Amy Butler's In Stitches: More Than 25 Simple and Stylish Sewing Projects (15 page)

NOTES

• All seams are
¹
/
₄
″ in the construction of the front foundation, the back cover, and the bobbles. The seams are
¹
/
₂
″ for attaching the front foundation and the back cover together. Both the
¹
/
₄
″ and
¹
/
₂
″ seam allowances are included in all cutting measurements. The
¹
/
₄
″ seam allowance is included in the bobble pattern piece.

• This project takes some time to do, but it is not at all difficult. Relax and follow the step-by-step instructions, and you will soon have a beautiful Patchwork Duvet Cover that you will be proud to display!

• Comforter sizes vary among manufacturers. Please measure your comforter carefully before starting your project. Instructions in step 1 will guide you in customizing the Patchwork Duvet Cover to fit your comforter. Unless your comforter size varies greatly from the measurements listed above, the yardage requirements should not change.

• Preshrink your fabric by washing, drying, and pressing it before starting your project.

Step 1. Customize the fabric measurements for your comforter, if necessary.

To make a duvet cover for a comforter that is wider or longer than the dimensions listed, first, using a tape measure, measure your comforter and divide the additional width and/or length by 2. Add the additional width and/or length to each side for extra width, or the top and bottom for extra length. For example, if your comforter is 4″ wider than the dimensions above, divide by 2 and add the extra 2″ to each side of the foundation. You will add this width to the pieces on the outside edges of the foundation. (For example, on the left side of the foundation, add 2″ to pieces labeled #1A, #2C, #3L, #4O, #5U, #3L, #2D, #4P, #2G, and #1B, and also #5W if making a full/queen or king size.)

Repeat this step for the right side of the foundation. Use the same procedure to add to the top and bottom if extra length is needed. Dividing the extra width or length by 2 and adding it to each side will keep the duvet cover design balanced.

Step 2. Cut out all pieces from the fabric.

a.
Simply measure and mark the dimensions below (or these and the measurements you adjusted in step 1) directly onto the
Wrong
side of your fabric using a yardstick and a chalk pencil. Then, using your scissors or a rotary cutter and self-healing mat, cut out each panel following the marked lines.

FROM THE FABRIC FOR THE BACK

FOR TWIN

• Cut 2: 19″ wide × 90
¹
/
₂
″ long

• Cut 1: 33″ wide × 90
¹
/
₂
″ long

FOR FULL/QUEEN

• Cut 2: 24″ wide × 96
¹
/
₂
″ long

• Cut 1: 43″ wide × 96
¹
/
₂
″ long

FOR KING

• Cut 2: 33″ wide × 96
¹
/
₂
″ long

• Cut 1: 42″ wide × 96
¹
/
₂
″ long

FROM THE LIGHT AND DARK COLORED PRINTS FOR THE BOBBLES
*

FOR TWIN

• Cut 5 light and 5 dark: 7″ strips for the large bobble halves

• Cut 4 light and 4 dark: 6″ strips for the medium bobble halves

• Cut 4 light and 4 dark: 4″ strips for the small bobble halves

FOR FULL/QUEEN

• Cut 6 light and 6 dark: 7″ strips for the large bobble halves

• Cut 8 light and 8 dark: 6″ strips for the medium bobble halves

• Cut 6 light and 6 dark: 4″ strips for the small bobble halves

FOR KING

• Cut 7 light and 7 dark: 7″ strips for the large and small bobble halves

• Cut 15 light and 15 dark: 6″ strips for the medium and small bobble halves

*
Each bobble is made up of 2 halves, 1 of light and 1 of dark fabric, stitched together. You will be cutting strips of the light and dark fabrics in this step and stitching them together in step 7. Cut or rip strips along the crosswise grain of the fabric. To rip strips of fabric, first measure the length you need along the selvage edge (
see page 171
for an explanation of the selvage edge) of your fabric and make a clip into the selvage edge with your scissors. Then pull your fabric apart from either side of the clip. If you pull fast enough you can rip through the other selvage edge, or you may choose to stop at the selvage and clip the end of the fabric apart.

FROM THE INTERFACING

• Cut out the bobble pattern piece in the pocket at the front of this book. Make a pattern piece for each size bobble, using the pattern piece as a guide. Fold a piece of the freezer paper in half and place the bobble pattern piece on the folded edge as indicated on the pattern piece. Cut along the outlines for the large size. Repeat to make pattern pieces for the other 2 sizes. Unfold the freezer-paper pattern pieces. Then fold the interfacing in half lengthwise and place the pattern pieces (with the edge to be placed on the fold) on the fold of the interfacing, pinning them in place. Using your scissors, cut out each piece according to the outline on the pattern piece and the quantities given below.

b.
In order to keep your pieces organized, mark each piece by writing the name on a piece of masking tape and attaching to the
Wrong
side of each panel as it is cut.

Step 3. Lay out the foundation pieces you cut out in step 2.

Lay out your pieces in place according to
FIGURE 3
, placing them with the
Right
sides facing up.
(
FIGURE 3
)

Step 4. Attach the patchwork pieces together across each row.

NOTE:
The seams in the patchwork of the foundation are all
¹
/
₄
″. It is important to remember this to ensure the correct size of the foundation after the piecing is complete.

Starting at the top left corner of your layout, take the first 2 pieces in the top row and place them
Right
sides together. Stitch a
¹
/
₄
″ seam down the side edges and press the seam allowances to one side. Continue across the first row until all of the pieces are attached, pressing the seam allowances toward the same side. Then, place the entire row of attached pieces back in order in your layout. Repeat this step to attach all of the pieces in each of the rest of the rows and lay them back in place.