An example of a cover for a duvet using Easy Quilt Patterns
Posted on January 10th, 2011 by admin
Photo by Caroline Jones
It was when I went to a rummage sale and came across a little book of easy quilt patterns and patchwork projects together with instructions on how to make the templates,that started me on the patchwork road. ’ Well I have got to have a go at this’ I said to myself.
I have been ‘crafty’ since the age of 8 and have always been draw to most craftwork techniques. Patchwork was no exception.
I happily collected used cereal boxes, a compass, protractor,ruler and scissors and set about making my own templates. The square and triangles were a piece of cake! The hexagon? Ah, a different story.
I found out very quickly that this is a fiddly job requiring great accuracy when measuring angles, other wise the patches wouldn’t fit together. I eventually got the hang of it and started making lots of patchwork pieces.
The articles were mainly cushions and pin cushions as I was not that confident in doing anything bigger.
It was a combination of my mother-in-law’s sharp eyes and the fact that my sister’s 21st birthday was on the horizon that gave me the idea of making a patchwork duvet for her birthday.
My mother-in-law was helping at a sale of work and came across a plastic bag full of material. Not your ordinary material but about 6 sample books of cotton fabric. I had never seen anything like them in the shops – I suppose they were sample books the reps. took to the various fabric shops to show what was available.
They were perfect for my project. They were all about 5inches by 3inches and ready cut out. All I needed to do was arrange them in a pleasing pattern and sew them together. I only used them for the top of the duvet and I did have to find bits of other material to complete the project.
I backed it with a plain piece of fabric, sewed some ties on the bottom and bob’s your uncle – one duvet cover. The amazing thing is it is still in one piece, some of the seams are a little threadbare and the colours have faded but none the less it has survived 30 years. For the last few years it hasn’t been used because it is a single bed size and my sister has a double bed. I don’t know what she is going to do with it but she says she likes the faded look. The picture above is the quilt.
If this article inspires you to have a go at patchwork and quilting you might like to take a look at my learn how to quilt post on what equipment you would need to get started.
January 12th, 2011 at 8:21 am
Nice picture! Yes, even though you’ve made me more quilts over the years, this is my favourite. What do I plan to do with it? Well, after I took it out of the cupboard to take this photo, I decided it was too nice to put it back, and so I am now using it as an extra bit of warmth/decoration on my bed. And yes,I do like the faded look – just as well really ~ grin.
Caroline
February 9th, 2013 at 10:26 pm
Exactly how long did it acquire u to create “
March 31st, 2013 at 3:33 am
About a month but obviously not working on it all the time. It was easy to put together as I did not have to cut most of the rectangles. Most enjoyable if I remember.Thanks for asking.
Davina