Use a heavy upholstery fabric to make a cover for your iron bed's headboard.
Iron beds have been symbols of elegance and status for many years. They first became popular in the late 1800s, when they were made by hand by individual craftsmen and artisans. These works of art were passed down through the generations. After World War I, iron beds began to be mass-produced. Today's iron beds are made of heavy gauge steel tubing and solid bars for strength and durability. If you want a temporary change but don't want to refinish the bed, you can make a cover for its head- and foot-boards to create a different look. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Take measurements of the bed's headboard and footboard and make a template for each with paper. This is especially useful if you are dealing with rounded designs or motifs. Measure where the side rails meet the headboard and footboard and mark that measurement on each side.
2. Place the template on the upholstery fabric and pin it in place. Cut around the template, adding 1 1/2 inches all the way around for a seam allowance. Mark on the fabric where the side rails tie into the headboard and footboard. Cut two pieces each for the headboard and footboard.
3. Create welting or use piping to make a finished edge where you will sew the fabric together. If making welting, measure the diameter of the cord and add 1 inch for the seam allowance. Cut strips of fabric to this width and sew them together in a long strip. Press the seam allowances open. Fold this long strip of fabric over the cord, right side out, and baste it in place using a zipper foot on your sewing machine.
4. Place welting or piping on the right side of one of the pieces of upholstery fabric and pin it in place, raw edges together.
5. Place the second piece of fabric, right side down, on top of the first piece and the welting and pin them all together. Sew the fabric pieces together, with right sides together and the welting/piping sandwiched in between. Begin the seam at the point where you marked the side rail. Sew over the top and down the opposite side to the other side-rail mark. Turn right side out and iron.
6. Press a hem into the side openings and stitch it down. This will leave an opening for the cover to fit over the side rails. Starting a couple of inches down -- enough to leave room for the rails -- attach a hook-and-loop strip to both sides to close.
7. Press a hem into the bottom edges and stitch it down.
8. Slip the cover over the end of the bed and press the hook-and-loop strips together to close the bottoms.
9. Repeat the process for the other bed-end cover.
Tags: headboard footboard, right side, side rails, upholstery fabric, welting piping, cover over