DIY Linen Duvet Covers and Pillow Shams

Project Description

With spring on the horizon, there’s nothing quite like new bedding to get you feeling refreshed. Some of the most luxurious bedding on the market is made from linen. With it’s beautiful, natural texture and lightweight feel, it’s the perfect choice for the upcoming warm months.

The only issue with linen bedding is the price tag. Linen bedding can cost hundreds of dollars. There aren’t many low cost versions available because the material is expensive.

However, with the right fabric, a simple sewing pattern and a few tricks, you can achieve this look for a lot less than the traditional retail price.

Overview

In order to make this project more cost effective, this pattern calls for 2 yards of cotton sheeting for the underside of the duvet. It has a very similar feel to the linen material, but is much less expensive..

Real linen is used for the top layer and for the pillow shams, giving you a total linen bedding look.

To make the duvet, all that is required is to cut long strips of linen, and then sew them together to make a large square of fabric. Zig zag stitches are added to the top layer, providing extra strength and a special, detailed look.

You then attach this to a large piece of cotton sheeting, add buttons to the bottom, and insert your duvet! The pillow shams are even easier, using a quick trick to adding a hidden zipper to the back, and then sewing the fabric along the edges twice to achieve a cute bordered look.

Take a look at the full tutorial below!

DIY Duvet Cover & Pillow Shams

STEPS: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

STEP 1 Cutting The Fabric

Start by cutting out the following pieces out of the linen fabric:

• 1 strip 91”x18”
• 5 strips 91”x13”
• 1 strip 91”x15”
• 1 strip 91”x20”
• 2 strips 5.5”x23”
• 2 pieces 26”x23”
• 2 pieces 30.5”x23”

Also cut your cotton sheeting into one piece 75”x91”.

STEP 2 Pinning The Pieces Together

Piece together the pillow shams by placing the 5.5”x23” strip along the 23” edge of the 26”x23” piece. Pin the edge together and sew along it ⅜” from the edge of the fabric with a long straight stitch.

Unfold the pieces of fabric from one another and press the seam open with an iron.

STEP 3 Attaching The Zipper

Lay the zipper face down on top of the seam on the backside of the fabric. Pin it down so the zipper aligns with the seam. Using a hidden zipper presser foot, attach the zipper to the fabric by sewing all the way down both edges. Once the zipper is sewn down, flip the fabric over and use a seam ripper to open up the seam you made to reveal the zipper. Unzip the zipper.

STEP 4 Sewing The Edges

Lay the 30.5”x23” piece on top of the zipper piece with the right sides of the fabric touching, and pin the edges together. Sew along the edges about ⅜” from the edge of the fabric all the way around. Flip the pillow case right side out through the zipper.

Zip the pillow shams closed, leaving about 1.5” unzipped at the end. Use an iron to press the edges of the seams of the pillow sham.

STEP 5 Finishing Pillow Shams

Sew one last seam 1.5” from the edge of each side to create the border on the pillow sham. This completes pillow shams.

STEP 6 Sewing Duvet Cover

To create the duvet cover, start by sewing each of the 91” wide strips together along the 91” sides as shown below. The 20” strip will be used for the back. You will end up with a square about 94”x91” with each of the strips parallel to one another.

Press each of the seams open with an iron. This will make the front of the duvet.

STEP 7 Zig Zag Stitch

Flip the duvet cover top to the right side of the fabric, and switch the machine to a zig zag stitch. Sew along each of the long seams with a zig zag to strengthen the seam and add a fun detail to the top side.

STEP 8 Sewing The Strip

Sew the last 20”x91” strip of linen to the large cotton sheeting along the 91” side as shown. This will make back of the duvet.

STEP 9 Joining Three Sides Of Duvets

Take the back of the duvet and lay it down on top of the front of the duvet with the right sides of the fabric touching, pin all of the edges together except the one at the bottom and sew them closed about ⅜” from the edge of the fabric.

STEP 10 Finishing The Edges

Turn the duvet right side out. To finish the edges where the buttons go, iron the edges of the fabric over about ¼” and then iron over another 1-1.25” and pin.

Sew along the folded edge to secure them.

STEP 11 Finishing The Duvet Cover

The last step is to add buttons and button holes along the edge of the duvet. Mark out places for buttons about every 5.5” and attach buttons on the inside of the duvet edge.

You may or may not place buttons right at the ends of the edge (16 buttons vs 14 buttons). Then align the fabric to the other side and add button holes to line up with the buttons.

Complete!