This weekend I made a duvet cover.
Months ago I starting searching for a new duvet cover for our bedroom. I looked in a few stores, and eventually online as well, as I started to feel very discouraged about the possibility of finding something that Intern and I could both agree was not 1. cheaply made 2. wildly expensive 3.extremely feminine.
Of course we also wanted something that would look good with cat hair on it (kidding, kind of). Guys, let me tell you: there is nothing to be had out there. I gave up. Everything I saw was either shiny, ruffled, ugly, cheap and ugly, or the worst, looked contemporary. You know what I mean by contemporary.
I gave up the search, then forgot about it, then restarted, then quit again over the course of several months. One time, I sat down and I made a sketch to make my own damn duvet cover. I even did the required math, but the sketch and the math got lost in between other projects. UNTIL FRIDAY. I remembered, and I found the sketch, and redid the math. I went to the (discount) fabric store and after wandering the aisles for a bit, I found some bull denim in a perfectly acceptable tone of gray, and a simple blue and white pinstripe cotton twill. Both were $7.98 a yard, and I bought a little less than 5 yards of each. Oh, and I shamelessly used my old student ID card for a 10% discount on top of it.
I came home, I pulled out my sewing machine and overlock machine, and I got to work. I listened to two full This American Life episodes and was able to put together all the panels and finish 3 sides before taking a break for the evening. The following morning I sewed ribbons to each of the corners on the inside (to tie the quilt in, so it won’t move around inside the cover), then made tie closures out of leftover pinstripe. I sewed it up, flung off our other duvet cover, and put the new cover on.
For less than $100 and about 5 hours of work, I finally stopped waiting for someone else to make what I wanted. I was nervous to start this project, knowing it was a lot of material to work with, but it was essentially sewing a bunch of long straight lines. I can confidently say that the summer sewing class I took two years ago gave me the basic skills I needed to tackle more complicated projects and mending. Making something useful is supremely satisfying, and saving money is a nice perk too.
Good for you, Kate! I totally agree with you about the selection of quilt covers out there. It seems all of the nice covers are way out of my price range.
Your q. cover looks fantastic.
Thank you– I think there is a funny hole in the market for nice, simple and well-made home items, but hopefully it will inspire more people to try to make things for themselves!
Nothing better than something made by yourself. There’s a magic pleasure that come with eating something u cooked, or sleeping over a blanket u made. Cheers, Kate. Keep inspiring!
PD. Poke that cute cat for me. I’m sure he really loves the duvet.
Sooo nice!
BEAUTIFUL WORK Kate!
thanks pammy pam.
I bought two king sheets a hundred years ago to do the very same thing and they’ve been sitting in my closet forever!! I couldn’t settle on whether or not the finished duvet cover should be the same size as the comforter or smaller/larger. What did you do?
I measured our duvet, then made the cover just a bit bigger (about 2″ on each side) so it wouldn’t be too snug. Good luck with your project!