Headboard How-tos

• Step 1: Measure bed frame from outside of the brackets at the head of the bed.
• Step 2: Decide the height of the headboard, taking into account pillow shams and linens choice as well as ceiling height.
• Step 3: Design the shape of your headboard. A rectangle looks fine, or you can be a little more creative with the shape.
• Step 4: Make a headboard pattern using heavy butcher paper. After deciding height and width, make the pattern 1 inch smaller than the finished product, because of the 2-inch-thick padding that is added to the wooden frame.
• Step 5: Using a sheet of plywood, draw your pattern onto the wood, and cut it out with a jigsaw. Cut two pieces to create a front and a back.
• Step 6: Create the inside framework of 2 x 4s. Cut one center board that equals height of the headboard from floor to top of headboard. Cut two boards that equal height of the headboard from floor to first turn in pattern. Cut two boards that equal height from the floor to the second turn in your headboard pattern.
• Step 7: Nail the 2 x 4s to the front of the plywood. Lay plywood back on top. Mark and nail into place. The headboard is ready for upholstering.
• Step 8: Using foam rubber, cut two pieces that match the front and back of your headboard.
• Step 9: Attach pieces to front and back of headboard with a glue gun.
• Step 10: Cut foam rubber to fit edge of the headboard; this is to pad the edges. Attach with hot glue.
• Step 11: Sew the outside material. Cut two pieces of fabric using original pattern. Add 2 inches to outside edges for padding and seam allowance. Fold material in half lengthwise, and cut one piece at a time.
• Step 12: Cut edge pieces. It's probably best to measure the outside edge and add 5/8-inch swam allowance to both sides of the edge strip. You might have to sew two to three strips together to make one long strip to go all the way around.
• Step 13: Sew cording or piping to outside of your front piece of fabric, using a zipper foot on your sewing machine. Repeat for the back piece.
• Step 14: Sew edge strip to front, sandwiching the cording between the two pieces with the right sides together. Repeat with the back piece. Finish lower edge with a 1/2-inch double roll hem.

Materials

• tape measure
• butcher paper
• 2 (4- x 8-foot) sheets of plywood
• jigsaw
• 6 (8-foot) 2 x 4s
• nails
• hammer
• 2 (4- x 8-foot) pieces 2-inch-thick foam rubber
• glue gun and glue sticks
• 5 to 6 yards fabric
• 12 yards cording
• sewing machine