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teachingmom
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| Posted: May 16 2006 at 7:09pm | IP Logged
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My two oldest daughters want to buy themselves new comforters to redecorate their room a bit. We've looked online and found some really cute duvet covers, but no reasonably priced comforters. What I'd like to know is if twin size duvet covers will work with a normal twin size comforters? Are they the exact size to cover the comforters we already have?
Have any of you done this and regretted it because the comforter won't stay in place underneath the duvet cover? The girls are in bunk beds, and I can envision the comforter getting all rolled up inside the duvet cover and the whole bed looking messy. (Not to mention it being a pain for them to make the bed each day.)
Thanks for any experience you can share.
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~Irene (Mom to 6 girls, ages 7-19)
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MicheleQ
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Irene,
I can't say for sure but if I had to guess I would say that twin duvet covers are smaller than comforters. The ones we have are German (given to us by our German neighbor)so I'm not sure if the sizing would be the same but they are smaller (not as wide) than our twin comforters. Do the duvets you saw list a size? that would be helpful.
Sorry - not much help.
God bless,
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Michele Quigley
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Rebecca
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| Posted: May 16 2006 at 9:34pm | IP Logged
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Hi Irene,
I have never had any problem with the comforters being larger than the duvets. Duvets are normally cut generously to allow for different thicknesses of comforters.
I believe I have had 5 over the years and with the exception of one of them, the comforters slid around and drove me (dh and kids) crazy. I bought one with a really neat baseball print on it for oldest ds but he had such a hard time making his bed because of the comforter sliding around inside. I can say that if you purchase an extra thick comforter, this might not happen. The duvets are usually too big and that is why they slide around.
The duvet cover that worked well for us was a heavy denim one. The weight of the denim kept the comforter from sliding around when pulling it up to make the bed or sleeping under it.
HTH,
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Rebecca
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| Posted: May 16 2006 at 9:42pm | IP Logged
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I forgot to tell you what I did to remedy the problem.
Taking a piece of yarn, I sewed a single stitch through the duvet and the comforter every eight inches or so for the entire length and width of the duvet/comforter(kind of like a quilt), tying the stitch on the opposite side. This held the comforter in place in the duvet.
I should think you could make this as inconspicuous as you'd like, using a similar colored yarn as the duvet or a contrasting one if you want a whimsical look.
For my sons, I just used a color that matched the duvet.
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MicheleQ
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| Posted: May 16 2006 at 10:00pm | IP Logged
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Rebecca wrote:
Hi Irene,
I have never had any problem with the comforters being larger than the duvets. Duvets are normally cut generously to allow for different thicknesses of comforters.
I believe I have had 5 over the years and with the exception of one of them, the comforters slid around and drove me (dh and kids) crazy. I bought one with a really neat baseball print on it for oldest ds but he had such a hard time making his bed because of the comforter sliding around inside. |
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This is why I am thinking mine are different. They fit the feather comforters (that she gave us with them) perfectly and nothing slides around. But they don't fit my regular comforters - they [the covers] are too small.
Hey Irene you can sew. Get the duvet covers and take in the sides to fit the comforters. It would be very easy to do.
I absolutely love using the duvets with the feather comforters. It's super easy for the girls to make their beds and they are REALLY warm. They don't need a top sheet and we have enough extra duvet covers to change them frequently.
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Michele Quigley
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http://michelequigley.com
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Rebecca
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| Posted: May 16 2006 at 10:11pm | IP Logged
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MicheleQ wrote:
I absolutely love using the duvets with the feather comforters. It's super easy for the girls to make their beds and they are REALLY warm. They don't need a top sheet and we have enough extra duvet covers to change them frequently. |
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We don't use a top sheet either, first of all because everyone is warm enough without one and secondly because the kids have an easier time making their beds with only one thing to pull up. I do have one feather comforter on the girls bed and it is heavier and stays nicer in the duvet as well. (possibly because the girls never sleep in it  . They are always in our bed!)
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ladybugs
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| Posted: May 16 2006 at 10:41pm | IP Logged
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Those top sheets must be a conspiracy  ...we don't use them either....
We could make duvet covers from the top sheets...that's a project for my girls... 
For duvet covers here, the only one who has one is Joe Max and the comforter slides around. He actually has a different comforter that we put under the duvet and he uses that. He tends to run warm so that seems to be all he needs provided it's not too cold here...
I'm sure that none of this is helpful...I just wanted to chat! 
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Maria P
My etsy store - all proceeds go to help my fencing daughters!
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teachingmom
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| Posted: May 16 2006 at 11:21pm | IP Logged
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Well, this is all helpful. I have a normal feather duvet with cover like Michelle described for dh's and my queen size bed. We used it only one winter because it was so hot under the feather duvet! Since I knew they sold real white duvets that are intended to use with the covers, I wasn't sure if the duvet covers would work with normal comforters.
I like the idea of sewing some stitches to quilt them to stay in place. The only drawback is that the quilting might ruin the original comforters for future use. And theirs are in perfect condition and only a few years old. They just want a color change.
As for taking them in a bit, the duvet covers have a decorative edging that would make that impossible, unfortunately. I'll have to do some more checking on sizing. The Target site, where they found what they like, doesn't include measurements.
I'll have to share this info with the girls tomorrow and see if they want to go forward with the purchase. Thanks for all the suggestions!
