The Beginning of Bedding Bedspreads in America

noreply@blogger.com (mohas64) — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 15:24:00 +0000

Bed Skirts

By : LaZinnia Manley

Early bedding bedspreads and coverlets in America were produced by hand or woven on a loom just as other textile products were. The complexity of the woven bedspread patterns were limited only by the talent of the person hand weaving them or the limitations of the early type textile looms in existence at the time.. The patterns woven into these products could also be influenced many different cultures from around the world. This would depend upon the ethnicity of the person making the bedspread or coverlet.. They quite often were given as gifts and were kept as heirlooms by many families.

In the earliest years of American History these bedspreads and coverlets were woven by hand on basic looms at home or could be embroidered by hand. By approximately the early eighteenth century, professional male weavers took over most of the textile production in America due to the popularity of these items. The development of more advanced technology used in textile looms allowed mass production that was not possible before..

The Colorado Springs Museum has on display over forty early American coverlets. Among those featured include examples of the most common weaving patterns.. They include examples woven at home by women as well as professional woven patterns produced on textile looms. They vary from simple to complex in pattern design..

Prior to the nineteenth century industrial revolution, textiles were among the most expensive household items possessed by early Americans. They became cheaper after the development of textile looms that could produce products in larger quantities. Textile products were immensely popular among early Americans. Bedspreads were no exception and demand increased as the price moderated.

Commercial textile products became a symbol of status and wealth among early Americans. Woven bedspreads, table cloths and other items such as clothing were extremely popular and quite expensive for the time period. It was not until the nineteenth century that ordinary people could afford store bought textile products. Many of the patterns from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries are still being produced in America. Modernization has not changed the popularity of well designed patterns used in bedspreads and other textiles. Explore these pattern designs and I think you would agree.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=LaZinnia_Manley

How to Buy a Bed skirt and Give Your Bed a Fresh Look

noreply@blogger.com (mohas64) — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 15:20:00 +0000

Bed Skirts

By : Will Robertson

Just like a new pair of great shoes will totally change an outfit, the right bedskirt can markedly transform the look of your bed. Bed skirts come in a few different construction styles and many different patterns and fabric choices. The selection is almost limitless, but finding just the right one can pull the look of your bed into a complete presentation.

A bed skirt, also referred to as a dust ruffle, is a piece of tailored fabric bedding that covers the box spring and space beneath the box spring to the floor. Its purpose is both decorative, giving the bed a fashionable look, as well as functional, slowing the accumulation of dust beneath a bed.

Two Main Styles of Bed Skirt

Most bedskirts are either pleated (also called tailored) or ruffled (also called gathered). A pleated bed skirt is made of flat panels of fabric with 2 or 3 splits on each of the sides and at the foot. A ruffled bedskirt is a continuous piece of fabric that goes around the 2 sides and foot of bed which is sewn with a ruffled pattern at the top of the bed skirt.

Two Main Bed Skirt Constructions

Bed skirts are constructed in 2 main ways. A deck bed skirt attaches the decorative bedskirt fabric to a piece of decking fabric that goes between the mattress and box spring. The advantage of a deck bedskirt is that the weight of the mattress holds it firmly in place, so it does not easily shift. The disadvantage of the deck bed skirt is that you actually have to lift the mattress to put it on or take it off to wash, though you may not need to do this very often.

A panel bed skirt is made of 3 panels that are attached to the 2 sides and foot of the bed with pins. The main advantages of this construction are that they are easily attached / removed, and they are adjustable in length (unlike deck bed skirts). The main disadvantage is that they are not as secure as a deck bed skirt.

Measuring for a Bed skirt

Before you purchase your bed skirt, decide what type construction you want. For a deck bed skirt, you will have to be precise with the measurements because it is not adjustable. But for a panel bed skirt, you will not have to be precise because they are adjustable, usually several inches.

To find the drop you will need on your bed skirt, measure the height from the floor to the top of the box spring. For a pleated skirt, subtract at least 1 inch from the height so that the bed skirt will not touch the floor. If you are getting a ruffled skirt the traditional style is to make is just short of the floor, but recent fashion trends have favored allowing the bedskirt to flow onto the floor 2 or 3 inches.

Getting the right length is important for creating the look you want. Just a couple inches can make a big difference in the overall appearance of the bed. But there is quite a bit of variance in what people think looks good and how bed skirts have been done traditionally. Some styles have used a high bed skirt and some low. So in the end, get a length that is pleasing to your eye and know that it is right for that reason.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Will_Robertson