How to Sew a Canopy Bed Top & Bed Skirt

A long, flowing canopy adds a touch of elegance to a bedroom. A matching bed skirt hides an unsightly box spring and ties the look of the bed together. You can use sheer fabric for the canopy or choose a darker, less transparent material if you want the canopy to block morning sunlight. Since the canopy is suspended from the ceiling on a ring, you can make the canopy for any style bed and do not need to use on with four posts. You can make this canopy for a twin, full or queen size bed.

Things You'll Need

• 3 yards muslin, 90 inches wide
• Lightweight fabric of your choice for the bed skirt
• 9 to 12 yards fabric, sheer or a heavier weight, 45 inches wide
• Matching thread
• Scissors
• Sewing machine
• Ruffle foot (optional)
• Quilting hoop, 23 inches wide
• Velcro with adhesive back
• Teacup hook
• 2 yards string or cording

Instructions

Make the Bed Skirt

1. Take the mattress off your bed. Spread the muslin over the box spring and trim it so that it is half an inch wider than the box spring on all four sides.

2. Measure the distance from the floor to the top of the box spring. Measure around the four sides of the box spring. Cut four panels fabric for the bed skirt. Two panels should measure the height of the box spring plus 1 inch by 1.5 times the width of the box spring. The other panels should measure the height of the box spring plus 1 inch by 1.5 the length of the box spring.

3. Fold the bottom edge of each panel over one-quarter inch and press. Fold over another quarter inch, press and pin. Stitch along the bottom edge of each panel to finish the hem.

4. Pin the unhemmed side of one panel to one long side of the muslin, right sides together. Gather the long panel so that it forms ruffles. You want the sides of the panel to align with the edge of the muslin. Stitch the panel to the muslin, leaving a half inch seam allowance. Repeat with the other three panels.

5. Place the short side of one panel against the short side of another panel, at the corner of the bed skirt. Pin them together with right sides facing in, then stitch together with a half inch seam allowance. Repeat with the three remaining corners.

6. Position the bed skirt on the box spring, smoothing the muslin over the top. Replace the mattress.

Make the Bed Canopy

1. Measure the height from the ceiling to the floor. Cut four panels from the sheer fabric that measure the ceiling height in length by 45 inches in width. Cut out a circle from the remaining fabric that measures 26 inches in diameter.

2. Fold each side of the panels over a quarter inch and press, then fold over another half inch, press and pin. Stitch the sides of the panels along the edges.

3. Use a zigzag stitch or a serger to finish the edge of the fabric circle.

4. Adjust the stitch length on your sewing machine so that it is about 1/4 inch long. Sew two rows of stitching along the top of each panel, leaving long tails of fabric on the ends.

5. Gently tug on the ends of the thread to gather the fabric. Position the four panels along the outside circumference of the hoop, adjusting the gathering on the panels until it looks even and the panels cover the hoop with no gaps. Knot the ends of the thread and trim.

6. Wrap the smooth side of the Velcro around the outer edge of the hoop. Place a strip of the hooked side of the Velcro along the top, gathered edge of each panel.

7. Cut four small holes in the fabric stretched over the hoop. Thread 2 feet of cord or string through each hole. Tie the ends of each piece of cord together to form a loop. Screw the teacup hook into the ceiling in the center of the bed. Hook the loops of string onto it. Attach the Velcro ends of the panels to the hoop and arrange the panels so that they fall along the corners and sides of the bed gracefully.

References

• Sewing: Sew a Bed Canopy