How to Sew a Ruffle Duvet Cover
This is part TWO of decorating our master bedroom. Check out our previous and next posts to see the ultimate King Size Storage Bed and our easy-peasy Bar Chair Side Tables!
Design
The purpose of this pattern is to create a duvet cover. We needed something easy to remove and wash, so we opted for 100% cotton fabric with button closures. This duvet insert we had was smaller than I had hoped, measuring only 102x92” whereas a nice full looking duvet should be as large as 116x100.” Because of this, our other goals included giving the duvet insert more length and fullness - enter ruffles! Its like how your mom fixed your denim jeans when you outgrew them! I also added ribbon at each corner to easily secure the cover to the insert, at Chandler’s request (he washes the duvet covers weekly, so this is a nice convenience feature to get the insert back in place). Follow my process outlined below to help you create your own duvet cover!
Tools & Materials
Tools:
Sewing machine
Fabric Pen
Measuring tape
Square ruler (or a tool to give you 90 degree angle)
Scissors
Seam ripper
Optional:
Serger to finish the raw edges
Gathering foot to easily make ruffles
Material:
(9) yards extra wide (108”) cotton fabric (10 if you’re making pillow shams to match)
Thread to match
(12) 1” buttons
Cutting List
Duvet top: 105x95”
Duvet bottom: 105x93” and 105x5”
Ruffle: 12” strip, approx 252” or 21 ft. More or less will change the fullness of the ruffle.
Steps
Prep your fabric! Cotton should be washed and dried at least once before cutting. This allows it to shift and shrink. It should also be ironed with the direction of the fabric.
Cut your pieces out according to the measurements above. Start with the largest two pieces, then use the excess to make your 12” strips for the ruffle.
Prep the ruffle: Sew the 12” pieces into a continuous strip. Then fold in half, so you have a 6” strip that is at least 21ft long. Baste raw edge. Gather using a gathering foot or another method you prefer. Set aside.
Prep the back pieces: Fold over 1/2” then 1” on each of your back pieces. Sew close to the seam, and then sew close to the fold. Next, make 12 evenly spaced button holes on the large back piece. Mine were about every 8 5/8 inches apart - it’s not visible, so you don’t have to get hung up on exact placement. Once you’ve made the button holes, overlap them with the smaller strip where your buttons will go. Mark the center point for the buttons by sticking your pen through the buttonholes. Then stitch the buttons. Lastly, fasten all the buttons before proceeding.
Layer the pieces: With raw edges along the outside: Top fabric (105x95), ruffle along side/bottom/side, bottom fabric with buttons facing to the inside. Pin all the way around. Pin cotton ribbon to each corner on the wrong side of the fabric.
Sew all four sides. Finish with a zig zag stitch OR with your serger.
DON’T flip it right side out yet (except to check your work)! Tie the ribbons to the top corners of the duvet insert. THEN flip it right side out. Close/fasten your buttoned opening and admire your handiwork. Yay!
Ruffled pillowcases are a great accent item to go with your duvet cover. I like my pillows to look “overstuffed,” so to accomplish this I cut the pillowcase pieces the same dimension as the pillow, then sew. Bear in mind, this method works for feather or fiber fill pillows but NOT memory foam. For those, add a seam allowance before you cut.
So, in my situation, a king size pillow is 20X36. I cut two rectangles at 20x36. On one piece, sew ruffles either on opposite ends or all the way around. Then serge or zig zag stitch the edges where the zipper will go. To get perfect invisible zippers, I will have a YouTube video of my process. Once the zipper is in place, sew the remaining sides and serge. Turn right side out and stuff. That easy to tie together your new bedding look!
