Hey everyone. Today you are going to learn how to turn one bold wideback into a reversible duvet cover, with the stars on one side and a calm plain side to flip to.
Here we go. This big, happy print deserves a big, useful project.
The fabric is Patriotic Stars, by Choice Fabrics. The collection celebrates classic Americana, with timeless star motifs in bold red, white, and navy colorways.
This one is Large White Stars on Red. Bold statement stars. Vibrant red ground. Plain and simple, those white stars pop.
It comes as a 3-yard package of 108-inch wide fabric. That is 100% cotton. And it is continuous yardage, made for seamless quilt backing.
Now, backing fabric usually hides on the back. Not today, y'all. We are putting this wideback right on top of the bed, where everybody can see it.
Why this fabric suits a reversible duvet cover
Width is the first reason. A duvet cover needs two large panels, front and back. Narrow fabric means piecing and extra seams. At 108 inches wide, this fabric gives you one wide, seamless front panel for most duvet sizes.
Scale is the second reason. These are large stars. They need room. A duvet cover gives them a whole bed to spread out on, with no small cuts breaking up the print.
Cotton is the third reason. It presses well. It sews well. And it feels right against a duvet you sleep under night after night.
Reversible just means both sides are finished and pretty. This star print is side one. A plain cotton you choose, in navy or white, is side two. Star side up for bold. Plain side up for quiet. Completely up to you.
Materials list
You will need:
- The 3-yard package of this 108-inch fabric for the star front panel
- The same amount of a plain coordinating cotton, also wide enough, for the reverse panel
- Your duvet insert, measured before you cut anything
- A closure: buttons and buttonholes, snaps, or a zipper, your choice
- Four short lengths of twill tape or ribbon for inside corner ties
- All-purpose thread to match each panel, and a size 80/12 needle for sewing the seams
- Your usual rotary cutter, long ruler, mat, pins, and iron
I like buttons on this one. They are forgiving, and they are easy to fix later. A zipper gives a cleaner finish. Both are right.
Brief steps
First, measure your insert. Do not trust the package size alone. A common queen insert is about 88 by 90 inches, and a twin is about 68 by 86 inches. Measure yours, write it down, then add 1 inch to each side for a half-inch seam allowance all around.
Second, cut your panels. Your star package is 108 by 108 inches, so a queen front panel cuts with room to spare. Press the fabric first, keep the stars running straight, and trim square.
Third, add the corner ties. Pin a short loop of tape inside each corner of one panel. These tie to the corners of your insert and stop it bunching up inside. Super duper simple, and it really helps.
Fourth, sew the cover. Pin the two panels right sides together. Sew three sides with a half-inch seam, at about 10 to 12 stitches per inch. Leave the fourth side open for the closure. Backstitch at each end. Trim the corners on a little angle, turn it right side out, and poke those corners out gently.
Fifth, finish the open side. Turn the raw edges in a half inch and press. Add your buttons, snaps, or zipper along that edge. Take your time here. That edge gets pulled on every wash day.
Just like that, slide the insert in, tie the corners, close it up, and shake it out over the bed.
Practical tips
Prewash if you plan to wash the finished cover often. Cotton can shrink a little, and it is much easier to handle that before you cut than after.
Slow down at the corners. Pivot with the needle down, one stitch at a time if you need to. Rush a bulky corner and your seam can wander, or the needle can snap.
And here is your permission beat. Your button spacing will not be perfect. Mine never is. You are your own worst critic, and nobody is coming to measure that hem. It does not have to be perfect to look really really good and get used every night. If I can do this, y'all can do it. It is not a race.
Thanks so much for spending a little time with me today. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the 108" 3-Yard Package - Patriotic Stars 108" Supreme Backings - Large White Stars on Red at Linda's Electric Quilters.
