How to Make a Dust Ruffle for Your Bed
As of July 2011, dust ruffles retail for $25 dollars and up, depending on the size and quality. A dust ruffle hides the box springs and the dust under your bed. It adds more cohesiveness and sophistication to your bed ensemble. You can make your own dust ruffle with a sewing machine and fabric. The ruffling process isn't as difficult as it looks and you end up with a dust ruffle that matches your décor perfectly. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Measure your bed width and length as well as the distance from the top of the box string to the floor.
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Cut a strip of fabric the distance from the top of the box spring to the floor wide and 1.5 times the circumference of the bed. To get the circumference, add the width and length together and then multiply by two. For a 54-by 74-inch standard size full bed, you will need 384 inches of fabric.
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Create a hem on one side of the fabric by pinning the fabric up 1/2 inch and sewing a straight line from one end of the fabric to the other.
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Set your sewing machine to baste, the longest stitch, and turn the tension to nine, or the highest on your machine.
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Line up the fabric and sew a straight line 1 inch from the edge the entire length of the fabric on the side opposite the hem. The fabric will ruffle automatically as you sew.
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Reset the machine to the original settings when you finish the ruffle.
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Purchase an inexpensive coordinating sheet or fabric at least 3 inches longer than both the width and length. For a full, you want a piece of fabric at least 57-by-79 inches. If you choose a sheet, you may have to trim it down to size.
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Pin the two ends of the ruffle together and sew them together, removing the pins as you sew. Cut the excess thread.
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Attach the ruffle to the sheet or fabric with pins. Leave the end of the fabric out or in depending on your preferences. Sew them together, removing the pins as you go. Trim the ends.
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Tips & Warnings
You can purchase a full size flat sheet for the Queen, King and California King size beds and a twin for a full and twin size bed. You will need to trim the twin size sheet to use on a twin bed nearly 12 inches. It may be easier to purchase fabric.
When you attach the ruffle to the sheet, place the seam where you joined the ruffle ends together, on the top or bottom of the finished dust ruffle to hide it.
Alternatively, you can make a ruffle by sewing two seams 1 inch apart, leave about 10 inches of thread on one end of the seams and pull the bottom thread until it folds. Pinch and pull the ruffled edge to spread the folds down the fabric.
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