Converting doona covers to quilts?

Question

I had gotten fed up with doonas as they are so messy looking and uncomfortable, plus the bed always looked unmade even after I make it.

So, I have bought blankets and a beautiful blue coverlet. However, I still have many lovely looking silk, suede and jaquard kingsized doona covers...too nice to throw away. I dont want to give them away, as I still like them.

I was wondering if anyone, in Adelaide, Australia converts doona covers to quilts or coverlets, or whom one should ask, as I dont sew? Would it be more expensive to convert the covers or to buy new ones?

Answer 1

I'm a quilter, and I'm already thinking about ways to convert them.

What you need if you don't sew is a friend who sews or to find someone who quilts pieced tops as a business.

One of the ways I finish a quilt is by "birthing" it. It sounds complicated, but it isn't. Turn your doona inside out and place batting covering the entire surface. You'll need to stitch the batting down on three sides, and then turn it all right side out so the batting is inside. Then you slip stich it closed.

Now you get down to the business of quilting. If your doona has a printed design, follow the outlines of the design. If not, you get to select patterns to stitch. This is the fun part! You can choose traditional designs, celtic knots, welsh patterns, kangaroos, anything that fits your fancy!

The designs get stiched all the way through the top and bottom (baste the quilt in place first). It's up to you how much detail you put into it, but the more stitching in the quilt, the less the batting will slide.

Answer 2

I assume that a doona cover is a comforter cover. Like a duvet cover in British English. Getting a quilt made is an expensive business. A good quilt for a king bed will cost you US$800-1000. There is a lot of work involved. Even if you just want squares it will cost you a bundle. Either sell them on ebay or keep them for something else, but unless you are sentimentally attached to them, or you were going to make them into quilts yourself you will spend more money than it's worth to get these things made into quilts.