Made from Linen and decorated with covered buttons, used for the button-tufting, the simple headboard rests on the bedstead or mattress, while the ties at the top, looped over hooks on the wall, prevent it from tipping forward. And not only is it very pretty, but is supremely comfortable to lean against when reading in bed.
Dimensions
The finished headboard measures 19x55x2in (48 x 140 x 5cm) and fits a standard double bed.
Tip
Different sized Headboard
To fit a different-sized bed, measure the width and add 5in (12cm). Similarly, you could make the headboard a different height - just add 1/1/2in ( 4cm) to the desired finished height. You may need to alter the number of buttons and ties to correspond.
You will need...
5 lace, ribbon or twill tape for ties (16in (40cm) lengths)
2 linen (2 3/4 x60in (7 x 152cm), for upper and lower gussets)
2 linen (2 3/4 x20 1/2in (7 x 52cm), for side gussets)
2 linen (20 1/2 x60in (52 x 152cm), rectangles of linen for front & back panels)
all purpose sewing thread (to match fabric)
polyester toy filling
embroidery thread (Matte embroidery cotton or embroidery floss)
embroidery sewing needles
32 covered buttons (5/8" (15mm))
5 hooks (with appropriate fittings)
How-to step by step...
Step 1
Pin a length of lace, ribbon or twill tape to the right side of the upper gusset strip, 3/8" (1cm) from one end, and equidistant from the long edges. Repeat at the other end of the upper gusset strip, and then space the remaining three lengths evenly between them. Stitch in place as shown. Be careful not to catch the ends of these ties in the seams you stitch in steps 2-4.
Step 2
To assemble the gusset, pin each end of the upper gusset strip to one end of each side gusset strip with right sides together. Pin each end of the lower gusset strip to the other end of each side gusset strip. Stitch 3/4in (1cm) seams, starting and stopping 3/8in (1cm) from the ends of the seam. Press the seams open.
Step 3
Pin the front panel to the front edge of the gusset, with right sides together and raw edges even, matching the seams in the gusset with the corners of the front panel. Stitch a 3/8in (1cm) seam around all four edges, pivoting the fabric at the corners. (The unstitched portions at the ends of the gusset seam will open up to allow you to do this)
Step 4
Pin the back panel to the back edge of the gusset in the same way as in step 3. Starting in the middle of the lower edge, stitch a 3/4in (1cm) seam around all four edges, pivoting the fabric at the corners, and stopping 5in (12cm) from where you started, to leave an opening. Snip off the corners of the seam allowances. Turn the cover right side out through the opening, and use a blunt-ended tool such as the rounded end of a chopstick to carefully push out the corners.
Step 5
Using a water-soluble pen or a dressmaker's pencil, mark where your buttons will go on the right side of the front and in corresponding places on the right side of the back. Here the 16 pairs of buttons are spaced 6in (15cm) apart. Stuff the cover with filling. Turn in the seam allowances of the opening and slipstitch closed.
Step 6
With an embroidery needle threaded with embroidery cotton, hand sew running stitch 3/8in (1cm) from the edge around the entire headboard on both the front and back panels. The stitching should go through both the front/back panel and the gusset, creating a narrow flange all around the front and another around the back.
Step 7
For the button-tufting, thread a long upholstery needle with embroidery cotton. Starting with one of the central pairs of marks done in step 5, insert the needle into the mark at the back. While holding on to the end of the embroidery cotton, push the needle through the padding, and out again at the back where it first went in. Now thread it through the shank of a second button and tie the ends in a slip knot, as shown. Pull the ends tight and fasten securely. Repeat for the remaining buttons. Mount the hooks on the wall so that one will be above each tie and at a height to allow the headboard to sit on the bed. Fasten the ties and loop them over the hooks.
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