Wednesday 7 August 2013

~Bedspread Upcycling~

I found this fab double valanced bedspread for £3 in a charity shop this week.  Nostalgic memories of the early 1970s of sheets and blankets and bedspreads...prior to the duvet revolution!

Late 60s early 70s quilted bedspread with valance 
This is a close-up of the quilted top - who else can remember having a 'housecoat' or dressing gown in this type of wadded fabric?
I thought about selling it on eBay but decided to chop it up upcycle it into a mini-quilt eiderdown. Don't be too cross with me - the valance has also given me yards of floral fabric for bunting and aprons! These small quilts are so good for camping, as an eiderdown on your bed or just as a sofa blanket.
I use a single duvet ( a light 5.5tog cheap one from Dunelm approx £5) chopped in half and hemmed. So one duvet makes 2 quilts.  This gives a size that will sit nicely atop a double bed. I then cut out the quilted top, allowing 1.5cm seams all round, and backing fabric (I used a vintage flannelette cot sheet).  Sew along three and a bit sides, leaving an opening to insert the duvet. Zigzag edges, clip corners and turn rightside out.  Slipstich the opening.  
I place securing handstitches in each corner through all the layers, and also sew buttons through the layers, to stop the quilt moving around and also to give the appearance of an eiderdown.

Here it is on my bed finished...




8 comments:

  1. Sally thats brilliant. I love what you have done with it. I remember that sort of quilted fabric, in fact when I was 13 (yes, I remember it well) my mum made me a dressing gown out of similar stuff!!

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  2. It looks really lovely Sally and your description has given me an idea! A quilt this size would be just right to slip over me when I have a siesta afternoons during winter.

    Pop into my blog when you have time Sally as I have a giveaway on the go :-)


    keep well

    Amanda :-)

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  3. Really pretty! I like the idea of adding buttons to keep the whole thing together. Jx

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  4. You have a gorgeous blog!

    Thankyou kindly for stopping by mine and leaving such a lovely comment, along with some great ideas for my containers, and the offer of a covetable wren tea bag rest.
    How kind of you!

    Love your up cycled quilt idea, I shall be looking out for one now. I've seen some beauties in the past, but alas I haven't bought them as I wasn't quite sure what to do with them!

    Have a lovely weekend Sally.
    Rw

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  5. What a brilliant idea- it looks fantastic x

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Please feel welcome to get in touch or leave a comment - I really appreciate it. Sally x