MAKING BEDSPREADS
By making your own bedspreads, you can ensure a good fit and perfect match to other furnishings in the room. You can devise your own finishing touches and embellishments – quilting in patterns outlining the print of the fabric, or ‘adding an unusual trim, piping or binding, for example. When measuring up for a bedspread, note whether the pillows and bedding should be in place. When cutting out fabric for a double bedspread, it is important to position the seams down either side of the top of the bedspread, close to the sides of the bed: this avoids having an unsightly central seam and gives a more professional finish to the cover.
Fitted covers lie more smoothly on the bed if the top panel is lined and interlined; the sides need not be lined, although this gives a smart finish to tailored covers.
A THROW OVER
This simple, floor-length throw over cover has rounded corners at the foot of the bed, and is lined and interlined. Decide on the overall finished dimensions of the bedspread: it can just touch, or trail on to the floor. Cut out the fabric to make up the main panel, allowing 5 cm turning all around the sides and lower edge, and 2.5cm across the top. Cut the interlining with a 2.5cm turning around the sides and lower edge, but no turning allowance across the top. The lining should be 5 cm smaller than the main fabric around the sides and lower edge, with the same turning across the top.
If you need to make seams in the layers of fabric, position a full width of fabric down the center of the bedspread with narrower widths joined selvedge to selvedge down each side edge. Use flat seams for the main fabric and lining, and abutted seams for the interlining. Round off the lower corners of the panels, using a large plate or paper template, and check that the corners match. Position the interlining on the wrong side of the main fabric and lock stitch in place leaving the appropriate turning allowance all around.
Herring bone stitch the interlining to the main fabric around the’ outer edge. Turn under and press the seam allowance across the top edge of the main fabric, over the interlining. For a hand-finished cover, turn up the 5 cm (2 in) hem allowance on the main fabric, rolling the interlining up without pressing a crease. Press under a 2.5cm turning all around the lining. The lining may be fitted by hand, or stitched by machine. Position the lining on the wrong side of the fabric and lock to the interlining. Slipstitch the lining to the main fabric all around the sides 2 and edge of the cover close interlining. For a machine-stitch the lining on the inter sides together.