Opinions please....quilt top into duvet cover??

Hi everyone, I haven't been on here in a long time since I graduated and moved and got a new job. But I'm back and I have a dilemma of sorts. I'm working on the Diamond Jubilee quilt from last years "Quilts With Style" magazine. I love to piece quilt tops but I'm not crazy about the actual quilting. Also, I have a down comforter that I love and am not real likely to use a quilt on top of it year round. So, here's my actual question: Do you think I could make the quilt top into a duvet cover??? Here's what I'm thinking....I could finish the top, quilt in the ditch to a backing without any batting. That would stabilize the top. Then take that and sew it to another large backing along 3 edges and bind around it all. Buttons along the top, and that would make a duvet cover. Please let me know what you all think of this...would it work? Would you change something? Etc.etc... Thanks so much in advance!! Sara in WV

Reply to
Sara L.
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hmmmm, i think i'd make the quilt so it only attaches to the duvet cover for ease of separate washing. also means you'd be able to use it elsewhere on its own if you wanted to anytime. just my 2 cents, jeanne

Reply to
nzlstar*

I have done almost exactly what you suggest, Sara. What I did differently was to sew press stud tape all around. That meant that the pieced top didn't have to get washed so much. The raw edges of the 'backing' were sewn under the press stud tape. I didn't bind the two top layers, just turned the edges in and under the other half of the press stud tape. . In message , Sara L. writes

Reply to
Patti

Reply to
Joanna

Reply to
Sara L.

It should work nicely. My understanding of a duvet cover is something like a giant pillow case with the addition of some form of closure at the open end. You could use snaps or velcro instead of buttons if you think the buttons might annoy you. You could also make it rather more like an envelope, so you fold a bit of the back of the cover over the front and then button down. Debra in VA See my quilts at

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Reply to
Debra

Two ideas come to mind on this, coming from my own store bought duvet cover.

1) Move the opening down about 12-18" from the edge on the back and use a flap to attach the buttons and button holes. It's a little more work, but having the flap moved down gives more room for the buttons, less wear and tear on them and you don't rub them while sleeping. 2) Put little ties (or similar) inside the corners to secure your comforter. It will keep the comforter from slipping around.

Other than that, have fun!!!

Reply to
TwinMom

I think you are right I would back the top with something, even cheap fabric just to prevent wear and tear. Duvet covers do move a lot.

But don't worry about just doing stitch in the ditch. I did that for about 4 or 5 years before I learned anything else. In fact it's only recently that I seem to be able to do free motion quilting. Trust me I tried many many times and it was horrible. So I'm still content with SITD. I was more interested in mastering piecing first. If you do decide to back you don't need batting between the top and cheap piece. You also don't need to do a whole lot of stitching in the ditch because it won't be to hold the batting in place. You could just do a bit in the middle and around the edges to make it lay flat.

I also like someone else's suggestion that you use like a double fold at the end that is going to open. I also would not use buttons I would use infant snap tape. They are little snaps that come all ready sewn on tape. You just have to buy the amount you need. If you choose to use any fasteners at all. Some have suggested if you use the snap tape get the plastic ones not the metal, as the metal can rust and ruin the material it's close too.

My true preference is to sew a loop on all four corners of the duvet, then but a tiny amount of either velcor or very small buttons where the duvet would attach inside at the corners. This stops the duvet from moving or bunching up in the middle of the cover. If you do the corners like that then you don't need the snap tape at the closing, you can just do the double fold thing. I know this is probably clear as mud but maybe someone else can explain it a little better than I.

Don't worry about being creative enough or experienced enough. How do you think most of us have learned? Trial and error. This group is great for advice but you still need to find what you are comfortable with. I would have never dreamed even a year ago that I could do free motion quilting. Tried so many times and failed. Now it seems easy. So if you like something keep trying. If you don't like it then don't. I too still think I lack in the design part, or even picking colors some times. I always ask for help but the final desicion is mine. And I can honestly say I have never regretted trying anything. It's always a learning experience and fun too. Take Care Joanna remove quilt to reply

Reply to
Joanna

but if you put the buttons at the foot end, they don't rub whilst sleeping, move them up and they's be at your toes or ankles.

Anne

Reply to
Anne Rogers

Sorry I wasn't clear! Down from the top, and face them toward the inside (button facing in so it is on the inside of the flap and buttons kinda backward toward the center) if that makes any sense. I had one cover that had bottom buttons and they took a lot of stress and many popped off because the comforter would bunch up down there and pull at the opening. When the opening is moved down from the top, you don't really feel them. I suppose it could be anywhere (like knee area maybe) as long as the flap tucks them in. Just my experience anyway. YMMV :-)

Reply to
TwinMom

Yes, definitely line/back the pieced top, Sara. The seams will need protection from friction, if nothing else! Quilting in the ditch is a perfectly fine way of quilting - it isn't that easy, either! So it will be an achievement to do a whole quilt like that. . In message , Sara L. writes

Reply to
Patti

Are comforters and duvets the same - I have seen comforters in shops which were a patterned bedcover to match curtains, etc. I remember my sister was going to have one instead of a duvet but then realised you couldn't take the cover off.

Duvets first came to the UK in about the late 1960's, and are now the usual bed covering. I wonder if your 'duvets' are the same as ours over here, as I've never had one move in its bag and need tying down, or ending as a bundle at the bottom of the bag. Have had synthetic, feather and down, and we bought ourselves a pure down one for Christmas - its wonderful - as light as a feather and really warm. I just give it a shake in the morning to fluff up the down - like you do feather cushions. The duvet has a crisp, slightly shiny cotton cover which is machine stitched so the down is all in little 12" squares so the filling can't go anywhere!

The covers I have fasten right at the bottom with a line of concealed buttons, or with a strip of the readymade poppers. As the duvet hangs over the end of the bed the end is way below foot level, and anyway the opening is very firmly buttoned up! They don't have the extra little flap that pillowcases have. We don't use a top sheet as that stops the duvet moulding to your body as you lie in bed, which is what they are supposed to do.

I wash our duvet cover at the same time as the bottom sheet and pillowcases, so a pieced bag would soon get faded with me. Our duvet covers are all cream polycotton like the sheet, and I put a quilt over the top of everything during the day and take if off at night as duvets work better when the filling can puff up.

Incidently when we stayed in Sweden I noticed that their covers had a little slit in the top corners where the top and bottom were not joined for about 3". When you were putting the cover on you could pull the quilt right into the corners - made the battle easier! I altered all ours - but that was in 1978 and I didn't get round to it with subsequent covers!

Reply to
Sally Swindells

I did this when I was getting started in patchwork. Just did a "trip around the world" pattern to keep it simple. Anyway, that duvet cover is still on our bed and has even been through the wash no problem. FWIW I did not add a backing to the top. The only problem is that some of the fabrics are wearing out - since I was a newbie I skimped on some of the fabric and the poor quality ones are developing holes. Guess it's time to make a new cover with better fabric!

Allis> Hi everyone,

Reply to
Allison

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