Hey! Are y’all ready to sew ???? Break out that machine and let’s get busy! Several weeks ago I posted a tutorial on DIY European pillow shams. Today I have the tutorial for a super easy daybed cover.

This is really more of a slipcover than a coverlet. You could use these basic instructions for a daybed, bunk beds or an ottoman. It’s basically a fitted sheet without elastic. I wanted a matching coverlet for this daybed but I didn’t want something that would be slipping around every time the boys sat down on it.

This makes the daybed look more like a sofa and that’s what I’m going for.
Ok, let’s get started.
1st thing you need to do is decide what’s going to be under the bedcover and put it on the bed. Because you want a good fit it’s better to determine this ahead of time.

I used a sheet set and a blanket.

If you’re planning on washing this bedcover you should prewash your fabric before get started.

Next measure the width and length of the mattress. Then decide what your drop will be and add an inch all the way around for the hem.
I wanted mine to cover the side of the mattress and then tuck under a little. A standard twin mattress is approximately 38 wide by 75 long. The drop varies depending on the thickness of your mattress. Next step is to cut your fabric. I think I cut mine about 58×97 ( My fabric was wider than most decorator fabrics that are 54 inches.) If you have a deeper mattress you may need to sew two widths of fabric together.

Place your fabric on top of the mattress (over the blanket etc).
Position the fabric evenly on all sides.

Then pull the fabric out to a point and pin down the corner of the mattress. It is going to create a triangle shaped flap. The line you’re pinning is the line you’re going to sew.
Pin all 4 corners.

Gently lift the fabric off the mattress.

Sew straight down the line you pinned. Remove pins after sewing.
Next try it back on the mattress to make sure it fits well.

After you check your fit then cut off the triangle shape flap. Leave about an inch. (Notice the band-aid! One to many encounters with a pin!)

I snip the top of the flap to make it lay pretty and not bulge out.

While the fabric is still on the mattress fold up about 1 inch or whatever you’ve allowed for your hem and pin. This is a good time to adjust the length if it’s longer than you want just give yourself more fabric in the hem. Gently lift fabric off the mattress.

Hem your fabric. I serged the fabric then used a blind stitch for the hem.

You can stitch yours or serge it if it’s going to tuck under and not show. I wanted mine to look nice if it wasn’t tucked neatly under the mattress. (We know that all teenage boys are going to take the time to tuck the fabric neatly under the mattress. Lol) 🙂 I’m just happy if they 1/2 way throw the covers back on the bed. Ha!

Iron all four corners and the hem.
Place your beautiful new slipcover over your mattress and make the bed.
Done!
How easy was that???
Happy stitching!
Leann