Shadeology

People often want to make short shades to use only as valances, and they want to know what is the shortest they can get away with and still look like something. 
Here's an example.  Due to limited fabric availablilty, these shades came out only 28.5" long when flat.  Here is is pulled up to a spot that I think looks nice- about 17".

I wondered how short I could draw it before it looked silly.  Here it is at about 13"; if it did not have the topper it could possibly go up another inch.  But I don't like it that short.

When it was installed, the decorator split the difference.  The uppermost fold is a half-fold which gives the valance close to the look of a hobbled shade.  A great look for just a yard of fabric!