Turn a Coverlet Into a Duvet Cover

Give a favorite thin quilt or coverlet new life by turning it into a custom duvet cover.
Bedroom Featuring Bed With Patterned Duvet Cover and Chevron Rug

Blue and White Duvet Cover

The blue duvet on this bed complements the blue-green headboard, and the black and white pillows match the area rug.

Related To:

Materials Needed:

  • coverlet or thin quilt (larger than duvet it will cover)
  • 250-thread-count flat sheet (king or queen depending on the size of coverlet)
  • tape measure
  • scissors
  • fabric marker
  • 2" T-pins
  • sewing machine
  • thread that matches coverlet and lining
  • 60"-long zipper (or cut by the yard from a zipper roll)
  • down or synthetic duvet

Pin Coverlet and Lining Together

Stack fabrics, front sides together, on a flat surface. Pin together coverlet and flat sheet, which will serve as a lining, with T-pins.

Coverlet Fabric Pinning

Pin Coverlet and Lining Together

Stack fabrics, front sides together, on a flat surface. Pin together coverlet and flat sheet, which will serve as a lining, with T-pins.

Remove Excess

Measure duvet's length and width, add one inch for seams to both measurements and cut off any excess coverlet and/or flat sheet fabric. If coverlet is quilted or thick, larger fabric shears work best.

Trim Extra Fabric

Trim Off Excess Fabric

Measure duvet's length and width, add one inch for seams to both measurements and cut off any excess coverlet and/or flat sheet fabric. If coverlet is quilted or thick, larger fabric shears work best.

Open Zipper

Lay zipper on shorter side, which will be the bottom of duvet cover, of pinned fabrics and open the zipper, separating it into two pieces.

Tack Zipper

Sew a piece of lining fabric, approximately 2" x 4", over one inch of each end of the zipper. Make sure the zipper head is kept loose between the two pieces of fabric. Match the color of the thread and the zipper to the duvet lining.

Sew in the Zipper

Sew in the Zipper

Sew a piece of lining fabric, approximately 2" x 4", over one inch of each end of the zipper. Make sure the zipper head is kept loose between the two pieces of fabric. Match the color of the thread and the zipper to the duvet lining.

Sew On the Zipper

Remove pins from the bottom side of coverlet. Sew one side of the zipper face-down to the bottom side of coverlet and the other side of the zipper face-down to the bottom side of lining.

Sew On Zipper

Sew On the Zipper

Remove pins from the bottom side of coverlet. Sew one side of the zipper face down to the bottom side of coverlet and the other side of the zipper face down to the bottom side of lining.

Sew Coverlet to Lining

Sew coverlet to flat sheet using a straight stitch, about 1/2 inch in from the edge.

Sew Coverlet to Flat Sheet

Sew the Coverlet to the Lining

Sew coverlet to flat sheet using a straight stitch, about 1/2 inch in from the edge.

Insert Duvet

Turn duvet cover inside out, insert a duvet through the zippered opening then zip closed and place completed duvet on bed.

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