Molly's Sketchbook: Snappy Duvet Cover

A duvet cover is such an effective design tool, wielding the power to dramatically transform a bedroom in a snap! I've always wanted to make one, but the truth is, I've never known where to begin. Sure, I understood the basics, but I could never figure out a tidy way to cut and sew such gigantic pieces of fabric. That may sound crazy since I sew almost everyday, but my comfort zone is at a much smaller scale, and at 90-inches square, a queen size duvet is anything but small!

To conquer this apprehension I decided to simplify. I would not try to cut a 90-inch straight line with a rotary cutter or scissors nor would I attempt to pull a thread every time I needed to cut. I would tear the fabric! Also, instead of trying to make the back and front into two perfectly matching huge squares, I would just cut and tear the back panel out of an extra wide piece of muslin to match the finished front. Armed with my new rules of simplicity, I was surprised at how easy it actually is to make a duvet cover!

For the top, I used a gorgeous new linen and cotton blend from the awesome Japanese designer, Yoshiko Jinzenji. My cover's happy yellow color and painterly dots are going to add a lot of pizzaz to my room, and I love that it's truly an original! I also love that, with the help of a snap tape closure, my duvet will actually stay inside its new cover. So simple!

If you'd like a bedroom make over too, just visit my Snappy Duvet Cover journal here!

Comments

[Sarvi]

Oh, the snap tape closure is genius!

[Isabel]

This is a beautiful, ambitious project (though from reading the tutorial it does look pretty easy). I love this very cheerful color.

[Nina]

I've made duvet covers before and it really is tricky to handle that amount of fabric. You need plenty of floor space, I found! But I think it's really nice to have very everyday stuff that you've made yourself. And good-quality bedlinen can be ridiculously expensive.

[Kerri]

Beautiful duvet cover....but can you tell me about the felted slippers in the foreground? Did you make those too?

[Margaret]

I am excited to try this. I have a stash of loved fabric that is yet undesignated for a project. My husband will be glad to see a decrease in the elevation of my stash closet. whee!

[Deborah]

You can also make a duvet cover out of two flat sheets.

[paul li]

Your duvet cover is very cute!I love it:D

[Marie-Eve]

I love the duvet cover. The color of this fabric is stunning! I also would love to make the slippers in the last picture! Is there a pattern for those? Purl bee is so inspiring! I come to visit the site often!

Have a wonderful day!

[purl bee]

Hi Marie-Eve and Kerri-

There is no pattern for these felt slippers, we didn't actually make them!

Thank you for your question!

Molly

[Marcia]

Love this, and have wanted to make one of my own....but if the fabric is only 43" wide, do you have two panels sewn together to get the width you need? I don't see a seam....
Thanks!
Marcia

[purl bee]

Hi Marcia-

It actually has 2 seams! (since it's 90-inches wide and you cut off the selvages of the 43-inch wide fabric.) The entire process of sewing it, is detailed in the journal here:

http://purlbee.squarespace.com/snappy-duvet-cover/

Thank you for your question!

Molly

[childhood anxiety treatment]

Now that is something my little girl will truly love. Thanks for sharing this fantastic idea.

Michael