Hey everyone! Today we're making a reversible duvet cover, and I'll show you how one extra-wide fabric can skip the center seam altogether.
Here we go.
Meet the fabric
This is the Aqua Teal Infatuation Cotton Wideback Fabric Per Yard from Northcott.
It's cotton. It's a wideback. And the width is 108".
That width is the whole story here, folks. Most quilting cottons come in around half that. This one gives you room to work in one clean piece.
It's from the Infatuation collection. It was designed by Deborah Edwards and Melanie Samra.
The tags on this one list floral and flowers, including iris. The colors listed are blue, green, and purple. And the name gives you the aqua teal at the heart of it.
So picture a watery aqua teal ground, with floral color in blue, green, and purple. Soft, but not plain.
On a bed, that color lifts plain white sheets in about two seconds. Just like that.
The project: a reversible duvet cover
We're making a duvet cover that finishes about 86" by 86".
That's a nice full to queen cover size. Big enough to drape well. Still manageable on a home machine.
Why does this fabric suit it? A duvet cover is two large, flat panels. Normally you would piece narrower fabric to get wide enough, and live with a seam where you don't want it.
Not here. At 108" wide, you can cut each panel in one piece. No piecing. No center seam to line up. The floral design stays smooth and unbroken across the bed.
Reversible means both sides are this fabric. Flip it for a fresh feel whenever you want a change. Completely up to you.
Materials
- 5 1/4 yards of Aqua Teal Infatuation Cotton Wideback — that covers two panels cut about 90" long, with a little extra for squaring up and shrinkage
- Your duvet insert, about 86" by 86", to check your finished size against before you sew
- 8 to 10 snaps, buttons, or short ties for the bottom closure
- 4 short lengths of twill tape or ribbon, about 8" each, for inside corner ties
- Thread in aqua, soft teal, or light gray to blend
- Rotary cutter, long ruler, and a large mat, or good fabric scissors
- Pins or clips, and a walking foot if you have one
Brief steps
One. Measure your insert first. Really really do this step. Inserts vary, and a snug cover looks full, not saggy.
Two. Cut two panels, each 88" wide by 90" long. You are trimming the 108" width down, so take your time and keep that long edge straight.
Three. Hem the bottom edge of each panel. Fold it under 1/2", press, then fold another 1/2" and stitch. This finished edge is where your closure will go.
Four. Place the panels right sides together. Sew the top and both sides with a 1/2" seam allowance. Leave the hemmed bottom open. That's how the insert goes in.
Five. Add your corner ties. Sew one 8" tie inside each corner. These tie to the insert corners and stop it bunching up at night.
Six. Go slow on those long sides. Slow down or the layers can creep. I stop every 12" or so, smooth the fabric, and check my edge.
Seven. Turn the cover right side out. Poke the corners out gently. Add snaps or buttons evenly along the bottom, about every 10" to 12". Stuff the insert in, tie the corners, and close it up.
Practical tips
Pre-wash if you can, y'all. A cover this size works hard and gets washed often. Washing first means your finished size is the size that stays.
Use a size 90/14 needle if your machine feels happier on the thicker hemmed layers, and a regular 80/12 for the main seams. Set a slightly longer stitch, about 8 to 9 stitches per inch, on those long straight runs.
Press as you go. Press hems before you sew them, and press side seams flat when you're done. That habit makes a big project look finished.
And here's the permission beat, because I mean it. This cover does not have to be perfect. A long seam might wobble a hair. You are your own worst critic. Nobody sleeping under it is measuring it. If I can do this, y'all can do it. Take your time. It's not a race.
Alrighty. Thanks so much for sewing along with me today. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the Aqua Teal Infatuation Cotton Wideback Fabric Per Yard at Linda's Electric Quilters.
