How To: Patchwork Duvet Cover

Patchwork Duvet cover pattern mypoppet.com.au
I finally found time to make a patchwork duvet cover for Emma’s new big girl bed after making the fitted sheets. Originally it was going to be plain on both sides made from vintage sheets, but I started poking about in my fabric stash and thought it may be fun to patchwork a top together. After working out my measurements (not brilliantly as I will explain later), I had a ton of fun picking my fabrics and arranging the pattern. If you’ve always wanted to try patchwork, this triangle/chevron design is super simple and can be made to look really different depending on how the blocks are arranged. Feel free to play around.
I’ve included the pattern and measurements to make your own, but be aware it is based on Australian standard single duvet size, which is different to US and European sizes. You could adjust measurements or use this design to make a quilt instead. I’ve included some handy links for this option.
I’ve used metric measurements in cm throughout as our duvets are made to metric sizes.
To make a single bed duvet cover (Australian Standard size) 140x210cm read on…

You will need:

12 x Assorted cotton print fabric min size 40x80cm (colours are up to you)
fabric piece 17x142cm
single sheet for back
Sewing machine
Cutting mat, rotary cutter and quilting ruler (not essential but helpful)
Iron
General Sewing supplies
3 buttons

How to:

Tip: You may want to make one test block to double check finished measurements, before you cut all your fabric. See disclosure further down
CUTTING
1. Cut 24 squares measuring 38x38cm, make sure the corners are 90 degrees.
2. Half each square diagonally (45 deg) as pictured. You should now have 48 right angled triangles.
patchwork quilt measurements
3. Lay out your triangles as pictured to form a chevron pattern. To get a strong stripey effect pick fabrics that will co-ordinate with each for each row but contrast strongly with it’s neighbor. It may take a little while of mix and matching to get the balance right. Two triangles will form one quilt block.
chevron patchwork layout
SEWING
ALL SEAM ALLOWANCES ARE 1cm
4. To make a quilt block, match diagonal edges right sides of fabric facing and sew a seam along the diagonal edge. 1cm seam allowance.
Patchwork sewing instructions
5. Zig zag raw edge (this helps prevent fraying during washing)
Seam detail
6. open and press, clip corners square. This is a completed block. Fingers crossed it should measure 37x37cm
Triangle Patchwork block finished
7. Sew blocks together into rows, then sew rows together taking care to match corners as best you can. All seams are 1cm allowance with zig zag over raw edge. Do the zig zag as you go.
Joining quilt blocks
Each finished block should now measure 35x35cm with the overall size being 142x212cm (includes a 1cm seam allowance around all sided)

DISCLOSURE: I originally miscalculated my measurements and my finished top was about 2-3cm too small on length and width. I got around the problem by sewing a bias trim right around the edge before proceeding (you may notice it in the last photo). I have adjusted the measurements but I would still recommend you sew a test block just to make sure (it’s a little late and my brain is a bit fuzzy).
finished patchwork top chevron
8. Hem 17x142cm fabric piece along one long side. Sew the other long side to the bottom of the patchwork top, right sides facing. This will be the fold over at the bottom to stop your duvet slipping out. It will make sense in step 9.

ASSEMBLING DUVET COVER
9. Click over to my Vintage Sheet Duvet Cover tutorial and follow ‘How to’ instructions for rest of assembly steps.

TO MAKE A QUILT
You can turn this patchwork top into a quilt if duvets are not your thing, just follow these tutorials Quilting and Quilt Binding.

Emma loves her new duvet and as you can see, her room is now a riot of colour. I think it goes quite well with the hexagon rug.

Speaking of the Hexagon Rug, I have finally written a PDF pattern for it – Now available in the shop – Felt Hexagon Rug PDF Pattern & Instructions

Make duvet cover and rug  for kids room

I hope you enjoy making this project, it’s a nice introduction to patchwork without all he fiddly bits.
Do you think you will give it a go? I’d love to see a picture if you do.

22 Comments

  • justine says:

    I love this idea because it looks like a quilt but its a lot easier to make.Thanks for the inspiration.

  • Keren says:

    Love this! It looks beautiful.

  • Faye says:

    I really like the chevron duvet cover/quilt. I sew a lot and have various odds and ends of fabric. I need to find a way to use them up and this looks promising.

  • kat says:

    would love to know where you get all your lovely fabric?

    • Miss Cinti @ My Poppet says:

      Most of it is thrifted fabric or vintage sheets. None of this was bought in a store

  • HilaryT says:

    So glad I “stumbled” upon your blog and this post. I had just been lamenting that I had not gotten my 3 year olds big boy bed quilt made yet (he’s been in the bed a year!) and I think this is the perfect quilt for me to make for him. After having a third child I don’t seem to have the time for an elaborate quilt pattern, so this should be just right – made in his favorite greens. Thanks for sharing!

    • Miss Cinti @ My Poppet says:

      Yes the large pieces come together quite quickly. Should be a nice weekend project for you. Thanks for your comment, I love to hear how readers interpret my projects

  • Stephanie says:

    I really like this quilt but don’t understand centemeters, so can you please give all the measurements in inches? thanx Stephanie

    • Miss Cinti @ My Poppet says:

      Thanks Stephanie, there are 2.54 cm to an inch, so to work out the measurements in inches just divide the cm by 2.54

  • trudi says:

    I like this quilt (duvet) as well but would also appreciate measurements in inches instead of cm’s. How many cm’s to an inch? Thank you. Trudi

    • Miss Cinti @ My Poppet says:

      Thanks Trudi, there are 2.54 cm to an inch so to work out the measurements in inches just divide cm by 2.54

  • Lisa says:

    Hi!

    I just went through a heap of online pics of quilts with my 3 year old girl to have her choose a pattern for her future big girls bed. Guess which one she chose ^^^^ and i don’t think it was because she has the exactly the same doll but in a different dress! 🙂 Thankfully this also looks like one I can manage with my minimal skills 🙂

  • Diane Bush says:

    the rug is a perfect way to use up scrap fabric as well as clothing that has run its course. Cute!

  • Jo says:

    Thank you for making a tutorial in cms! So sick of inches!!

  • Kate says:

    Have been trying to find a queen sized duvet cover for my little girl and cannot find anything. Would love to try giving this a go but I am a complete amateur with sewing (and maths is not my strong point either). Is there anyway you could tell me how many squares and how big I would need for a queen size duvet cover (210cm x 210cm? Thanks so much!

  • Alice says:

    Hi there! I am another sewing novice (have just made your woolen and flannel sleeping bag – it’s kind of lumpy but I adore it!) and I would love to make this – but again, I too am a maths bumble brain – any chance you could direct me as to what measurements for a double doona size? Thank you!!

  • Helen says:

    How would you make the same pattern for a standard pillowcase
    Thanks

  • Helen says:

    this patchwork pattern

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