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There seems to be a lot of interest in the ruffled duvet I made for my daughter’s room so I’m going to walk you through how I did it. It took about a week for me to finish it, but I only sewed a little each day.
I started by gathering my supplies.
Supplies:
Two white flat sheets
Fat quarters or fabric yards for ruffles
Sewing machine
Matching thread
Pins
First, I dug out two white flat sheets that I never use and ironed them. Then I dug out fabric from my stock pile that I thought would match. I didn’t have enough I wanted to use, so I headed to Craft Warehouse and picked out some Moda fat quarters and fabric remnants. I love Moda designs. They have great modern lines. Here is my newest Moda crush:
You can find a lot of great Moda fabric in the Southern Fabric shop on Etsy.
Once I had my fabric, it was time to cut it. I made my ruffle strips 3 inches wide. That worked for me, but the width is entirely up to you.
Length is another thing altogether. It’s hard to know how long your strips should be because the ruffling process makes them so much shorter. I sewed some strips together end to end to make longer strips, others I left short. As you lay the ruffles on your sheet you’ll see how much more you need for each row. I ended up making multiple ruffles for each row and sewing their ends together just before pinning the ruffles on. I’ll explain this in better detail later.
Let’s start from the beginning.
Step 1: Cut strips for ruffling.
Step 2: Sew strips together if necessary to make longer strips. This step can take place now or after ruffling. Some strips will need to be lengthened, some won’t. I had to figure the length out by trial and error because ruffling shortens the strips considerably.
Step 3: Give strips a faux raw edge by sewing a zig zag stitch down each (long) side.
Step 4: Ruffle your strips. Use a straight stitch to sew directly down the center of each strip. I ruffled by pushing fabric through faster than the machine fed it, making wrinkles for the machine to sew over. I know there are other ways, but this was easiest for me and worked well. Don’t forget to backstitch at the beginning and end as you may not finish the edges.
Step 5: Lay your ruffles out on your ironed sheet, making the design look the way you want it. If you need longer strips, go back to step one through four and make a few more. Once they are ruffled, sew them onto the end of another, as shown in step two. If the strips are a bit long, just bunch them up a bit. They are already ruffled and wrinkled so you won’t even be able to tell.
I sewed my design on the sheet upside-down so the reinforced fold over that is usually at the top of a sheet was at the bottom of my duvet. I’ll use that part later to add buttons and button holes to complete the duvet envelope.
The strips that were too long I cut and placed the leftover pieces in the blank space at the very bottom corner.
Step 6: Pin ruffles in place on sheet. Make sure not to pin it to the carpet, like I did.
**Imagine there is a picture here** 
Step 7: Where ruffles meet the reinforced fold at the bottom of the duvet (sheet top), fold ruffles under and pin. Sew a straight stitch along this line to create a finished bottom edge. This step is optional, but I thought it helped make it look more complete. Ruffle ends on the side will be sewn into the seam as you make your duvet envelope.
Step 8: Sew strips on by sewing a straight stitch directly over the ruffling straight stitch (or as close as you can get). This does not need to be perfect – mine definitely is not. Backstitch at the beginning and end.
Step 9: Add any appliques you desire. I’m not going to go over that here. That’s another post entirely. Maybe later this week.
Step 10: Turn your sheets right sides together (like you did for the strips you sewed together) and pin together. Don’t worry about pinning the bottom. You won’t be sewing it.
Step 11: Sew the sides and top together, making sure to backstitch at the beginning and end. Add a closure if you like. I haven’t yet, but I plan on using buttons (I just haven’t found the right ones yet).
You now have a finished duvet! Stuff it with your favorite comforter and enjoy your ruffles!
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Thanks beautiful. I love it!! I found you at Tidy Mom and I already have this pinned
This is absolutely LOVELY! A great tutorial!
PS – newest follower (found you on tidymom) and would love to have you follow me back!
It’s gorgeous! Very creative – you did a beautiful job!
I would love if you would post it and share it with my readers! Join the Community and share any of your creative project!
Susan @ Oh My! Creative
I’d love to join your community! Your site is fantastic! Thanks for the invite!
This is so cute. My daughter is grown and no granddaughters. Would be fun to make
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Just darling:) So adorable and fun to make, thanks for the tut!!
very pretty! got a look at this following the picture on Flamingo Toes! My grand daughter is a ruffle fanatic, I may try this for birthday coming up. thanks for sharing.
Absolutely adorable! I am going to pin it so I won’t forget it as my daughter Aubrey will love it! Please pop by to enter my giveaway…I think it is perfect for you. ~Kelly
unDeniably Domestic
Saw your link over at Tip Junkie. The duvet is just darling! I don’t have anyone to make one for around here, but it’s super cute!
BEAUTIFUL! Love the colorful theme you chose, and thanks for the detailed tutorial, I’ll have to save it so I remember how to make this, I just love these ruffled duvets!
Adorable! I’m pinning this.
Thanks everyone! I hope the tutorial is easy to follow. Love all the love and pinning. You sure know how to make a girl feel great!
That is just awesome! My daughters would love it…but I think I want to make one for myself! Thank you so much for the great tutorial.
This is a great idea
I’ve made sheet duvet covers before but always find frustration in keeping the comforter in place. I’ve fought with safety pins (too scary), velcro (too scratchy), sewing in place (too permanent). While staying at a hotel last week I discovered how they do it. Grosgrain ribbon loops are sewn onto the comforter and grosgrain tabs onto the cover. Just tie them together and they stay!! Now why didn’t I think of that??
How do you keep yours from shifting?
Great tutorial! Thank you so much
I was actually just about to tackle that problem. I’ve found the same thing. Mine is shifting all over the place. Ribbons are such a brilliant idea! Thanks!
I love this idea. Beautiful and creative… almost makes me want to make one for my pretty rainbow girl too! I was searching for “rainbow {embroidery) appliques” and found this blog! So happy to have bumped into it. Thanks!
I’m so happy you bumped into it too! Welcome to my mess
so so pretty! i love it!
Thank you!
This is stunning. It looks like something out of an expensive catalog. I was so impressed that I featured it today on this week’s Motivated Monday at BeColorful
Have a great week.
pam
Thank you so much!!!
I love this project. You did an amazing job and I love your choice of fabrics and colors. Adorable!
what a great idea…for both boys and girls (just change the colours slightly for boys I guess)…very cute!
Thanks so much for sharing. My 4yr. old daughter is getting ready to move into her big girl bed to make room for a new little brother. I am so excited to try this with black, white, and pink. Also great for our small budget.
You did a great tutorial! Very easy to understand. And it is a cute project!!!
Very beautiful!! Thanks for sharing. Going to make this soon!!
i cant wait to make this so beautiful
This is really interesting, You are a very skilled blogger.
I have joined your rss feed and look forward to seeking more of your fantastic post.
Also, I’ve shared your site in my social networks!
Too cute!! I may know a little girl who would love to have something similar in her room! Thanks for sharing!
I found you by googling “how to make a ruffled quilt”… your duvet is beautiful!! I have pinned your tutorial and plan to make this for my two year old’s first big girl room!!!! Thank you!
So glad you found me! I hope you have fun making your quilt! {Your little girl will love it!}
Love this duvet cover! Even though I’m almost 60, I sleep in the twin bed that was my late mother’s, and I think this duvet cover would be so sweet with the bed. It was made the same year Mom was born–1932–and still has the original paint. It would look so sweet with this cover!