How to Make and Decorate Your Own Canopy on a Four Poster Bed
Change the impact of a four-poster bed—and complement the decor of a room—by sewing an decorative canopy for the top of the bed. Match the fabric and the canopy decorations to the existing room furnishings for a professional effect. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Measuring tape
- Fabric
- Pins
- Scissors
- Sewing machine
- Matching thread
- Ribbon
- Fringe, tassels or other decorations
Instructions
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1
Measure the length and the width between the four posts of the bed using the measuring tape. Measure from the top of the posts for accuracy.
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2
Cut a piece of fabric to these measurements adding one inch per side all the way around to allow for hemming. If your fabric is not wide enough to cut the canopy in one piece—average width of fabric is 44 inches—cut out 2 lengths and sew them together to make the width measurement. Trim any excess fabric from the width if you sew 2 lengths together.
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3
Lay your fabric on a flat surface with the wrong side facing up. Fold over the ends of the fabric one-quarter inch and again one-quarter inch to hide the raw edges. Use pins to hold the fabric in place.
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4
Sew all the way around the canopy to form the hem. Remove the pins as you sew.
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5
Cut out eight 10-inch lengths of ribbon that match your fabric, or cut it longer to create bows at the corners for decorations. Cut the ends of the ribbon at an angle to prevent fraying. Pin one end of 2 lengths of ribbon to each of the four corners. Sew over the ends, leaving the other 2 ends free.
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6
Decorate the canopy by adding a ruffle of fabric that hangs down from the top of the canopy about six inches. Do this by measuring all the way around the canopy and doubling that measurement. Cut out a length of fabric that long by 6.5 inches wide.
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7
Fold under the raw edges on one side of the ruffle fabric one-quarter inch and again one-quarter inch. Use your sewing machine to add gathering stitches to the unhemmed side of the ruffle. Gather up the fabric by pulling the ends of the thread, pin it to the canopy with right sides together, matching up the raw edges, and sew all the way around.
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8
Tie the ribbons around the tops of the four posts to hold the canopy over the bed.
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Tips & Warnings
If there are rails between the posts of your bed, you can make a really romantic style canopy by draping long lengths of a lightweight fabric, such as tulle or a sheer fabric, at the posts around the rails.
Instead of adding a ruffle to your canopy you can add fringe to decorate it. Measure all the way around the canopy and cut a length of fringe to that measurement. Pin the fringe onto the canopy, with right sides together matching up the raw edges, and sew all the way around.
Add even more decoration to your canopy by adding tassels instead of ribbon to tie the canopy to the tops of the four posts.
