i've done a lot of sewing in my life with some of it being challenging but one of the easiest things i make are covers for feather continental quilts..if you have a sewing machine and you can sew a straight line you can make one..
i used to make them from actil white cotton sheeting but in recent years i've used recycled tablecloths and fabric from cut apart second hand quilt covers for the tops of the quilts..i've collected several new vintage all cotton white sheets that i use for the reverse side..i'm always on the lookout for good quality covers but i don't find many that suit my purposes because i need them to be queen or king size so that i can remake them into double bed covers..i also need them to be an all cotton fabric that i like..
last week i was lucky enough to find a relatively new king size double sided waffle weave quilt cover for $10..i wondered if the person had got rid of it because it was so heavy..i gave it a really hot wash with an oxygen bleach as well as detergent and left it outside for two sunny days to freshen it up..
the weight of the waffle weave fabric appealed to me because its heaviness would make a good winter weight quilt cover..and rather than putting something plain on the back of it i chose one of my $4 floral double new vintage sheets ..
to make the cover i just measured up the last one i made and cut the fabric to size allowing for seam allowances and for the hem at the closure end..for my double bed quilt i cut the fabric to 202 cms x 170 cms..then it was just a matter of joining the seams on the two long sides and on one short side (the top of the quilt)..then i turned up the closure end.. so far though i haven't dealt with the issue of closure..in the past i've tried buttons and large press studs and neither have been that successful..with repeated washing they come off and i'm not very good at replacing them..i'm thinking of sewing ribbon or tape on the inside hem so that i can tie concealed bows as the closure..
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| my new $9 quilt cover |
goodnight everyone..sweet dreams..x
Absolutely beautiful! A great cover and a great price. The bow ties sound good for the closure and you could even make them a feature.
ReplyDeletehi lea..thanks for your comment..i made ties out of the vintage sheet fabric the next day..they were a bit of work but i'm very happy with how they look..i stitched them into the 10 cm closure hem and so they aren't a huge feature but they still have a soft look about them which i love..
DeleteJane, it is bucketing here in Sydney, and that last photo makes me want to just climb in and go to sleep. Gorgeous cover you've made! I love those waffle weave blankets, but I'm sure they're tricky to wash! I used to make all our fitted sheets, and they were simple once you got your head around the logistics of manipulating the bulk of the fabric!
ReplyDeletewow celia..fancy making fitted sheets..i've never tackled them..even though they are incredibly convenient in recent years i've given up on buying them because i always found the elastic went well before the fabric wore..
Deletei'm thrilled with the cover celia because it's so soft and snuggly..now my daughter wants one..
I love waffle blankets too Jane. I have one almost identical to yours that I bought while I was still in high school, it was one of my first 'house' type purchases. We still use it. The pretty backing on yours is so pretty...I am with Celia, it makes me want to jump into that lovely bed :)
ReplyDeletethanks jane..i didn't realise before how soft and comforting waffle weave is..i hope mine lasts as long as yours..
ReplyDeleteThe last covers I bought didn't have a fastening. Instead they looked like a (very large) pillowcase with a pocket end. The pocket flap then tucks under the mattress. To begin with I thought it wouldn't work, but in fact it's much easier than doing up lots of closures and it keeps everything in place. Yours looks very pretty.
ReplyDeletethanks anne..i've not seen that style of cover but then i don't really buy them anymore..i will have to check it out..
DeleteAbsolutely gorgeous and it makes me want to climb right in there on this rainy night
ReplyDeletetanya..lovely to hear from you and thankou..my bed's very cosy with the new cover..
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