How to Make an Upholstered Shirred Headboard

An upholstered headboard with a shirred border works well with a traditional style bedroom design. Make your own custom designed upholstered shirred headboard using one fabric design or two complementary styles; one for the padded section of the headboard and one for the shirred border.

Things You'll Need

• 3/4-inch thick plywood
• Measuring tape
• Marker
• Saw
• Straight edge
• 1-inch thick upholstery padding
• Electric knife
• Spray adhesive
• Staple gun
• Batting
• Fabric
• Scissors
• Straight pins
• Sewing machine
• Satin trim
• Hot glue gun
• Hot glue sticks

Instructions

1. Measure and cut a 3/4-inch thick sheet of plywood to the desired headboard dimensions. Measure and mark a straight line 6 inches from the outside edge along the top and along both sides of the plywood. The line is indicates the width of the shirred border. Adjust the width to suit your personal style.

2. Measure the dimensions of the plywood inside the lines. Use an electric knife to cut a section of 1-inch thick upholstery padding to fit the dimensions.

3. Spray adhesive onto the plywood inside the marked lines. Press the padding onto the adhesive. Staple the edges of the padding to the wood board with a heavy-duty staple gun. Place the staples close together.

4. Cut batting strips to fit over the padding. Spray adhesive on top of the padding. Press the batting strips onto the adhesive. Staple the outside edge of the batting to the board. Follow the process to cut and attach a section of fabric on top of the batting.

5. Cut strips of 1-inch thick upholstery padding to fit from the stapled edges of the padded section to the outside edges of the headboard. Attach the padding strips to the wood with spray adhesive and staples. This section is the area for the shirred border for the headboard.

6. Measure and cut strips of batting to fit the face of the shirred border, over the edges of the board and 3 inches along the back side of the board. Glue and staple the batting in place along the front seam of the headboard adjacent to the upholstered section and to the back side of the headboard.

7. Cut a strip of fabric that is three times as wide as the headboard border and four times as long as the combined dimensions of both sides and the top width of the headboard. For example, if the headboard measures 36 inches high and 60 inches wide, add 60, 36 and 36 together. Multiply the sum by four to determine the length of fabric you need for shirring.

8. Measure 1/2-inch from one end of one long edge of the fabric border. Pinch the fabric in a small fold at the measurement. Pin the fold in place, 3/4 inch from the edge of the fabric. Continue to pleat and pin the fabric every 1/2 inch along the length of one side.

9. Sew a seam along the pleated edge of the fabric with a sewing machine to hold the pleats in place; remove the pins as you sew.

10. Position the shirred edge of the fabric strip at the seam between the upholstered section and the padded border of the headboard. The fabric should be face up. The straight edges of the fabric strip should face the top and outside edge of the headboard. Staple the 3/4-inch excess fabric on top of the pleats to the headboard.

11. Fold the straight end of the fabric over the border batting and staple it to the back side of the headboard. Follow the process to attach the shirred section to the headboard border.
    Cut and hot glue decorative fabric trim to the section of the face of the headboard between the upholstered section and the shirred border. The trim covers the staples.

References

• Making a Shirred, Padded Headboard

Resources

• Upholstery Supplies Guide: Looking for an Inexpensive Foam Cutter?