How to Measure for the Amount of Fabric for a King Size Pillow Sham
Bed pillows covered with pillow shams add an extra decorative touch to beds. Using fabric that coordinates with your bedding and curtains, you can make pillow shams to make a bed more comfortable and inviting. As you plan your project, measure for the amount of fabric for a king-size pillow sham. Because king pillows are larger than standard pillows, you must make shams that will accommodate this extra size.
Step 1
Check the dimensions of your king pillow with the tape measure. Standard king pillows measure 20 inches by 36 inches. This means that you require about 1 1/4 yards of fabric to make the front and back of the pillow sham for each pillow, without the sham portion added in.
Step 2
Determine the additional fabric to make a tailored sham that extends straight out from the four edges of the pillowcase. A tailored sham requires four fabric pieces 8 1/2 inches wide that you can cut from the width of the fabric -- you will need 1 yard of additional fabric to make a tailored sham.
Step 3
Figure the additional fabric to make a ruffled sham that borders the entire pillowcase. A ruffled sham requires six fabric pieces 8 1/2 inches wide -- extra fabric is necessary to gather in fullness. You will need 1 1/2 additional yards of fabric to make a ruffled sham.
Step 4
Add the fabric amounts you require to make one king size pillow sham. You will need 1 1/4 yards for the pillowcase plus 1 yard for a tailored sham and 1 1/2 yards for a ruffled sham. For each complete pillow sham, you will need 2 1/4 yards for a tailored sham and 2 3/4 yards for a ruffled sham. Multiply this by 2 if you must make two shams -- 4 1/2 yards for two tailored shams and 5 1/2 yards for two ruffled shams.
Writer Bio
Kathryn Hatter is a veteran home-school educator, as well as an accomplished gardener, quilter, crocheter, cook, decorator and digital graphics creator. As a regular contributor to Natural News, many of Hatter's Internet publications focus on natural health and parenting. Hatter has also had publication on home improvement websites such as Redbeacon.
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