Create a Photo Duvet Cover for Your Bedroom

Duvet covers are a wonderful way to keep your quilts or comforters clean and also provide an easy way to change the style in your bedroom. They are basically a slip cover for your comforter. Add a personal touch to a duvet cover by purchasing one with a background you are happy with and embellish it to create a design that is uniquely your own. Scrap fabrics and old vintage photos can make a duvet cover as special as a family heirloom quilt or create one with teen idol photos for a young fan's room. By using computer t-shirt transfer paper and a scanner, you can make a beautiful photo duvet cover. It is an easy task to accomplish and is a wonderful weekend project, working on it only a few hours each night.

A big key to success with this project is the use of lightweight fusible web. Lightweight fusible web will adhere the fabric and photos to the cover and allow you to sew through it. Heavier weight fusible web will gum up your needle, causing a headache of skipped stitches.

Supplies Needed for a Photo Duvet Cover:

Lightweight fusible web, 5 yards
Ruler
Scissors
Scrap fabric
Iron
Duvet cover
Sewing machine
Computer, scanner and printer
Computer t-shirt transfer paper
Muslin, 1 1/2 yards

Steps for Creating a Photo Duvet Cover:

Step 1-
Measure and cut fusible web into a variety of square and rectangle sizes. The amount needed will depend on the coverage you want on your duvet cover. Place scrap fabric on your ironing surface with the wrong side up. Iron to remove any creases and wrinkles. Place the fusible web shapes glue side down on the wrong side of the fabric and iron to adhere. Cut out each shape using the fusible web paper as a guide.

Step 2-
Peel the backing paper from each fused fabric shape. Arrange the shapes on the front side of your duvet cover. Leave at least two inches of space around the edges of the duvet cover. If they are too close to the edge, it will make sewing difficult. When you are pleased with your design, iron the shapes to adhere. Open the top opening of the duvet. Slide the front side of the duvet cover under the sewing machine needle, between the presser foot and the deck. You will need to push and bunch the rest of the duvet cover out of the way as you sew. Topstitch around each fused square, a 1/4 inch from the edges.

Step 3-
Choose approximately 20 black and white family photos. Scan each one separately on your computer, flipping the photo for a mirror image. When it is applied to the fabric, it will flip to the right side. Print the photos on computer t-shirt transfer paper. Cut out the photos around the borders. Place muslin fabric on your ironing surface. Iron the fabric to remove any creases and wrinkles. Place lightweight fusible web, glue side down on the muslin and iron to adhere. You will need to fuse enough muslin to arrange your photos on.

Step 4-
Turn the fused muslin, fabric side up. Place the photos face down on the muslin, leaving at least a 1/2 inch space between them. Iron according to the manufacturer's instructions for the photo transfer paper. Do not peel off the cover paper from the ironed photos at this time. Cut the muslin around the photos a 1/4 inch larger than the photo borders.

Step 5
Lay the duvet cover on your ironing surface with the front side up. Peel away the fusible web backing paper. Arrange the placement of the photos on the duvet cover, with the glue side down and overlapping on the fabric shapes. Iron the photos to adhere them to the duvet. Topstitch around each fused picture, 1/4 inch from the edges. This will be right beside the photo cover paper. Peel away the cover paper. Note: You may have to reheat the photo to release the paper.

It is very important not to iron over an exposed photo. If you need to iron over a section with a photo, replace a used photo cover paper to protect the image. Note: Bunching the fabric while sewing the photos to the duvet cover may create lines in the photos. I do not find this to be a problem as I like the aged look it gives the photos.