Learn how to make your own bed canopy and save yourself the money and trouble of buying a new one when the old one becomes worn.
After purchasing a canopy bed you're presented with a real problem when it's time for new linens. Finding sheets and quilt are no big deal but a matching canopy is a tall order. Most places don't sell canopies with the matching bed linens and the only other choice is to purchase an expensive canopy that won't match your new set. If you make your own canopy you can at least choose a fabric that will coordinate with the new linens.
Twin and full bed canopies are the easiest to do since the fabric comes wide enough to accommodate these sizes. Queen and king sizes will require the top canopy fabric to be pieced since these bed sizes are larger than most fabric widths. To prevent having to piece fabrics together try buying a flat sheet in the size of your bed. The sheets come in all types of designs and simply require that you trim them down some.
If you decide to purchase fabric and piece it together there are some ways to hide the fact that it's pieced. Some pattern designs, like stripes of two different fabric colors, hide the fact that the original fabric wasn't wide enough. Another design is to use the entire width of one fabric to make the main canopy piece then use a coordinating fabric to make a border around the large piece. When using this technique the seams will be seen from underneath. Use either a sheet to line the underside of the canopy or make two of the pieced canopies and sew them wrong sides together.
Start cutting your pattern by laying the material down on the bed and cut the fabric the size of the mattress but add two inches to each side. For canopies that will be pieced cut the additional patterns for the piecing. For the ruffle cut ten inch strips. Cut two which are the width of the bed times three. Cut two more strips the length of the bed times three. If the fabric isn't long enough cut the strips and sew them together. You should have four pieces of ruffling that are not sewn together, one for the each end and one for each side of the canopy. Hem the ruffling strips across their tops by folding down a quarter inch then folding again one inch. Stitch. Do the same for the bottom hems. Now hem the ends of each piece. Pin each piece on the appropriate side and pin in the ruffles as you go along. Pin each ruffle from corner to corner on the canopy. Stitch. When the canopy is hung the splits in the corners will allow the ruffling to hang around the four posts. Velcro or ribbon ties can also be attached to hold the canopy around the posts.
The ruffle pieces can be cut in giant sizes to make a curtain that will hang all the way to the floor. They are made exactly the same way but are cut in a measurement from the top of the canopy to the floor. Leave a split in the curtain on one long side for entering and exiting the bed. Tie backs can be made to hold the curtain doorway open. An additional small ruffle can be made for the hem area.
