end being the top and the wide end the bottom of the drape. The narrow end of the muslin is cut to be as wide as the window (the treatment is attached to a board sized to the window's width).

2. To measure for the swag, and to determine the correct drape for the fabric, hold an end of a piece of string at each side of the window, allowing the string to drape as far as you wish. This determines the width of the bottom of the pattern. You may cut the bottom of the muslin pattern either straight or curved.

3. The depth of the fabric required may change, but start with 36 inches. Divide the muslin vertically into five equal sections (if you wish, you may mark the sections on the muslin with a marker). With push pins, pin the muslin at the top to the cutting board, an ironing board, or some other surface. Pleat the first mark up to meet it and pin. Repeat with the other marks, adjusting the drape as you go.

4. When you are satisfied with the drape, unpin the muslin and use it as a pattern to cut the decorator fabric. Always cut the fabric on the bias; this gives a bit of stretch and helps the fabric to drape nicely. To find the bias, place the muslin at a 45-degree angle (or use a clear plastic ruler to find the angle). Cut the lining fabric in the same manner as you did the swag fabric. Sew together, leaving the top open. Turn, pleat and sew the top on the right side (it will be toward the ceiling), using either a zigzag stitch or a serger.

Jabot
1. The jabot is the piece that cascades down each side of the window. The measurements will be arbitrary, depending on window size, how much lining you wish to show, etc. Be sure to allow enough fabric at the top for the return, or the part that follows the wood back to the wall and gives the treatment a finished look.

2. The jabot pattern is odd-shaped, almost a modified triangle with two points squared off. Mark a line on the muslin near the top for the edge of the repeat, and beginning at a point below the repeat, start folding the fabric back to the marked lines to make the pleats. You can eyeball the pleats, keeping in mind that the lining will show at the bottom of each. When the jabot pattern is pleated to your satisfaction, unfold it and cut the decorator fabric and lining by it. Sew the pieces together, pleat, and stitch down as you did the swag.

Installation
To install the swag and jabot, you will need a narrow board cut to fit the width of the window. Wrap the board in fabric as if wrapping a gift and staple. Attach the swag on the board, using a staple gun. Fold the jabot return about 1/2-inch in from the side of the board; staple. Then staple the top of the jabot to the front of the board, on top of the swag.