Use the ones that are there and if you don't like the look, try something else. But I think they will be fine. I love that fabric and have from the first time I laid eyes on it.

I believe you can buy an insert that slips in there to fill out the space.

I think the standard rod will work just fine. If your not happy you can always use this product to convert your current rod to a continental rod...

Here is a link that might be useful: Convert a rod

I have a continental rod in a Waverly valance in my laundry room - really like the way the top stands up nice and tall. Glad to know you can use that conversion piece. Continental rods are pricier than regular.

Another thing - I found a great deal on some cotton panels at a thrift store and they only had a single slot at the top for a skinny rod - the kind where there is not fabric above the rod. I dropped down about two inches below that and sewed a straight seam to make a rod pocket which allowed a little bit of "stand-up" fabric when they were shirred on the rod.

If the look was important, I'd probably cut some cardboard and hot glue it to the original rod to give the continental look.

Thank you, thank you! I had no idea such a converter existed. I went ahead and ordered it - think I'll just get a tension-mount continental rod for the window over my sink, since a tension-mount cafe rod is what I'm using there now - and for less than $15 for the converter, if it doesn't work as expected no great loss.

Can you sew a straight line? If so, just reduce the size of the rod pocket by sewing a parallel line between the two existing lines leaving the right sized rod pocket. Leave the existing bottom stitching until you decide you like the valance with a regular rod.

I think the continental rod will look much better (or the converter).

tina

Glad I could help Jen.

Just wanted to report back that the rod converters arrived and I installed last night. They were super easy to use - well, not much to them, really - just long pieces of plastic that you thread through the curtain pocket, then insert the standard rod behind the plastic, cut the plastic at the ends, and hang. The converters really did make a difference though - the valances hang better now, and I'm very pleased that I gave them a try. Thanks again, justgotabme!