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How to Make Your Own Reversible Duvet Cover

This post is written as part of my AGF Sewcialite Series and is sponsored by Art Gallery Fabrics.  This post also contains affiliate links, which means that I may earn a small commission when you purchase through these links.  There are no additional costs to you. 

Although it isn't quite spring yet, we've had a few sunny days here in West Michigan and some of the birds are flying back to stay!

Spring cleaning is one of my favorite things and it also always makes me want to refresh the house linens.  

When I saw these new 108" widebacks available from Art Gallery Fabrics, I had the idea to make my own duvet cover.  Aren't they pretty?  The plaid is called Picnic in the Meadow and the white print is called Seed Packets Sun.

The duvet is fully reversible so you can easily update the look of your room, plus it will look pretty if you fold it over on the bed.

 

The result is a clean, modern, reversible duvet without a lot of extra seams or piecing.  The best part?  No raw seams on the inside!  So let's get started!

These are the supplies you need:

Required Supplies:

--108" wideback fabric by Art Gallery Fabrics.  

I used two different prints to make it reversible.  I used Picnic on the Meadow and Seed Packets Sun. Check your favorite quilt shop!  Jen at Piper Autumn Fabrics is one of my go-to shops for widebacks.

Your yardage needed will vary depending on your insert size.  More info on how to measure will be in the next section.

Note: You can also use flat sheets.  The key here is having a wide fabric so you don't have to piece panels together.

--Sewing machine

--Thread

Optional Supplies:

1/2" twill ribbon for corners to help hold duvet in place

Twill snap tape

 You can shop for the optional supplies here.  

As you can see, you can make this very simple and leave the bottom open.  Or you can choose the closure method you prefer. 

I used snap twill tape for mine and that is what I will show in this tutorial.

The Steps:

1.  Cutting the Fabric

Prepare your fabrics by pressing and pre-washing if you desire. 

Art Gallery Fabrics have a very low shrink rate so you can skip pre-washing, but definitely do this step if you are using other fabrics.

Next comes the cutting, which is probably hardest part of this process (and its not too hard).

Duvet inserts can vary in size, so the first thing you will need to do is measure your duvet.  The duvet insert I had was for a full size bed and measured 81" x 91".  Next, I added my seam allowances in.

I added 3/4" around the top three sides and added 3" at the bottom to determine my fabric measurements.

My front and back pieces measured 82.5" x 94.75 each.

(81" + 0.75" right side + 0.75" left side = 82.5")

(91 + 0.75" top + 3" bottom = 94.75")

To create the pieces I needed, I used 2.5 yards each of the front and back fabric (5 yards total).

Rather than trying to measure and cut pieces that size, I made it easier by spreading the fabric on the floor and using my duvet insert to guide my cutting.

I laid the duvet flat on top of the fabric and used my omnigrid ruler to mark 0.75" away on the top and sides, and 3" away on the bottom.  

2.  Creating the Bottom Gusset

Using a seam gauge or a quilting ruler, create a fold on the bottom that is 1.5" wide.  Press the fold, then fold over one more time, another 1.5" to enclose the raw seam. 

Press really well and clip in place.

Repeat with the back side fabric.

Do NOT sew the gussets down just yet! 

If you are going to be using twill tape, you will need to sew that in first. 

3.  Installing the twill tape 

In order to sew in the twill tape without seeing the seams, you will need to install the twill tape in the fold you just created at the bottom.  You can see in the picture below that the gusset isn't sewn down yet and I have pins through the fold only (versus through all the layers).  

Sewing the twill tape to the fold only means you will have no visible stitches on the outside of the duvet. 

First, I cut a 12" piece of twill snap tape.  Next, I found the center of my panels by folding them in half and marking that point with a pin.

Your twill snap tape should extend 6" away from both sides of your center point.  Open up the fold away so you can sew in the twill snap tape.  

 

Sew along the twill snap tape, sewing to the fold only.  You may want to use your zipper foot attachment for the back panel, which will have the raised section of snaps.  The pic below shows the twill snap tape on the back panel.

Although I switched to my zipper foot on the machine, it was difficult to maneuver around the snap part of the twill tape.  You can see the stitches a bit wonky around the snaps.

So if wavy stitching bothers you, I would recommend handstitching the tape to the back panel.  But remember--they won't show through the duvet so don't worry too much.

Once your twill tape is installed, you will sew the gusset down.  Start by sewing 1/8" away from the top edge of the fold.  Then sew 1/4" away from the bottom of the edge as shown in the pic below.

Now your pieces are ready to become a full fledged duvet cover!

4.  Begin Sewing the Duvet Cover

I used French seams for the construction because I didn't want raw edges on the inside. 

To do french seams, place your panels, wrong sides together.  The right side of the fabrics should be out and facing you as they will when the duvet is on the bed.

Pin your panels together, with right sides out.  

If you are putting in the twill ribbon to tie in your insert, you will need to put the ribbon in place now.  

Cut a 3"-4" piece of ribbon and lay it in the top right hand corner on a diagonal.  Baste or pin it in place.  Repeat for the left corner.  The ribbons will be inside the duvet, between the two layers of fabric.

Sew along the left, top and right side of the duvet using a 1/4" seam allowance. Be sure to backstitch at the beginning and end.

Leave the bottom open for easy turning.

Before you turn it, you can clip the top corners so they are easier to turn out and don't get bumpy.  Be sure to not cut into your stitches when trimming the corners.

5.  Press your seams

It helps to press the seams open before you turn your duvet inside out.  After you have pressed the seams, turn it inside out and re-press the seams to create a nice, crisp edge.  

Your fabric should now be wrong side out.

6.  Sew the duvet again

Beginning at the bottom, sew all along the right side, top and left side using a 1/2" seam allowance.  Don't forget to backstitch at the beginning and end.  This will enclose all your seams.

7.  Sew the bottom gusset (almost) closed

Take some pins to mark where your twill snap tape closure is.  I placed my pins about 1" away from the ends of my twill snap tape.

Next, sew along the bottom edges, 1/4" away from the bottom.  

Stop and backstitch when you reach the first pin. 

Cut your thread and reposition the duvet so you start sewing again after the next pin (leaving the opening where the twill snap tape is).  Be sure to backstitch when you start sewing the next section.

There it is!  A finished duvet cover that is reversible and doesn't have a lot of pieced panels.

I hope you get inspired to try to make your own duvet cover!  One of my favorite parts of sewing is making things that are unique and reflect my style.  I would love to see what you make.  Tag me on instagram @midlife_quilter and use #midlifequilterduvet to share your work!

If you love this tutorial, consider buying me a coffee!  You can leave a tip at the link here.  Monies from this are used to support my website costs and enable me to create as much free content as possible.  Thank you!

 

 

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