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~Irene (Mom to 6 girls, ages 7-19)
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Courtney
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I made my dd's duvet cover and sewed a little snap tape inside each corner. I then sewed snap tape on each corner of the comforter. Now I can just snap it in place. I didn't make my sons duvet cover and it drives me crazy b/c it does slide around. His cover is from Bombay kids and is heavy denim. I've noticed it's significantly bigger on the sides. I need to sew some snap tape in their as well.
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Courtney in Texas
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Elizabeth
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| Posted: May 17 2006 at 7:03am | IP Logged
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I actually have something to contribute to a conversation that could turn to sewing. Irene, if the duvet cover your girls like matches sheets, it's often less expensive to buy four top sheets and use them to make two duvet covers. Put the snap tape inside and you're golden!
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Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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Natalia
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I bought some duvet covers from Target and the comforter inside does slide around. The comforters inside are not very think or firm so maybe that is why the slide around. I thought of buying some feather ones to put inside but it is not cold enough in LA to use those. Bed Bath and Beyond sells some clips that are supposed to help with this problem. I think the clips might work if you can get them to clip the right way. i couldn't... but maybe somebody more handy than I can do it. The clips are very inexpensive and they might be worth trying.
Comforter Clips
Natalia
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JennGM
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I have nothing to contribute...except questions:
Do all of you use these comforters through hot days of summer? I can't imagine going through summer except with a light blanket and top sheet.
And I've steered away from comforters and duvets because of dust mite allergies. If I can't wash it frequently, it's not going to work. Anyone have allergy problems and find a work around this?
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Courtney
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| Posted: May 17 2006 at 7:38am | IP Logged
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I do wash the duvet covers. We live in Texas, but both my dc like the heaviness of the duvet and comforter. Also, during the summer, we do sleep with the air at a comfortable temperature. I have the lightest weight down comforter you can get. I know you can get some fiberfill comforters instead of down.
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SaraP
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ladybugs wrote:
| Those top sheets must be a conspiracy ...we don't use them either.... |
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If you tie a knot in each corner of a flat sheet and tuck the knots under the mattress it will work almost as well as a fitted sheet.
We have feather quilts and duvet covers and what I have found is that lightweight duvet covers (no heavier than a cotton sheet) work fine, but the quilts slide around inside the heavier covers . . . but I'm not quite sure why this is.
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MicheleQ
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JennGM wrote:
| Do all of you use these comforters through hot days of summer? I can't imagine going through summer except with a light blanket and top sheet. |
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Jenn,
We don't use them in the summer but then we don't have central air either.
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| And I've steered away from comforters and duvets because of dust mite allergies. If I can't wash it frequently, it's not going to work. Anyone have allergy problems and find a work around this? |
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We shake them out and hang them in the sun. I don't do it daily the way the Germans do (hanging out the windows every morning) but enough to keep them fresh. My 10 yr. old dd does have allergies (dander, pollen, dust) but does fine with the comforters. I do think airing them out regularly is important.
Also, FYI, when they aren't being used my German neighbor told me not to store them in plastic bags but to use cloth bags instead as they need to have some air cirulation even in storage.
God bless!
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Michele Quigley
wife to my prince charming and mom of 10 in Lancaster County, PA USA
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stefoodie
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jenn, we have 3 down comforters that i'm in love with that we put into duvet covers. (they do slide around but i suppose it doesn't bother me that much YET to do anything about it -- we just re-fluff and re-position before bed). we wash the covers once a week. they're used by the less sensitive ones (me and 2 older kids). the more sensitive family members use a top sheet and a vellux blanket instead, unless it's really cold in the winter. no, we don't use them year-round. i really should get rid of them -- i'm looking into hypo-allergenic down substitutes but they're so expensive!!! maybe i'll get one for hubby for Father's day.
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teachingmom
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MicheleQ wrote:
| We shake them out and hang them in the sun. I don't do it daily the way the Germans do (hanging out the windows every morning) but enough to keep them fresh. My 10 yr. old dd does have allergies (dander, pollen, dust) but does fine with the comforters. I do think airing them out regularly is important. |
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You have just shed some light on a few passages in the first Chalet School book that I just finished, Michelle. I couldn't understand why making the bed included throwing some of the bedding over the railing outside the girls' rooms each day. It must have been the feather comforters they were airing out!
MicheleQ wrote:
| Also, FYI, when they aren't being used my German neighbor told me not to store them in plastic bags but to use cloth bags instead as they need to have some air cirulation even in storage. |
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Oh no! My expensive feather duvet that we received as a wedding shower gift almost 13 years ago has been stored in a plastic comforter case for about 11 years now. Ooops!
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~Irene (Mom to 6 girls, ages 7-19)
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teachingmom
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Elizabeth wrote:
| Irene, if the duvet cover your girls like matches sheets, it's often less expensive to buy four top sheets and use them to make two duvet covers. Put the snap tape inside and you're golden! |
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That's a great idea, but in this case, the duvet covers are on clearance and would be as cheap as buying the sheets. Something like $18 each. Not to mention the fact that the project might just end up like other sewing projects of mine . . . sitting on the shelf near my sewing machine for months or years before I get to them. 
Thanks for the ideas for the snap tape and the clips, ladies. I would think that one or the other idea would work, so we'll probably go forward with the purchase.
I just love having dozens of people scattered all around the world who I can call on for ideas. You all are the best! 
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~Irene (Mom to 6 girls, ages 7-19)
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4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Topic: Question about duvets/comforters
