How To Make a Duvet Cover
Here's a couple of easy ways (really, no kidding) to make your own duvet cover. The first method, know as Triple Sheeting, requires no sewing at all!
Triple Sheeting Your Duvet
Triple Sheeting is a method hotels use to cover the duvet, instead of using a duvet cover. What you'll need:
- 1 Fitted sheet
- Two flat sheets
- Your duvet
1: Put the fitted sheet on your mattress.
2: Lay 1 flat sheet so that it lines up with the top of your mattress, where your head would go.
3: Lay your duvet on top of the flat sheet, leaving about 6" of the top of the flat sheet exposed.
4: Lay the 2nd flat sheet on top of the duvet, lining it up with the 1st flat sheet, then fold the top of the sheet back so that the fold lines up with the top of the duvet.
5: Fold the top of your 1st flat sheet so that it lines up with, and covers the 2nd flat sheet and the top of the duvet.
6: Now fold both sheets, and the duvet, back another 6" or so, and you're done! The duvet is now covered, and the folds will help keep everything in place.
Note that this method may not the be the best if your duvet is very fluffy, or if you are a very restless sleeper.
More Tips on How To Use a Duvet Cover
How To Sew Your Own Duvet Cover
You'll need basic sewing skills or a local seamstress or dry cleaning establishment that will do the sewing for you.
Step 1: Measure your down comforter, width and length. We like to recommend
that your duvet cover be the same size as your down comforter, or smaller.
A smaller duvet cover (by 2" or 3") assures a nice snug fit, helps keep your
comforter in place and gives a fluffier look to your comforter. So, for example,
if we had a down comforter that measured 90" x 90", we would like our finished
duvet cover to measure about 88"x88".
Step 2: You'll need 2 Flat Sheets, at least 4" wider and
longer than you'd like your finished duvet cover to be. This assures that there
will be plenty of fabric for the seams.
If you have a couple of extra flat
sheets in your linen cupboard of the size, color/design and quality (we like
to use soft and lightweight fabric for duvet covers) that you'd like to use,
great! Otherwise, keep an eye out for White Sales at stores like JC Penney,
Sears and Macy's or the like.
You can often
pick up decent quality flat sheets for around $20.00 each (on sale, of course). Do purchase from reputable vendors and pay attention
to the dimensions of the sheets you purchase, as they can vary widely from
manufacturer to manufacturer.
Step 3: If you are handy with a sewing machine, you can sew
the 2 flat sheets together (like a very large pillow case) yourself. But since
the sheets can be quite large and sort of awkward to work with (due to the
size) in the average home sewing environment we recommend that you contact
a local Dry Cleaner that also does tailoring.
A professional seamstress is
another option as well. They will likely be able to sew your duvet cover for
a very reasonable cost. Our customers tell us to expect about $20.00 and
up. This cost would be for the simplest of projects - no fancy hems, hidden
and/or button closures, etc.
You'll need to decide whether you'd like a Button Closure or a Zipper Closure.
We recommend that you use a zipper closure. A nylon zipper is durable (withstands
washing, etc.) and is very easy to open and close compared to buttons.
Since
the closure will be at the end of your duvet cover, at the foot of your bed,
the zipper (or buttons) will not be easily visible. A zipper closure also
takes much less time to make than a button closure - making it less
expensive.
So, there you have it. A very nice and perfectly serviceable duvet cover for
around $100.00!
- 2 decent quality flat sheets on sale @ $20.00 to $30 each, depending on size = $40.00 to $60.00
- Roll of nylon zipper = about $25.00
(less if your sewer has zipper material in stock)
- Cost of sewing = $20.00 and up.
Or, you might want to consider our "no frills" duvet protector. 100% cotton, white on white stripe with a zipper closure.