Hey everyone. Today you're going to learn how to sew a reversible duvet cover with no pieced seams across the bed.
Here we go.
The fabric first
This is the Black Confetti Chicken Scratch Wideback Fabric Per Yard from Timeless Treasures.
Let's start with the numbers.
It is 108 inches wide.
It is 100% cotton.
It weighs 144 grams per square meter.
The color is black. The print is that confetti chicken scratch look. Little stars and dots are scattered across it. The tags even call it patriotic, with USA stars in the mix.
On a bed, that black ground looks calm from across the room. Up close, those stars give you something fun to find.
And it is sold per yard. You order the length you need, in one continuous piece.
Here's why the width is the whole story. A duvet cover is wide. Regular quilting cotton needs a seam right down the middle. At 108 inches wide, this fabric skips that seam. One smooth panel. Just like that.
The project: a reversible duvet cover
A duvet cover is a big fabric envelope. Your insert slips inside it. The cover protects the insert. And the cover washes way easier than the whole duvet.
Reversible means two looks in one cover. This starry black fabric is one side. A plain coordinating cotton is the other side. Starry and bold one week. Calm and plain the next. Completely up to you.
This fabric suits the job for three reasons. First, that width covers a bed without piecing. Second, cotton breathes, so it sleeps comfortable. Third, black hides everyday life well. Coffee drips. Dog paws. You know how it goes, folks.
Let's size a queen together. A queen insert is about 88 by 88 inches. I make my finished cover about 90 by 90 inches. A little ease helps the insert settle in.
For that queen size, you need one panel of this fabric. Cut it 92 inches wide by 92 inches long. The 108 inch width gives you the 92 inches across, with room to trim. And the length comes off the yardage.
So plan on 3 yards for that one queen panel. That gives you the 92 inches, plus a little extra to square up. Then match it with the same size panel in your reverse fabric.
If I can do this, y'all can do it.
What you need
- About 3 yards of this wideback fabric for the queen front panel described above
- The same size panel of a plain coordinating cotton for the reverse side
- Your duvet insert, measured before you cut anything
- Closure of your choice: buttons, snaps, or a zipper for the bottom edge
- Four short ribbon or twill tape ties for the inside corners
- Thread to match, pins or clips, ruler, rotary cutter, and a big table or clean floor
Brief steps
One. Measure your insert first. Write the numbers down. Cut for your insert, not for a size on a chart.
Two. Press both fabrics well. Square up your edges. Take your time here.
Three. Cut both panels the same size. I add 1 inch to the width and length. That covers 1/2 inch seam allowances all around.
Four. Sew a tie into each corner seam allowance. One tie per corner, on the inside. These grab the insert corners later.
Five. Place the panels right sides together. Pin well. Sew the top and both sides with a 1/2 inch seam. Leave the whole bottom edge open.
Six. Finish the bottom edge. Add your buttons, snaps, or zipper there. Slow down at the zipper ends. Slow down or a needle can snap on a metal stop. Ask me how I know.
Seven. Turn the cover right side out. Press the edges flat. Slip the insert in, tie the corners, and shake it out. Done.
Tips from my table to yours
Pin every 6 to 8 inches on those long sides. Long seams love to creep on you.
Finish your seam allowances if you can. A quick zigzag helps this cover survive wash after wash.
And do not skip those corner ties. Without them, the insert bunches into one sad corner. With them, it stays put.
Here's your permission beat, and I mean it. Your bottom edge does not have to be perfect. A button sitting a little crooked still buttons. You're your own worst critic, folks. Nobody sleeping under this cover is grading your seams. It's not a race.
We're not reinventing the wheel here. Two big panels, three seams, one simple closure. Super duper satisfying when you flip it to the other side.
Alrighty. Thanks for sewing along with me today, folks. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the Black Confetti Chicken Scratch Wideback Fabric Per Yard at Linda's Electric Quilters.
