How to Make a Muslin Backdrop

A muslin backdrop is a great accessory for a studio photographer. It creates a simple background in a neutral color, and sets off the shape and colors of the subject of the photograph. Professional quality backdrops can be quite expensive, but since muslin is relatively affordable this DIY project is an accessible way to make your photography a bit more professional.

Things You'll Need

• Muslin fabric
• Sewing machine or needle and thread
• Iron and ironing board
• Measuring tape
• Acrylic, oil or house paint (optional)

Instructions

1. Measure the space you generally use for photography, and decide the dimensions of the backdrop you would like to make. Keep in mind that many backdrops are long enough to cover part of the floor, creating a seamless and unified background.

2. Figure out how much muslin you will need. Most muslin available at fabric stores is between 40 to 50 inches wide. Subtract a couple of inches from the width of your muslin (for seams) and divide the width of the backdrop you want by the remaining number. The answer is how many lengths of muslin you will need. The length should be the length you want to make a muslin backdrop, plus a few inches for hems. Multiply this number (the length) by the number of lengths you need, and this will give you the total length of muslin. If your measurement is in feet, divide by 3, since fabric is generally sold by the yard.
   For example, if you would like to make a 10-by-10 foot backdrop and have 45-inch wide fabric, consider the fabric to be 43 inches wide plus seam allowance. Multiply 10 feet by 12 inches to get the width of the backdrop in inches: 120. Divide 120 by 43, the width of a single strip of fabric. This is roughly 2.8 widths. So, you could decide to make a backdrop with two widths (about 86" wide), with three widths (about 129" wide), or you could trim your strips a bit to come up with an exact width of 120". If you decide to go with three strips, you will need about 3 times 10 feet, which is 30 feet, or 10 yards. Add another half yard to account for hems, for a total of 10.5 yards of muslin.

3. Purchase your muslin. A relatively light weight is fine for most backdrops. Make sure you are getting the width of fabric that you used in your calculations.

4. Cut the muslin into lengths (including the few extra inches in each, so, for the example mentioned about, about 10.5 feet each). Check to make sure you have as many lengths as you need.

5. Line up 2 lengths on top of one another. Sew a seam all the way down one long edge, connecting the 2 pieces. Open this panel to the finished side (the side where the seam doesn't show much) and line up another length on top of one half, matching the raw edges carefully. Sew this seam to attach the third panel, and continue this process to make a muslin backdrop as wide as you like.

6. Fold an inch or so down toward the unfinished side of the backdrop, all the way along the top edge. Sew a seam very near the edge of this folded fabric, leaving a casing large enough to fit over a curtain rod or cord if you want to hang the backdrop.

7. Check the length of your backdrop and make a hem along the bottom, big enough to create the exact length you prefer.

8. Place the backdrop face down and iron the seams flat, for the least seam visibility possible.

9. Consider painting your backdrop for a variety of different visual effects.