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Thursday, March 6, 2014

HOW TO MAKE A SIMPLE DIY BEDSKIRT


Now that our new wood wall is finished, I'm working full steam to finish up my teen boy's room.  You got a peek at some of the bedding when I showed you the wall, but today I wanted to share how I made a super easy bedskirt from some Ikea fabric.

I've made 4 or 5 bedskirts in the past, but this one was by far the simplest!  I will admit, I cheated a little bit, though.  But, you won't tell, right?


What made this one different from others I've done is that I didn't sew the skirt all together into one piece, with a section that actually lays across the box spring.  Instead, I pieced together the sides and attached them directly to the box spring.

In order to do this, you'll need these:  Upholstery Twist Pins


I've used these for years on pieces of furniture that have arm covers.  One on each side keeps them in place beautifully.  However, my smart friend Lisa made a similar bedskirt using these upholstery pins and so I took her suggestion and used them for this project too (hers was completely no-sew, go check it out!).  I had planned on maybe even just hot gluing the fabric to the box spring, but decided that these pins would be better in the long run, when and if I ever want to change things up.

Oh, and don't bother looking for these at Home Depot or Lowe's.  They'll act like they've never heard of what you're talking about, and they probably haven't.  I got mine at Ace Hardware, but other smaller hardware stores may carry them too.  They're also available online here.

So, once you have your pins and fabric, measure your box spring to find the length and height that you need your piece to be.  I added a little on the sides and bottom to allow for a hem, and about 2-3 inches extra on top where it will be attached to the box spring.  I also wanted a single box pleat in the middle of each side, so I added about 5" extra to my length to allow for that.  On the side pieces, I allowed about 3" extra on the end that would be at the head of the bed.  Finally, I stopped my measurement about 2-3 inches short of the corners on the end, because I wanted to use a separate piece to overlap on the corners.  See the pictures following...it will make more sense!

After my pieces were cut, I pressed a small hem on the sides and bottom and stitched it up.  Then, I folded my box pleat in place, pressed it down from top to bottom, and then stitched it across the top.

Have you ever made a box pleat?  It's easy!  That seam is the middle of my piece.  You may not have a seam but I had to sew two pieces together to get my length.  I made the seam in the middle so it wouldn't show once the pleat was done.

So, 1) Find the center of your piece.  2) Since I allowed 5" for the pleat, I measured out 1.25" on from the center-that's how wide that pleat on each side of the center will be. 3) Fold and overlap the fabric back the to center point, and then back towards the outside. 4) Repeat on the other side and pin across top. 5) Stitch to secure pleat.


Along with the side and end pieces, I followed the same procedure (except for the pleat) to make two small panels for the corners.  They were about 10" long.  I attached them to the box spring first.  After holding them in place, I folded the top raw edge under to add a little stability, poked the pin through the fabric and screwed it into the box spring.  Once you get it started through the fabric it goes in very easily.


Then, I started with the section at the foot of the bed.  After finding the middle of the fabric section and mattress, I arranged the skirt exactly where I wanted it to hit the floor, and followed the same procedure as the corners to attach the fabric to the box spring. Then, just work your way down to the ends.  The ends will overlap the section that already done on the corner.



Here's how the completed corners look-


I did the sides the same way, starting in the middle and working out to the end.  However, on the end at the head of the bed, I wrapped the extra inches around and just pinned the end there.


That's all there is too it!  I think it took longer to explain than it did to accomplish, so it's not hard at all.


I think I'm going to like this method better than the more difficult skirts I've made in the past or pre-made skirts, mainly because I can line it up exactly where I want it to hit the floor and it stays in place.  No extra fabric puddled on one side and hiked up on the other.  Trust me, I just put a store-bought bedskirt on my Master bed, and am already frustrated trying to get it to hit the floor right.  Also, this is a great method to use if you use risers under your bed and standard bedskirt sizes don't work.

That's one more project marked off the list for the boy's room!  See you tomorrow for our Best of the Nest features from last week.

*affiliate links used

 photo jennifersignaturetwo_zps56f3de87.png

Would you like to comment?

  1. That came out great Jennifer! I especially like the tailored look and how the corners came out. I love this method of creating a bedskirt for beds that are on risers. It's impossible to find a bedskirt that is the right length, and I'm a huge fan of using under-the-bed boxes for storage. Caleb's room is looking so great!

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  2. I get so frustrated with purchased bedskirts!! It seems like the piece that goes over the box springs ends up stretching out and I have white showing and the skirt is dragging the floor, etc, etc. I have made several and they take forever to get just right if you are sewing in that middle piece. As of late I have just been covering my kids box springs with a fitted sheet I was so over skirts!! I remember Lisa's post on this, thanks for the reminder, I am definitely trying this next time :)

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  3. I love a tailored bedskirt and this is genius. Hugs, Marty

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  4. Perfect timing as I need a new bedskirt. Thanks for sharing!

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  5. I love this idea for a bedskirts. I use bed risers on my bed and there are few bedskirt options for the height of my bed risers. When I find the correct height, the fabric is not one I prefer, style or cost. Jennifer, thanks for sharing. I really enjoy reading your blog and look forward to your posts. Michelle

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  6. Looks great! The tutorial is fantastic! I can't wait to see the full reveal!

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  7. It looks fabulous - love that striped print! I'll be needing a bedskirt for my little one's room and this is perfect because her old bedskirt never hit the floor right (that drives me crazy...). His room is looking so great!

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  8. looks awesome, jennifer! i love the stripes- so clean and fresh!

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  9. Looks great!! I am so glad Lisa recommended these. I used them to make my daughters bed skirt also :). I ordered mine from Amazon

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  10. awesome job, Mom! you are one talented lady....

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  11. It looks so great, and what perfect boy fabric! I followed our smart friend's suggestion and used them for my bed skirt, too! So much easier!

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  12. Very clever! This is such a great idea, Jennifer! And it looks great! This room is really coming together!

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  13. I'm lovig this idea! And the wall is gorgeous!

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  14. I'm so glad you posted this idea...I was just getting ready to struggle with a new bed skirt. I'll try your idea.

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  15. That's exactly how I made mine but I'm just an idiot and never blogged about it. I attached mine with velcro to the bed frame though. I should send people over to your blog when they ask me how I made mine. Sewing things takes to much out of me and I can't focus on tutorials and taking pictures LOL

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  16. Love that! His room is looking good!

    Best,
    Krista
    www.goodwillglam.com

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  17. Thanks so much for sharing this! I have a bedskirt that is driving me batty and I've been trying to figure out how to make a simple one that would NOT move. :) I also want a pretty, colorful fabric so I'm a happy camper now.

    I've never heard of these clips so that will be the icing on the cake for me. Of course, I've not upholstered anything either! LOL

    I've been helping my daughter and s-i-l pack and move and unpack the past couple of weeks so I've been extremely busy with that. There's no way to tell you how exhausted I am!

    xo
    Pat

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  18. Such a great way to do a bedskirt! It looks great! xo Kristin

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  19. Thank you so much for sharing this! I've been beating my head trying to figure out or find the right bedskirt. I have an odd height to deal with and this really saved me from a lot of frustration.

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  20. This is genius! I got here by way of driven by décor, and I need it preciously because I use the risers and have to make my own for them to hit the floor.

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  21. This was the easiest and most attractive results in tutorial I found. I love your striped material choice btw. I just finished mine and WISH I could post a picture. It turned out beautifully!
    Thank you so much.

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