For example, if the headboard is 36 in (91 cm) wide by 24 in (61 cm) tall, and 3 in (7. 6 cm) thick, then you need 2 pieces of 39 in (99 cm) by 27 in (69 cm) fabric to sew the cover. You can chose 2 different patterns of fabric for the front and back of the slipcover to make it reversible. [2] X Expert Source Garrison HullingerInterior Designer Expert Interview. 11 November 2021.
You can use an old sheet or any spare fabric to make the liner, since you will not see this part. Make sure that you use the stiffest quilt batting you can find to give the slipcover its structure.
You will sew the slipcover inside out to hide the seams, and then flip it so the liners are on the inside and the patterned fabric pieces face outwards.
You will remove the pins as you sew, so don’t put them too close together or it will be a very slow process.
It’s possible to sew over the pins holding the layers together and remove them after, but if the sewing machine’s needle hits a pin, it could break. You can use a 1⁄4 in (0. 64 cm) seam allowance on the sewing machine when you sew all the seams.
Sewing 2 bottom seams will leave the slit that will allow the slipcover to slide onto the headboard. You may want to fold up the bottom edges and sew a hem to hide the raw fabric edges.
You may also want to trim away excess material before you sew the last seam.
You can use any large piece of fabric you want, such as a curtain or sheet. It may be helpful to use fabric that has sewn hems to prevent any fraying in the future. For example, if the headboard is 36 in (91 cm) wide by 24 in (61 cm) tall, and 3 in (7. 6 cm) thick, then you would want a piece of fabric about 42 in (110 cm) by 30 in (76 cm) so that it can wrap around the backside comfortably.
Steam irons work great for this part. [13] X Research source
You can always trim off extra fabric later, so it’s ok to add a bit more to the height and width than you actually need.
You can use as many adhesive strips as you want for added stability. Sew the sticky strips to the fabric if they are not adhesive enough to stick to the fabric on their own.
This is especially useful if you have an odd-shaped headboard that is rounded at the top.
For instance, if the headboard is 36 in (91 cm) wide by 24 in (61 cm) tall, then your upholstery foam piece will be exactly the same size, the batting you use should be at least 40 in (100 cm) wide by 28 in (71 cm) tall, and the fabric piece should be 44 in (110 cm) wide by 32 in (81 cm) tall. You can also make your own upholstered headboard from plywood. [18] X Research source
Make sure that if you use a utility knife, you cut the foam on top of something that you won’t damage, like a scrap piece of wood.
It’s a good idea to lay something under the foam like an old sheet or a piece of plastic to avoid getting spray adhesive where it shouldn’t be. If you are working inside, then open windows and doors to ventilate the room as much as possible.
Make sure to pull the batting as taught as you can while you staple it.
When you get to the corners of the fabric, pretend you are wrapping a present to fold the fabric neatly before you staple it. Trim away any excess fabric with fabric scissors when you are done stapling it to the back of the headboard.
