How do I sew a sheer fabric, round top, bed canopy? how much material to buy?

Question

How do I sew a sheer fabric, round top, bed canopy? how much material to buy?

Answer 1

Sheer fabric can be the hardest to sew. You will have to finish off the seams or they will fray.

Sheer fabric can be slippery and move while sewing. Use lots of sharp pins to hold in place.

There are patterns out that will help you.

Make a "blueprint" of what you are sewing with all the measurements. This will help you figure out yardage. buying sheer fabric from the Home Decor section will give you a 54" width.  One yard is 36".

Answer 2

If the fabric is very sheer, like voile, you best put TAPE (any kind) on the seam where you sew.  Also use the smallest needle you can find for your sewing machine and make the stitch about 2.5 on the sewing machine.  The tape will help the fabric from not pulling or running and the small needle will make tinyer holes in the fabric.  

You should measure the width and length of your canopy - fabric usually comes in 32" wide or 45" wide.  You will have seams so decide where you want the seams to be.  On the frame of the canopy would be best but you will still have a seam in the middle either lengthwise or widthwise.  Measure the square footage of what you need and buy accordingly.

If the fabric has nap then you must make all the fabric run the same direction ~ no turning sideways or reverse.  Be sure when you sew pieces together they run the same way (as they were on the bolt of fabric).

I'd make a guestimate of how much fabric = 8 yards of 32" wide and 7 yards of 45" wide (if you are going to have about a foot hanging down from the frame of the canopy.  I did not account for it being gathered for ruffles so you'ld have to increase yardage for that.

Good luck. I'm sure it will turn out fabulous.