• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Tidbits

Inspiration for the Keeper of the Home

  • Home
  • About
    • About Me
    • Work with me
    • Media Kit
    • FAQ
    • Disclosure and Policy
  • Project Index
    • All
    • Decorating
    • DIY
    • Homesteading
    • Printables
    • Sewing
    • Crafts
    • Holidays
    • Recipes
    • Woodworking
    • Photography
    • Crafting with Kids
    • Other
  • Home Tours
  • Seasonal
    • Winter
    • Spring
    • Summer
    • Fall
  • Shop
  • Contact
You are at Home and DIY
Home and DIY
Food and recipes

You are here: Home / Sewing / DIY Ruffled Duvet Cover

DIY Ruffled Duvet Cover

May 21, 2018 • Sewing

1189 shares
  • 40
DIY Ruffled Duvet Cover, Ticking fabric

There is something so rewarding about knowing you custom made your own bedding.  Let me show you how to make this DIY Ruffled Duvet Cover and you can start and end your day with comfort and complete satisfaction.  Don’t miss my fun little ruffle hack, that makes sewing ruffles ten times easier!

DIY Ruffled Duvet Cover, Ticking fabric

When it came time to dress our painted antique German sleigh bed, I knew the bedding was going to have to be custom if it were to fit the style I wanted and the unique fit of the bed.  I had also really splurged on bedding for our other girls French Cottage bedroom makeover, so I needed to pinch some serious pennies for this project.  But I never shy away from a good ol’ DIY challenge, so I was up for busting out the sewing machine and seeing what I could come up with.

DIY Ruffled Duvet Cover, Ticking fabric

I ended up doing an up-cycle on the duvet insert, which I found at a thrift store, and buying yards and yards of ticking fabric which I found at Hobby Lobby.

DIY Ruffled Duvet Cover, Ticking fabric

Ticking fabric will always have a nice minimalistic farmhouse vibe, in my opinion, but adding the ruffled edge really added just enough character and made it better fit for a girls room without being too frilly.

DIY Ruffled Duvet Cover, Ticking fabric

A bit more on that comforter/duvet insert up-cycle –

I had found this down feathered blue comforter at a thrift store for just a few dollars.  It was so cozy, I knew it would work perfect for a duvet insert.  However, it was a full sized comforter, and I needed it to be even smaller than a twin size, so it would just fit the inside of this sleigh bed.

DIY Ruffled Duvet Cover Ticking Fabric

I found that when I folded it in half lengthwise, it was the perfect size and was much fuller on the double.

DIY Ruffled Duvet Cover Ticking Fabric

To make it work, I simply serged the edges together when folded, which made it appear like one perfectly fitted piece.

DIY Ruffled Duvet Cover Ticking Fabric

I thought it was a brilliant solution for a perfectly fitted duvet insert that only cost me a few dollars!

Now let me show you how I made the ruffled duvet cover, which you can then use these same steps to create a duvet cover for any size of comforter which you may have.

STEPS FOR MAKING A RUFFLED DUVET COVER:

I first measured the duvet insert and bought enough fabric to cover both sides plus a generous overhang for the envelope closure section.  I then laid it all out with the insert inside, so I could get the cuts in the right place.  I could see the width of the fabric fit perfectly to my custom made insert.  If you had a larger size to accommodate, you might have to add in some seams.

DIY Ruffled Duvet Cover Ticking Fabric

I opted for an envelop closure type duvet cover, so at the top I left approximately 10 inches of overhang.

DIY Ruffled Duvet Cover Ticking Fabric

I cut this overhang off, leaving roughly 2 inches for seam allowance.

DIY Ruffled Duvet Cover Ticking Fabric

Before stitching the sides closed, I knew I needed to hem the opening of the envelope closure, so I folded over and pressed the top edge of the main long top piece . . .

DIY Ruffled Duvet Cover Ticking Fabric

. . . and stitch the hem in place.

DIY Ruffled Duvet Cover Ticking Fabric

And the images below will help you see which part on the envelope closure needs to be hemmed as well.

DIY Ruffled Duvet Cover Ticking Fabric

DIY Ruffled Duvet Cover Ticking Fabric

With both pieces hemmed and laid out, I also found I needed to trim some additional fabric off the bottom to give me a consistent seam allowance around all the edges.

DIY Ruffled Duvet Cover Ticking Fabric

I removed the duvet insert and laid the bottom piece down, with the rough side of the envelope closure lined up on the top edges, right sides together, and pinned in place.

DIY Ruffled Duvet Cover Ticking Fabric

Then I laid the top piece over it, right sides together, but ensuring the topped hemmed edge was a few inches down below my pinned edges.

*Important to note:  I figured it out after my images that the envelop closure needs to be tucked inside and sandwiched between the 2 layers, not laying on top of the top layer – not like pictured below.  So be sure to keep the top flap between the two layers when pinning and sewing.

DIY Ruffled Duvet Cover Ticking Fabric

HOW TO MAKE THE RUFFLE

I bought an extra 2 yards to make my ruffles, but wished I’d had done an extra yard so I would have had enough to make tighter ruffles.  Either way, you’ll need some fabric to make enough ruffles for the outside of your duvet cover.

I didn’t want any wrong side of the fabric to be seen in my ruffles, so I planned to fold the fabric in half to make my ruffles.  I started out by cutting 10 inch strips.  If you get your fabric on grain to start with, you can easily snip and rip these 10 inch strips.

DIY Ruffled Duvet Cover Ticking Fabric

Before ruffling my strips, I folded and pressed them in half.

