Tag Archives: comforters

Time to settle in for a long winter’s nap with new bedding

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The arrival of winter brings fun things like snow and Santa, but it also brings cold winter nights.  Now is the time to take a look at your bedding and see what you need to make your bed a cozy and warm spot to snuggle into each night.

  1. Sheets:  Flannel sheets are a great way to keep your toes warm at night.  They are available in all sorts of colors and patterns or you can sew your own.  When choosing flannel look for an ounce count of 5-8 ounces (thread count does not apply to flannel) that will keep you warm and avoid pilling over time.  Use fabric softener and low drying temperatures to keep them soft and longer lasting.
  2. Blankets:  There are several choices when it comes to warm blankets.  Choose wool blends, down, flannel and electric blankets for the ultimate in comfort.
  3. Comforters:  Your comforter or duvet needs to be decorative and functional at the same time.  Choose a color and/or pattern that makes you feel cozy just by looking at it.  Velvet is a great choice and is available in several colors and price ranges.  A down comforter provides warmth and comfort and comes in different weights for different climates.  Nothing feels better than climbing into bed and pulling a down comforter over your head!
  4. Accent throws:  Add a throw or coverlet to the foot of the bed to cover your toes during those lazy afternoon naps when it can get a bit chilly.  A quilt ranks high in the cozy department and will add color and pattern to your room as well.

All that is left to do is grab a good book or a loved one and, as Santa says, “.. settle in for a long winter’s nap.”

Duvet Covers (part I)

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Duvet covers are a neat, convenient way to change the look of your bed. What is a duvet cover, you might ask? A duvet cover is sort of like a large pillow case to protect your comforter from dirt and to change its look. Duvet covers can be expensive to buy, but they are easy to make in exactly the print and color you would like.

Because fabric generally does not come in the width needed to cover a bed, duvets are made in three separate pieces in front and three in the back, in order to avoid a middle seam. So, you will be cutting a total of six pieces. The middle piece is always a finished 40 inches wide (41 inches cut), no matter what your bed size. Remember to add an inch when cutting the pieces, because your seam allowances will be ½ inch.

The diagram shows you the finished measurements for a duvet to fit an average queen size comforter. To cover a twin size comforter your side pieces would be 11 ½ inches, finished (12 ½” cut); a full/double size has 19 inch wide finished sides (20” cut) and king size duvet has 31 inch wide finished sides (32” cut). The pieces to make a twin duvet will be 90 inches long; all the other sizes should be 95 inches in length.

Jean and Valori Wells, authors of Oh Sew Easy: Duvet Covers and Curtains suggest using different fabrics for the pieces to create a custom look. They also suggest doing the front and the back in different color schemes; that way you can reverse them for a different look. Their book is available at Amazon and at C & T Publishing http://www.ctpub.com/productdetails.cfm?SKU=10464. I recommend this book if you are ready to really get into making duvets or curtains; it is illustrated with clear photos and diagrams that show you exactly how to make stylish finished duvets and gives much more detailed information than I can offer here. In my next post, I’ll give instructions for estimating the yardage for your basic duvet.