This idea came to me recently as I accidentally knocked down my valance over the kitchen sink while swatting at a fly with a newspaper. While searching the web for a unique window valance idea, I had a thought of my own. Why not create a potholder valance?  I have seen many potholders that are almost too pretty to use. How might that look to affix a collection of interesting potholders to the curtain rod?  I was game. Luckily, we have a Goodwill right down the street.

1.   Gather and create your collection of potholders. Goodwill has several new and different ones.  Also, the dollar shop has several at the right price, too.  I got the oven mitt kind and the square kind.  I also found a unique watermelon half at a hospital auxiliary thrift shop.  Go for the unique!

2.  Get the proper kind of hardware to secure the potholders to your curtain rod. I have a black wrought iron style, so black café rod clips worked well for me. I did look into bargains here, too.  In the end, I went with the slightly more expensive ones, as they were more substantial and had the smaller loop size. Choosing the right scale for your scenario is important, as the clips are an integral part of the presentation.

3.  Spend some time arranging the potholders and oven mitts just they way you want them. Check out how the color combinations and different shapes fit together. I moved my collection around a bit, and then it just came together.  When you have it just right, affix them to the rod.   I used 13 potholders for my window that measures 60 inches wide.

Other variations:

 Use wooden clothespins to clip the potholders to a rope tied to unique hardware on either side of the window. Natural wood color, or painted to coordinate with your color scheme.

Use two or three repeating potholders, and create more of a patterned look. Or, try a monochromatic grouping.

I have taken to this idea so much that I have collected a whole other grouping of potholders, and they are waiting to have a turn to be my kitchen valance.  I hope you give this a try.  Happy potholdering to you!