This padded headboard requires only a little very simple sewing and is surprisingly easy to construct. The headboard is padded with a layer of wadding and covered with a cheery polka-dot fabric. The buttons are covered with bits of embroidery cut from old tablecloths that have seen better days – but you could use any scraps of fabric. Two rows of ricrac braid finish the board off beautifully.
3 hours
For the polka-dot fabric, allow twice the size of the headboard plus 25 cm/10 in. For the ricrac braid, you will need twice the width and four times the height of the board. Finally, cut a piece of wadding the same size as the headboard.
1. Divide the width of the headboard by 5. Measure this distance down from the top of the headboard, and then measure and mark the same distance at intervals across the board. Drill a hole at each marked point.
2. Cut a piece of wadding to fit the front of the board. Apply glue to the board and stick the wadding in place.
3. Add 25 cm/10 in. to the width and 25 cm/10 in. to the height of the board and cut a piece of polka-dot fabric to this size. On the right side of the fabric, pin and machine stitch ricrac braid around both short ends and along one long side of the fabric 11 cm/4½ in. from the edge. Pin and machine stitch a second length of ricrac braid about 5 mm/¼ in. from the first.
4. Press the fabric and then lay it centrally on the front of the headboard. Pull the excess fabric over to the back of the board and glue it in place, folding the corners neatly. Make sure that the fabric on the front of the headboard is crease free.
5. Cut a piece of polka-dot fabric 4 cm/1½ in. bigger all around than the headboard. Fold over 5 cm/2 in. to the wrong side all the way around and press. Glue the fabric to the back of the headboard, smoothing it in place.
6. Following the manufacturer’s instructions, cover the buttons with fabric. Cut four 35-cm/14-in. lengths of gingham ribbon. Work running stitch along one edge of each one and pull the thread to gather the ribbon into a rosette. Place each rosette in turn behind a covered button to make sure that it is the correct size and then finish with a few small stitches to hold the rosette shape.
7. Thread an upholstery needle, knotting the end of the thread. Take the needle through one of the plain buttons. Working from the back of the headboard, thread the needle through one of the holes in the board, pulling the thread all the way through so that the button sits tightly against the headboard. Take the needle through a ribbon rosette and then through one of the covered buttons. Stitch back through the hole in the headboard. Repeat until all four rosettes are in place.
8. Pull the thread to the back of the board and make a few stitches through the button, finishing with a few stitches on the fabric to secure the buttons in place. Cut two pieces of wood to the required length and screw them onto the back of the board with wood screws.
