To keep it simple, think of a bedspread as fundamentally being a giant rectangle of fabric. Because it's such a whopping rectangle, you will have to have seams in your bedspread to connect the pieces of material, as ordinary fabric stores will not sell cloth that is wide enough to cover an entire bed.
You can create your rectangle in several ways, choosing a number of strips of material of multiple sizes, three or four of the same size, or whatever you prefer. It looks best to have the panels lying side-by-side when you are standing at the foot of the bed. This looks much better than a horizontal alignment, although you need to make sure your fabric can go any-way-up and the pattern will not be affected (no upside-down Christmas trees, please!).
Before you cut the cloth, make sure you allow for a generous seam allowance--at least three or so inches on each side. It's always better to allow for too much and cut it down later, rather than making a measuring mistake and having a bedspread that is too small.
You can add piping between the panel seams for a neat, professional look, or add any other sort of trim or decoration your heart desires!
How to Make a Spread for a Footboard
Beds with footboards requires special allowances when making a bedspread. You spread will need an opening at the end to allow for the footboard.
There are two ways to do this. You can simply add a horizontal section to the end of your strips and allow for an extra inch or two in the corners (this is so that you can overlap the sides and end to keep the mattress covered), or else see that your seams run adjacent to where your footboard openings need to, then finish the edges seperately instead of sewing them together, so that they will fan out over the pieces of your footboard. This it the method you must use if your footboard is not a solid piece of wood but has gaps or opening in it through which the fabric could fall.
When You Want Gathered Edges
Many people like the look of gathered edges on a bedspread
Calculate the amount of fabric you would need for the side and end pieces if you were not going to gather them. Double that, or triple it if you want very tight gathers. Attach the pieces in the normal way to the main rectangle. For a really finished look, add more piping or trim to the seam between the gathered edge and the main section of the spread.
Adding Detail to Your Spread
You spread is done, and now comes the fun part! Add some colour and sparkle with fabric paint, or contrasting trim, piping, ribbon or buttons! If you have or want to purchase an embroidery machine, it's a great way to add some beauty and colour to your spread, or if you have the skills, do it by hand! Or applique the top or add a quilt-stitch if you have the right machine!
Author Resource:
Look for Janome sewing machine reviews to get more great ideas for projects and find machines that can add the finishing touches!
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