How to Make a Duvet Cover

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Buttons
Dressmaker's Measuring Tapes
Snap Tapes
Bedsheets
Dressmaker Pins
Dressmaker Shears
Fabric-marking Pens
Fabrics
Ironing Boards
Irons
Sewing Machine
Sewing Machine Needles
Threads
Yardsticks

Selecting Cover Fabric

Step 1

Measure the length and width of your duvet with a tape measure. Write down the measurements.
Step 2

Choose a washable home decorator fabric. Opt for a lightweight fabric that feels comfortable against your skin - especially for the underside of the duvet - if you will use your duvet in lieu of a top sheet.
Step 3

Choose two equal lengths of 54-inch-wide fabric (or wider) for the front of the duvet cover. Each panel should be equal to the length measurement you made in step 1, plus 5 inches.
Step 4

Choose two equal lengths of fabric for the back of the cover as well. Each piece should be equal to the length measurement from step 1, plus 3 inches.
Step 5

Look for home decorator fabrics that are at least 54 inches wide to cover a duvet that is up to 104 inches wide. If your duvet is wider, purchase one additional panel of fabric for each side of the cover.
Step 6

Take care with patterns and prints. You may need to make your panels longer so that patterns or prints match up. This won't be necessary with small overall prints like calicos.
Step 7

Prewash the fabric. Iron if necessary.

Sewing the Cover

Step 1

Fold one front panel in half lengthwise, with the wrong sides together. Use an iron to make a sharp crease at the fold. Unfold the fabric. Repeat this step with one of the back panels.
Step 2

Use a fabric marking pen and a yardstick to make a line down the length of the crease on each panel. Cut along each line with dressmaker shears. You will now have six panels: three for the front of the cover and three for the back.
Step 3

Pin one narrow front panel to one side of the uncut front panel. Pin it so that the right sides of the fabric are together and all fabric edges line up evenly.
Step 4

Sew a half-inch seam along the pinned edges and press the seam open. Pin the remaining narrow front panel to the other side of the uncut front panel and sew a half-inch seam there as well. Press the seam open.
Step 5

Repeat steps 10 and 11 for the panels that will form the back of your duvet cover. If your duvet is wider than 104 inches and you purchased additional fabric panels, cut these panels in half as you did in steps 8 and 9. Add these extra panels according to steps 10 and 11.
Step 6

Measure the assembled front and back portions of the cover. Make sure that the width of each piece is 2 inches larger than that of the duvet. Trim each side of the front and back covers if necessary.
Step 7

Place the front and back portions of the cover one on top of the other with the right sides together. Make sure that the side and top edges of the cover line up evenly and pin them together. The edges at the bottom of the cover will be uneven and should be left unpinned.
Step 8

Sew a half-inch seam around all the pinned edges and press the seams open.
Step 9

Turn the raw edges at the cover's bottom under one-half inch and sew them into place. Pin and/or press the edges into place before sewing them if necessary.
Step 10

Turn the cover right side out and attach snap closures to the cover's opening. The snaps should be placed approximately 1 inch from the opening, 4 to 5 inches apart. See "How to Apply No-Sew Snaps to Clothing" for instructions.
Step 11

Affix the ball portions of the snaps to the wrong side of the longer flap and the socket portions to the right side of the shorter flap. This will give you a tidy closure for the duvet.

Comments

denzale590 said

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