A tailored bed skirt enhances a modern decor style, uses less fabric than a gathered skirt and may be constructed from a wide range of fabrics. Fabrics such as mid-range drapery weights, percales, light weight denim or light weight upholstery fabric provide the crispness necessary to keep the fabric looking tailored. A tailored skirt will typically have a pleat in each corner at the foot of the bed.
Measure the Box Spring
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Measure the width and length of the box spring. Measure from the top of the box spring to the floor. These numbers will be needed to calculate yardage required. A typical queen box spring is 76-by-60 inches.
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Fabric for the Deck
The deck is the fabric that lays between the mattress and box spring. The bed skirt extends from the two sides and the bottom edge of the deck. The fabric requirement for the deck is a rectangular piece of fabric equal in size to the top of the box spring plus 1/2 inch on each side for seams. For example: if your box spring measures 76 inches long and 60 inches wide, the fabric required would be 77-by-61-inches. A queen-sized flat sheet is a source of fabric for the deck.
Calculating Fabric Required of 45-inch Wide Fabric
Add the length of the box spring twice to the width of the box spring and add 40-inches. This allows for 18 inches in each corner pleat and 2 inches for turn under at the top of the bed. (76+76+18+18+2)= 250. Divide this number by the width of the fabric ( 45 inches) and round up. 250 divided by 45 equals 5.5. Round to 6.
Multiply 6 by the length of the skirt plus 2 1/2 ( 1/2 inch for top seam and 2 inches for hem). For example if the skirt length is 18 plus 2 1/2 would equal 20 1/2, multiplied by 6 equals 123. Divide this by 36 (the number of inches in a yard) and round up to the nearest 1/2 yard. 123 divided by 36 equals 3.41, rounded up equals 3 1/2 yards required of 45-inch fabric.
Calculating Fabric Required of 54-inch Wide Fabric.
Add the length of the box spring twice to the width of the box spring and add 40 inches. This allows for 18 inches in each corner pleat and 2 inches for turn under at the top of the bed. (76+76+18+18+2)= 250. Divide this number by the width of the fabric (4 inches) and round up. 250 divided by 54 equals 4.6. Round to 5.
Multiply 5 by the length of the skirt plus 2 1/2 (1/2 inches for top seam and 2 inches for hem) If the skirt length is18 add 2 1/2 to equal 20 1/2, multiply by 5 to equal 102.5. Divide this by 36 (the number of inches in a yard) and round up to the nearest 1/2 yard.102.5 divided by 36 equals 2.84, rounded up equals 3 yards required of 54-inch fabric.
Calculating the Fabric Required for Other Widths of Fabric
If the fabric width is not 45 inches or 54 inchs, use the same calculations as in Steps 3 or 4, substituting the width of the fabric chosen for 45 or 54 and recalculating accordingly.