Canopy designing and decoration – Interior designing skills tips and guidance

EMPIRE-STYLE CANOPY

These are draped over a pole which is hung from the ceiling at a right angle to the head of the bed. Measure the distance from the floor on one side of the bed over the pole to the floor on the opposite side of the bed. Add a total of 30cm for ease and hem allowance. Cut two lengths of fabric, one top fabric and one lining, and position them on top of each other, wrong sides together. Tack them together down each long edge. 

Mark the center of the panel at the position where the pole is, and stitch a casing through both layers of fabric. Bind the long raw edges together on either side of the opening. Add extra binding along each edge of the opening. 3 Fit the drape on to the pole and mark the hemline. Turn in the hem allowance at the ends of the panel and slip stitch together by hand. Make tie-backs to hold the canopy back against the wall on either side of the head of the bed.

 FITTINGBI BEDS & BEDU E NURSERY BEDDING & ACCESSORIES

 In a nursery, some accessories, though functional, can be decorative too and as they are on a small scale, you can tryout techniques such as applique or patchwork for the first time. Padded bumpers around the head of a cot keep out draughts and prevent babies from knocking their heads on the bars. A fabric storage pocket can hang from the end of the cot or changing table and hold all the paraphernalia for nappy changing. Series should be fresh and clean, so choose fabrics carefully, making sure they are washable.

QUILTED & FRILLED MOSES BASKET

Cut a paper template to fit the base of the basket, and another to fit the sides, making darts or tucks where necessary. Cut two base panels in fabric, allowing 12 mm U in) seams all round. Cut a piece of wadding the same size as the template. Sandwich the layers together and tack around the edges and across the center. Quilt by machine, working around or across the panel. The rows of stitching need not be closely spaced. Using the template as a pattern, make up side panels twice in fabric with a 12 mm (  in) seam allowance along the lower edge and 20 cm (8 in) top turning. Make up the same shape in wadding, with no seam allowance.

 Fit the wadding between the fabric side panels and tack along upper and lower edges. Quilt the sides of the lining: this is particularly effective if you make vertical rows of stitching, spaced 5-10cm a part, using a narrow zigzag stitch. Make a line of stitching around the top of the side panels, level with the top of the wadding. Press under a 12 mm turning around both layers of fabric. Stitch together close to the edge, then again 2 cm (4 in) from the first line of stitching to make a casing. Add a top stitched frill besides the casing.

 Fit the base to the side panels. Insert elastic into the casing to hold the lining in place. I f the basket has handles, mark and cu t a slot in both layers of fabric for the handles to slip through. Make two diagonal snips at each end of the slash, and press under a narrow turning all around the opening, or bind with a bias strip of contrasting fabric. Slipstitch folded edges together.

A FITTED COT of all cots is standard size it helpful to make your own the nursery, If you use stretch can be sure of a tight fit. 1 Measure up the cot mal cut out a single panel, ling, allowing the depth of around, plus an extra 15 en under the mattress and for n right side of the fabric facing the seam lines at each corner. Then remove the cover from stitch the seams. 

Trim the fabric allowance and neaten the raw 2 Turn under a 12 mm (! along all the raw edges. Strings in place, beginning and from each corner elasticated corners, take four U in) wide elastic, each 10cmthe elastic over the turnings a the sheet, and stitch in place stitch, stretching the elastic lace.