DIY Recycled Duvet Cover

Il duvet coverA duvet cover, which covers the duvet used in bed, is very useful for several reasons. First, it protects and facilitates the use and cleaning of the duvet. Duvets are not easy to wash (they are large and often very delicate), and can also get damaged, losing volume and consistency, if washed too frequently. By removing and washing just the duvet cover, as you would a pillowcase or a sheet, you'll have kept your favorite bedspread clean and tidy. Furthermore, the duvet cover, by absorbing sweat, dust, and dirt, helps keep your bed clean.

Index of topics

T-shirt

A comfortable, simple and elegant duvet cover, without wasting those t-shirts we no longer use. Jersey isn't a true fabric but a plain-knit fabric, which is used extensively in industrial knitwear. It's also a very versatile and pliable material, comfortable to the touch thanks to its softness: so why not use it for your bed linens too?

Take some t-shirt, maybe even in different colors and patterns.
Cut them with scissors at the armpits and along one of the two sides, so as to obtain elongated rectangles.
Now, depending on the size of the duvet, sew together several rectangles until you have a surface large enough to function as a “bag”.
Then simply sew – from the wrong side – two of the three open sides and apply buttons or snaps on the side you will use to insert the duvet.

Old sheets

For the same purpose, old ones can be useful sheets, even different ones, to be sewn together. The only advice is to choose fabrics that are still in good condition, preferably cotton.

If the sheets have any damaged parts, remove them and keep only the best ones. You can leave the sheets whole or, depending on the size of the duvet you want to cover, cut them as needed.

Once you have two large surfaces (one for the front and one for the back), overlap them and sew three sides, leaving the upper one open.
Finish the edges with a zigzag stitch to prevent the fabric from fraying.
And, for the closure, choose between hand-sewn buttons or fabric laces.

Unused shirts

Recover some old ones shirts and cut them into squares or rectangles. Then sew them together to form a panel as large as the duvet. Don't throw away the shirt buttons; you can use them to close the duvet cover.

A helpful tip? Try to match fabrics with similar weights and textures (for example, all cotton or all cotton blends). this way the duvet cover will be more uniform and will not deform after washingAlso, before sewing everything together, test the pieces by arranging them on the bed: it will help you balance the colors and patterns for a more harmonious result.

Disused tents

Le tends, by their nature, are made of loose-fitting fabrics. If they're in good condition, simply adjust them to the size of the duvet.

First wash and iron them, so as to eliminate any creases and ensure that the fabric does not shrink. If the curtain is already large enough, you can just fold it in half obtaining a front and back; otherwise, join two panels with a well-finished center seam.

If the curtain fabric is particularly light or transparent, you can add an internal lining (perhaps recovered from an old sheet) to make the duvet cover more resistant.

Recycled jeans

Denim is sturdy, so the resulting duvet cover will be very durable, as well as original. In fact, by alternating different shades, you can achieve a dynamic effect. To create it:

recover some old jeans and cut them along the seams, eliminating the thicker parts such as belt loops and belts.
then cut out some rectangles or squares and arrange them on the ground to study the composition.
Sew the pieces together until you have two panels the size of the duvet.

Consider that denim is a heavier fabric, so use a suitable needle and a strong thread to prevent the seams from sagging.

Fabric scraps

Even the little ones fabric scraps They can be transformed into a creative duvet cover. You don't need large pieces: just collect scraps of different fabrics and join them together for a patchwork effect. Tip: To avoid a too-messy look, choose a guiding element, such as a color palette (warm, cool, or neutral tones) or a recurring motif. so as to obtain a consistent and pleasing appearance to the eye.

Blankets or plaids

Finally, you can transform one or more old plaid In a warm duvet cover, sew the edges together to create two large panels the size of the duvet. Throws, being already finished and soft, are perfect because they don't fray easily and require little work. Overlap the two layers with right sides facing and sew three sides, leaving the top open to insert the duvet. We recommend schoose some plaids with similar weights to avoid differences in thickness which could make the duvet cover uneven or less comfortable to the touch.

How to make a duvet cover with recycled materials