| Foam padded custom headboards and how to make | | | | score with blunt pencil. This will be the tucking line for |
| them? | | | | the shirred border (see diagram). |
| How to make foam padded headboard. | | | | • Fabric and Batting |
| Materials: | | | | 1. Cut batting as follows: one piece to fit center section |
| • Styrofoam in three 2" thick x 12" wide x 36" long | | | | of base (32" x 26"), two pieces 7" x 21" to wrap lower |
| sheets | | | | sides, two pieces 7" x 22" to wrap each side of top. |
| • Fabric: 3 yds. of 45" fabric with small print or a | | | | 2. Run a bead of glue along side, just inside of tucking |
| solid for shirred border and back . | | | | line and adhere batting. Fold over edges and pull to |
| -1 yd. of 45" fabric with large print for center panel | | | | back. Glue in place. Do this for the top section as well. |
| -1 yd. of 45" fabric with small print in contrasting color | | | | When folding over ends, cut away some excess |
| for cording | | | | before folding and gluing. This will make a smooth finish. |
| -3 yds. of medium white cotton cording, (3 yds. of | | | | 3. Cut center piece of batting so that it will fit about 1 |
| ready-made cording or braid can be used instead) | | | | 4" inside tucking lines. Remove and set aside while |
| • Batting - 2 yds. of 10-oz. thick flame retardant quilt | | | | tucking the shirred edges. |
| batting | | | | 4. Cut fabric as follows: border fabric (small print), 6 |
| Tools: 1"-1 1/2" putty knifelow melt glue gun and clear | | | | pieces 11" x width of fabric; backing fabric (small print), 1 |
| glue sticksserrated kitchen or steak knifeused candle | | | | piece 30" x 40"; center panel (large print), 1 piece 34" x |
| U-pins or fern pins | | | | 30"; cording (companion print) as in directions above |
| 2 1/2" green or white wood picks (available in floral | | | | Tucking Headboard: |
| department)several T-pinsscissors, black marker, blunt | | | | 1. Read instructions above on tucking before beginning. |
| pencil | | | | A bead of glue should be run along the score as you |
| Steps: | | | | tuck. it is best to tuck only about 3" at a time as glue |
| 1. Joining Styrofoam: Sand edges of foam to be joined | | | | dries quickly. |
| by rubbing pieces together lightly. Insert three wood | | | | 2. Lay base on a flat surface. Begin at top point of |
| picks into edge of one piece to be joined. Working on | | | | headboard. Fold under a small seam allowance. Place |
| a flat surface, move edge of other board slightly onto | | | | edge of fabric over tucking line and tuck into score |
| the wood picks. Using low-melt glue, cover picks and | | | | with putty knife. Gather fabric as you tuck (see |
| edges with glue and slowly push pieces together. Hold | | | | picture). This piece should cover about 3/4's of the top |
| in place snugly for a few seconds. Any number of | | | | border. When end of fabric piece is reached, turn |
| pieces can be joined in this manner to make | | | | under a small seam allowance and tuck into foam. |
| headboard as large as desired. | | | | 3. Turn board to back. Bring fabric piece snugly over |
| 2. Cutting Foam: Mark area to be cut with felt-tip pen. | | | | edge and batting and tuck into foam in back, keeping |
| Lay board onto flat table top, with longest end on flat | | | | as straight a line as possible, and arranging gathers so |
| surface, and side to be cut resting just beyond end of | | | | that it looks attractive from the front. Check often to |
| table. Use serrated knife waxed with candle. Holding | | | | be sure the front shirring looks attractive. |
| foam portion on table, cut away excess. Use even, | | | | 4. Continue with next piece, overlapping first piece |
| smooth strokes and keep knife perpendicular to table | | | | slightly. Allow extra fabric gathers when turning corner. |
| top. Sand away ragged edges by rubbing back and | | | | When tucking back, be sure corner does not look |
| forth with a scrap of foam. This also enhances the fit | | | | smooth but has gathers when finished. The fabric that |
| with other pieces. | | | | is pulled over corner may need to be glued at back |
| • Tucking Technique: Draw a line where you wish | | | | rather than tucked. When end of shirred side is |
| the fabric or trim to be tucked into the foam. Score | | | | reached, fabric is folded over bottom, excess is cut |
| this line with a blunt pencil so that you can feel the line | | | | away to allow for a smooth fold to back (see |
| with your fingertip when a piece of fabric is laid on top. | | | | diagram). |
| Cut fabric piece at least 1/2" larger than the area to be | | | | 5. Complete other side of headboard in same manner. |
| covered to allow for tucking into foam. Lay fabric so | | | | 6. Return batting to center panel. lay large print fabric |
| that seam allowance rests over the score line. Using | | | | over center. Trim to fit panel, being sure to leave at |
| putty knife, punch fabric straight down into foam at | | | | least 1/2" around all edges. Begin tucking at one side, |
| score line tucking. When tucking the second fabric into | | | | adding glue in tucking seam as you go. Tuck opposite |
| the same score, always run a bead of glue for a good | | | | side, pulling snugly and then top, smoothing any wrinkles |
| hold. | | | | that appear. Pull fabric to back at bottom, and hold in |
| • Making Cording to Match: Ready-made cording | | | | place with "U" pins. Glue edges in place. |
| can be purchased in a number of colors at any fabric | | | | 7. Make cording as directed above. Cut away most of |
| store. Braids, cords, and ribbons can also be used as | | | | seam allowance. Begin at bottom; leave enough |
| finishing trims. To make matching cording, cut fabric into | | | | cording to bring around to back. Glue cording into |
| 1 1/2" bias strips. Sew these strips together to make | | | | tucking trench, being sure the seam allowance goes |
| one long piece. Fold in half over the cotton cording and, | | | | into the trench and the cording rests on top. |
| with a zipper foot on the machine, sew close to the | | | | 8. Turn headboard to back, glue cording ends in place. |
| cording (see diagram). | | | | cover back with extra fabric piece by folding under a |
| Constructing the Headboard: | | | | seam allowance and gluing in place, approximately 1" |
| • Styrofoam Base (finished base before cutting | | | | from edge, all the way around. This will cover the |
| point will be 30" x 40") | | | | tucked back and add an attractive finish. |
| 1. Cut away 6" from each piece of foam (see above | | | | Hanging Headboard: |
| directions for "Cutting Foam"). | | | | There are several methods of hanging this headboard. |
| 2. From these scraps, cut 2 pieces 4" x 12" and 1 piece | | | | Measure as if hanging a picture, and mark two spots |
| 4" x 6". | | | | behind the bed about 24 inches apart. The headboard |
| 3. Join all pieces (see directions given above for | | | | should sit just at the top of the mattress. Use long nails |
| "Joining Foam") to make a base 30" x 40" (see | | | | or screws that will protrude from the wall at least 1-1/2 |
| diagram). | | | | inches. Mark corresponding spot on back of |
| 4. Following diagram and using serrated knife, cut | | | | headboard and pierce fabric. Push headboard onto |
| away the pieces at each side of top to make peaked | | | | screws, flush with wall. Headboard may also be hung |
| headboard. | | | | like a picture using U-pins placed in foam upside-down, |
| 5. Using a scrap of foam to sand, slightly round all | | | | and adding wire between. Once headboard is hung, it is |
| edges of base. | | | | quite firm and can be leaned against to read or watch |
| 6. Measure a 4" border around all edges of base | | | | television. |
| except the bottom. Draw line with black marker and | | | | |