How To Patchwork Duvet Cover

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.

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 fabric. See disclosure further down.
CUTTING
1. 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.

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 .

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 .

5. Zig zag raw edge (this helps prevent during washing).

6. open and press, clip corners square. This is a completed block. Fingers crossed it should measure 37x37cm.

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.

Each finished block should now measure 35x35cm with the overall size being 142x212cm (includes a 1cm seam allowance around all sided).

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.

TO MAKE A QUILT
You can turn this patchwork top into a quilt if duvets are not your thing.

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