DIY Ruffled Duvet Cover Ticking Fabric

Making ruffles is really easy with this simple trick.  You don’t need a special machine foot or thread.  I made this video years ago, so it is poor quality, but it will give you a better visual idea of how I make ruffles fast and easy.  Then I’ll walk you through this method with images.

 

 

The first step to making ruffles is to increase your tension as high as it will go.

DIY Ruffled Duvet Cover Ticking Fabric

Then increase your stitch length as high as it will go.

DIY Ruffled Duvet Cover Ticking Fabric

While you are sewing, you’ll keep some finger tension on the top thread as it feeds through.  Enough just to make it pull against your fingers, but not so hard that it won’t stitch at all.

DIY Ruffled Duvet Cover Ticking Fabric DIY Ruffled Duvet Cover Ticking Fabric

Those 3 things will feed your fabric through the machine with a perfectly spaced and beautiful ruffled edge.

For a continuous ruffle to fit around the entire duvet cover, you’ll need to stitch all the ruffle pieces together.  I’ll show you how to finish off where the ends of the ruffle piece meet.

DIY Ruffled Duvet Cover Ticking Fabric

First begin to pin the ruffle inside the 2 layers of the cover, all the way around.

DIY Ruffled Duvet Cover Ticking Fabric

Where the ends meet, leave an opening with the ends poking outside the covers.

DIY Ruffled Duvet Cover Ticking Fabric

Stitch around the entire duvet cover, leaving that opening with the ends.

DIY Ruffled Duvet Cover Ticking Fabric

DIY Ruffled Duvet Cover Ticking Fabric

Before closing, open up those ruffle pieces and stitch the ends together, right sides together.  You may find you need to cut some extra length off before you do this.

DIY Ruffled Duvet Cover Ticking Fabric

Then you can fold the remaining ruffle again, line the edges up, and stitch that opening closed.

DIY Ruffled Duvet Cover Ticking Fabric

Using the envelope closure opening, turn your duvet cover right sides out.  For the best results, press around all the seams and ruffles.

DIY Ruffled Duvet Cover Ticking Fabric

For a finished off look, add a topstitch around the entire edge.

DIY Ruffled Duvet Cover Ticking Fabric

Finally, you can insert the duvet insert and admire your work!

This project definitely takes some time, and is probably suited to the more intermediate to advanced sewer, but the custom results are well worth the effort!

DIY Ruffled Duvet Cover, Ticking fabric

I also shared a zippered duvet cover tutorial, without ruffles, so if it may be helpful for you to review those steps as well.

DIY Ruffled Duvet Cover, Ticking fabric

For more sewing projects here at TIDBITS, start cruising around HERE for more ideas.  I’m so grateful I took the time to learn this skill.  Sewing isn’t my favorite kind of DIY, but it comes in handy on so many occasions to get the custom look I want in my home.  How about you?  Do you love to sew, or is it also somewhat of a means to an end?  Would you like to learn more sewing basics around here?  I’d love to know how I can best serve you!

I hope you enjoyed this sewing tutorial!

DIY RUFFLED DUVET COVER STORY

I’m Cami! Welcome to my blog TIDBITS. Follow me along for beautiful home decor ideas and inspiration for do-it-yourself living
Thank you for Subscribing to TIDBITS! Talk to you soon.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

1189 shares
  • 40

Tags: blanket, cover, duvet, Fabric, insert, ruffle, ruffled, ruffles, Sewing, ticking
Leave a Comment

You might also like

  • How to Make a Reversible Duvet CoverHow to Make a Reversible Duvet Cover
  • DIY Ruffled Tablecloth | French Vintage StyleDIY Ruffled Tablecloth | French Vintage Style
  • DIY Linen ScarfDIY Linen Scarf
  • DIY Valentines Lace Throw BlanketDIY Valentines Lace Throw Blanket

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Dejah says

    January 15, 2019

    Okay, adorable. But that crochet or knitted pillowcase. Where do I get a pattern for that. ?

    Reply
  2. Irma says

    May 21, 2018

    OMG I love that duvet cover! I wish I could sew. That bed is dreamy!

    Reply
    • camitidbits says

      May 24, 2018

      Ticking and ruffles . . . they are just meant to be 😉 . So glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badgeShow more posts

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Hi! I am Cami. My passion is to help you, as the keeper of your home, to feel inspired to create a home you love and to learn the homemaking skills to help you do so.


About Cami

My product lines

TIDBITS Planners
TIDBITS Linen

Our books

Front cover of 'Master The Electric Pressure Cooker' cookbook

Hot off the press
tidbits.
Right to your inbox.

Sign up to get post updates, monthly subscriber only content, and inspiration for do-it-yourself living
Thank you for Subscribing to TIDBITS! Talk to you soon.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

Archives

Follow on Facebook

Footer

Welcome to my blog, TIDBITS! I am a homeschool Mom to 4 and a fanatical DIY'er. I absolutely love home - and I love to inspire others as the keeper of their homes!

Subscribe

Thank you for Subscribing to TIDBITS! Talk to you soon.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

Privacy

Copyright

I love sharing my ideas and tutorials! I ask that you respect my work and follow these guidelines. 1. All images are property of Tidbits blog. 2. Feel free to use 1 or 2 images on your own webpages, provided a link back to my blog is clearly available. 3. Do not remove any watermark or crop/edit my images in any way, unless given written consent by myself. 4. All tutorials/ideas/designs are for personal use only and are not to be copied and distributed in any way. 5. Sharing and pinning through social media is always welcome!

An elite Cafemedia Home/DIY Publisher
Branding + Website By Coded Creative

1189 shares