How to Sew a Canopy Cover

Today's canopy bed covers are decorative, rather than necessary for warmth, as they once were. Sewing a canopy cover can be accomplished with preparation. Do not let the amount of fabric be daunting. A canopy cover is basically one large rectangle, a long narrow rectangle and a lot of sewing.

Things You'll Need

• Fabric
• Scissors
• Tape measure
• Sewing machine
• Thread
• Needle
• Straight pins

Instructions

1. Measure the canopy frame for the length and width. Cut one fabric rectangle, according to the width-by-length measurement. This is the base of the cover. Set aside.

2. Double the measurement of the frame length. Double the measurement of the frame width. Add these two measurements together. You have a number that equals the length plus length plus width plus width.

3. Double this combined measurement. (For example, if you are creating a twin canopy, the frame is approximately 44-inches wide by 79-inches long. That length doubled equals 158 inches. That width doubled equals 88 inches. Length plus width added together equals 246 inches. This number doubled equals 492 inches. This number will be the length of the canopy cover ruffle. The width is 14 inches.

4. Determine the yardage required for the canopy. A yard of fabric is 44 inches wide by 36 inches long. Divide the length of the cover ruffle in half (you will fold the fabric and cut into halves to achieve 14-inch wide ruffles). Then, divide this number by 36. This will yield the yardage needed for the ruffle. For example, the twin canopy cover measurements used will require 6.8 yards of fabric. The base yardage is figured by dividing the length by 36 inches. The twin canopy in the example requires approximately 3 yards of fabric.

5. Cut the fabric 14-inches wide by the length of the ruffle. Sewing several rectangles may be required if continuous yardage of fabric is not available. Sew the necessary rectangles to achieve required measurements.

6. Choose one length side to be the "bottom" of the ruffle. Turn edges under against the wrong side of the fabric, and pin. Sew the pinned hem, using a straight stitch. Repeat this process for the "top" of the ruffle. Gather the top edge of the ruffle to the measurement used in Step 2--length plus length plus width plus width. Remove pins. Set aside.

7. Pin the edges of the base under so no raw edges are exposed. Sew four sides using a straight stitch. Remove pins. Place the base on a flat surface, with the right side of the fabric facing up.

8. Position the ruffle, right side of the fabric facing up, along the edges of the base. Pin edges of the ruffle on top of ½-inch of the base hem. Sew four sides using a straight stitch. Remove pins.

9. In each corner of the base, cut a 1-inch wide by 2-inch long slit. Pin edges under against the wrong side of the fabric so no raw edges are visible. Hand-sew pinned edges. Remove pins. Place the canopy cover on the frame.

Tips & Warnings

• A source of wide fabric is flat sheets. Most fabric measures 44-inches wide.

References

• FineWoodworking.com: A Short History of Beds, Cradles and Cribs

Resources

• Measuring for a Canopy Top
• Mattress Measurements