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Velvet Duvet Cover

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This luxurious velvet duvet cover was made in about six hours at an approximate cost of $50. The buttonhole closures took an additional 30 minutes.
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Velvet is available in many colors and patterns to match any decor. This one is a taupe color with a black and fawn check pattern.
Delicate yet plush velvet—has there ever been a more inviting fabric? It makes a luxurious fabric for covering a bed, available in many colors and patterns to match any decor. Plus, the simple construction of a duvet cover makes this somewhat challenging fabric a bit more manageable. Seek out washable velvet for easiest laundry care.

Materials:
measuring tape
velvet
backing fabric
coordinating color thread
sewing machine
eight to 10 buttons for closures (opt for heavy-duty snaps or Velcro strips if preferred)

Tips for working with velvet:


  • Velvet is not a specific fiber, but rather a specific way certain fibers are woven (with extra warp). Some common types of fiber used for making velvet are rayon, silk and acetate but it can also be found in polyester and cotton. Washable types are most often polyester or cotton.
  • Cut velvet at a single thickness at a time.
  • Be aware of the fabric nap and remain consistent when positioning the direction of the fabric.
  • Equip your machine with a 70-10 H needle and set stitches at 10 to 12 per inch to eliminate puckering.
  • Allow for wider seam allowances when working with velvet
  • Use a walking foot and stitch slowly. Take a break and raise the presser foot every four inches or so in order to let the fabric relax.
  • Loosen the upper tension if the fabric puckers.
  • Decrease pressure on the pressure foot if there is uneven feeding.
  • Hold the fabric taut while sewing.
  • To press seams open and flat, use a velvet pressing board, hovering the iron 1/2 inch above the velvet.
  • When storing, hang velvet instead of folding to avoid creases and permanent damage to the pile.

Steps:


  1. Measure your comforter, adding 1-1/2 inches to the width and 3-1/2 inches to the length for seam allowance and hems.
  2. Fabrics bought off the bolt will have to be pieced to make enough width to cover the comforter. Determine the bolt width of the fabric you want to purchase then decide how many fabric widths plus seam allowances it will take to cover the width of the comforter. Measure the width of the comforter plus 1-1/2 inch seam allowance and the length of the comforter plus 3-3/4-inch seam. After measuring the length of the comforter plus 3-1/2 inches for seams and bottom hem, multiply this length times the number of fabric widths needed. Our featured king-size comforter required 5-1/4 yards of 60" velvet and the same for backing fabric.
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Figure A - Cut the length of the yardage in half for both fabrics.
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Figure B - Place the cut yardage pieces side by side, stitching down the middle to create the width needed for the cover.
  • Cut both lengths of fabrics in half (figure A) then seam the like-fabrics together to create wider, shorter pieces (figure B) . From these pieces, cut the final dimensions of the duvet measurement plus seam allowance.
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    This black, twisted cord trim was added to the sides of the cover as decoration. It was pinned and stitched in at the same time as the seams. To figure yardage for this detail, measure the sides you want to trim to arrive at the inches needed.
  • Stack the trimmed pieces with rights sides of the fabric together. You'll need a lot of space for this part, so spread the fabric out on a bed or table. If desired, you can add an edge trim to the comforter at this point. If you chose to do this, sandwich and pin the trim between the two layers, positioning it so the right edge is cushioned between the right sides of the front and back of the comforter. Pin the fabric layers together, keeping the pin marks within the seam allowance so not to mar the velvet.
  • Sew a 1/4 of an inch seam allowance along two long sides and one end of the pinned layers, forming the cover.
  • Turn duvet cover right side out. On the open end, press under a one-inch seam allowance to the wrong side of fabric. Repeat and stitch around the entire perimeter to close the edge, leaving the bottom end of the cover open.
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    We opted for buttonhole closures on this cover to give a decorative touch. Other options include hidden snaps, zippers or Velcro strips.
  • If using Velcro to make a closure, topstitch Velcro strips to the top inside of the hemmed cover. Stitch the "hook" side to the hem at the inside backing layer of the cover and the "loop" side to the hem at the inside velvet layer. If making button or snap closure, determine the width of the finished closure, then divide by number of buttons to see how far apart to set them, setting no further than nine inches apart to keep the cover from gapping open. Make buttonholes in the top of the cover, stitching buttons to the inside backing layer. If using snaps, stitch a side of the snap to either hem of either layer of the inside cover.
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