Is Making Your Own Duvet Cover Hard?
A duvet cover is essentially a large, flat bag with an opening on one side. If you can sew a straight seam, you can make one. The main challenge is handling a lot of fabric rather than any difficult technique, so most people find it a good beginner-level home sewing project. Making your own also lets you choose the fabric and fit it to an unusual duvet size.
What You Need
- Fabric or two flat sheets (see the section on fabric below)
- Matching all-purpose thread
- Sewing machine, plus a zipper foot if you plan to use a zipper
- Pins or clips, fabric scissors or a rotary cutter, and a long ruler
- An iron and ironing board
- A closure: buttons, snaps, snap tape, hook-and-loop tape, or a zipper
- Optional: ribbon or twill tape for corner ties
Measuring and Choosing Fabric
Lay your duvet flat and measure its width and length. Standard duvet sizes vary between brands and countries, so measure your own insert rather than relying on a general size chart.
Many sewists cut the cover about the same size as the duvet, plus seam allowances, so the cover fits snugly and the duvet fills it out. Some prefer to cut a little smaller so the duvet looks plump. Either way, decide before you cut.
For fabric, tightly woven cotton is a common choice because it is breathable and launders well. Our guide to the best fabric to make duvet covers compares percale, sateen, linen, flannel, and others. Using two flat sheets is a popular shortcut because they are already wide and hemmed on some edges.
Wash and dry your fabric the way you plan to launder the finished cover. This helps limit shrinkage after you have sewn it.
Cutting the Panels
- Calculate your cut size: duvet width plus seam allowances, and duvet length plus seam allowances. With a 1/2 inch seam allowance, that is roughly 1 inch added to each dimension. Add extra to the opening edge for its hem.
- Straighten the fabric and cut two identical rectangles, one for the front and one for the back.
- If your fabric is not wide enough, which can happen with larger sizes, sew a center panel and two side panels together. Press the seams flat, and mirror the layout on both sides so the front and back match.
Sewing the Cover
Hem the Opening Edge
Before joining the panels, finish the edge that will become the opening on each panel. Fold the raw edge over twice by about 1/2 inch to 1 inch, press, and stitch. Doing this first is much easier than hemming the opening after the cover is assembled.
Sew the Three Closed Sides
Place the panels right sides together with the hemmed edges aligned. Pin or clip around the two sides and the bottom. Stitch with a 1/2 inch seam allowance, backstitching at the start and finish. Leave the hemmed edge open.
Finish the Seams
Press the seams flat. For a tidier result and longer wear, finish the raw edges with a zigzag stitch, a serger, or a French seam (sewing wrong sides together first, then trimming and sewing again with right sides together).
Turn and Press
Clip the corners diagonally without cutting the stitching, turn the cover right side out, and push the corners out gently. Press the whole cover.
Choosing a Closure
Buttons
Buttons are a classic option. Sew buttonholes evenly across the hem on one side, then sew buttons to match on the other. If you are wondering how to attach a button, mark the position through the buttonhole, and stitch it on securely, ideally with a small thread shank so the fabric is not pulled tight. Reinforce the area with an interfacing strip if your fabric is lightweight.
Snaps and Snap Tape
Snap tape is quick to install and lies flat. Sew each side of the tape along the inside of the hemmed opening.
Zipper
A zipper gives a clean, hidden closure but takes more care to install, and a long one may need to be shortened or pieced. Test your zipper foot on scrap fabric first.
Hook-and-Loop Tape
Hook-and-loop tape is easy and forgiving. It can catch on other laundry, so close it before washing.
Envelope Back
An envelope closure needs no hardware. Make the back from two overlapping pieces that form a flap, so the opening sits in the middle of the back. The overlap should be large enough that the duvet does not poke out, and you can hem the opening edges of both back pieces before assembly.
Corner Ties to Keep the Duvet in Place
If the duvet bunches and slides inside the cover, add ties. Sew a short length of ribbon or twill tape to each inside corner of the cover, and make matching ties on the duvet, or use the duvet’s corner loops if it has them. Sew them in the seam allowance before you join the panels so the stitching is hidden.
Sewing a Duvet Cover Without a Machine
A sewing machine makes this faster, but hand sewing is possible. Use a backstitch for the long seams, which is strong, and use hook-and-loop tape or snaps instead of a zipper. Expect it to take considerably longer.
Common Mistakes
- Cutting before measuring the duvet. Measure twice and consider how snug you want the fit.
- Skipping pre-washing. Fabric that shrinks after sewing can make the cover too tight.
- Hemming the opening last. It is simpler to hem first.
- Mismatched patterns. For printed fabric, line up the pattern on the front and back before cutting.
- No corner ties. The insert may shift without them.
Putting the Cover On by Yourself
One approach is to turn the cover inside out, reach into each corner of the cover from inside, grip the matching duvet corners, and shake the cover down over the duvet. Fasten the closure and give it a shake to settle the corners. Corner ties make this easier because they hold the duvet in place as you work.
FAQ
How long does it take to make a duvet cover?
It depends on your experience, the size, and the closure you choose. Many beginners plan for an afternoon, mostly for measuring, cutting, and handling large pieces of fabric.
Can I make a duvet cover from bed sheets?
Yes. Two flat sheets sewn together is a common approach, and the existing hems can serve as the opening edge.
How do I wash a handmade duvet cover?
Follow the care instructions for the fabric you used, close the fastenings, and wash it as you would other bedding.