Need Help/Advice: Making My Own Padded Headboard

Ok, so I'm going to attempt to make my own padded headboard.

I would like to use a faux leather fabric and tuft it. Can anyone tell me what kind thread and needle I will need to do this?

Here's a picture of what I'm going to attempt to make...

Message edited 12/9/2008 2:32:29 PM.

Re: Need Help/Advice: Making My Own Padded Headboard

I used upholstery tacks rather than a needle thread for the baffling. For the edging I asked the person at Fabric Mill what the best choice would be. I also got a curved upholstery needle, which makes it waaaay easier to stitch what I had to by hand.

Great project, BTW!

Re: Need Help/Advice: Making My Own Padded Headboard

Can you explain what an upholstery tack is and can I get them at a fabric store?

As for the edging, my initial thought was to just pull it around to the back side of the headboard and just nail it down. I have a finish nail gun (my husband's a contractor ) so I thought that would be strong enough to hold the material in place.

Re: Need Help/Advice: Making My Own Padded Headboard

You can absolutely get them at a good fabric store. It is basically a nail with padding. They are very easy to use and last a long time. If you try to do that with needle and thread, in order for it to sit properly, you'd have to sew the button into the fabric and the baffling material.

The finishing nails should indeed hold the fabric into place for the backing.

Re: Need Help/Advice: Making My Own Padded Headboard

Oh so wait, they would replace the button I'd use?

I'm kind of confused but it sounds like your idea may work better...

The only thing that concerns me is how would I cover them so that the tacks are leather covered?

Re: Need Help/Advice: Making My Own Padded Headboard

Didn't D do something like this with that brown material?

Re: Need Help/Advice: Making My Own Padded Headboard

Yes and no... She did do a head board with tufting but she used a cotton material.

I have to call her and see what she thinks. I'm not sure how to approach this with the leather, eh, faux leather.

Re: Need Help/Advice: Making My Own Padded Headboard

Tufted Headboard

Materials:
graph paper
hypoallergenic foam (not latex)
3/4" chipboard
jigsaw
electric knife
marker
straight pins
tailor's chalk
covered button kit
fabric
hot glue gun/glue
staple gun
iron
gimp

Steps:

Draw desired headboard pattern graph paper to scale (or buy one). Be sure to add the distance from the floor to the mattress, which is usually 21 inches. Enlarge drawn pattern to proper size at copy store. Cut it out and transfer it to the foam and chipboard using a marker.
Cut the foam with an electric knife (no longer used for food) and the chipboard with a jigsaw.
Cut and seam fabric (matching fabric repeat) if necessary. Allow eight to 12 inches extra to put around chipboard. Pin fabric to foam loosely.
Mark pattern with chalk for placement of buttons. Make covered buttons according to package instructions. Sew buttons on, pulling them tight. Use backing buttons if necessary to prevent thread from pulling through (if using latex foam).
Position foam one inch higher than the top of the headboard and glue in place . Staple the top section to the back by pulling it tight enough to roll the foam over the board. Staple the sides until even and secured.
Press the bottom front edge under one inch and staple it in place. Finish the edge by gluing gimp over it. This is from HGTV.com

I think to make covered buttons you take the desired fabrick and cut it so that it covers the button top and a little of the back use hot glue to adhere the fabric to the back of the buttton.

Message edited 12/9/2008 7:47:28 PM.

Re: Need Help/Advice: Making My Own Padded Headboard

Thank you for posting this. I'm pretty familiar with the "process" of making the head board - I'm actually using an old cheesy mirrored head board from an old bedroom set so all I really need is the foam buttons and material. The only thing is I'm planning to use a faux leather fabric is there anything different I need to use in terms of "tufting" the material?

That's really where I'm concerned.

Thanks!