How to Make Your Own Fitted Comforter

Comforters provide a decorative yet functional bed covering. Fitted comforters “fit” or hug the two corners at the foot of the mattress instead of hanging in a ruffle or simply free over the sides and foot of the bed. A fitted style resembles a box that fits the mattress for a tailored appearance. Sewing a fitted comforter isn’t a complicated project and involves only four fabric rectangles. It does require lots of measuring, fabric and patience.

Measure the width and length of the mattress top (where you sleep). Add 1 inch to each of the four side measurements. This is the modified mattress measurement. Cut quilted fabric to the modified mattress measurement. This is the comforter’s deck.

Measure the drop from the top edge of the mattress to the floor. Add 2 inches to this measurement. This is the modified drop measurement. Mattress depths typically range from 7 to 14 inches.

Measure from the left corner edge at the bed’s head to the left corner at the foot. Add 1 1/2 inches to this measurement. This is the left-side measurement.

Cut a fabric rectangle according to the modified drop and the left-side measurement.

Measure from the foot left corner across to the right corner. Add 1 1/2 inches to this measurement. This is the end measurement.

Cut a fabric rectangle according to the modified drop and the end measurement.

Measure from the foot right corner to the right corner at the bed’s head. Add 1 1/2 inches to this measurement. This is the right-side measurement. There is no head measurement because the comforter lies flat at the bed’s head.

Cut a fabric rectangle according to the modified drop and the right-side measurement.

Align one short end of the left side with a short end of the end piece. Pin the edges. Sew the two sections together, vertically, using a straight stitch and a 1/2-inch seam allowance. Remove the pins.

Align one short end of the right side with the unsewn short end of the end piece (sewn to the left side). Pin the edges. Sew the edges together, vertically, using a straight stitch and a 1/2-inch seam allowance. Remove the pins. This piece should wrap along the mattress’s left side, foot and right side. This is the comforter drop piece.

Place the deck (step one) onto the mattress with the correct side facing up. Align one unsewn short edge of the drop piece with the comforter’s head edge so that the drop fabric has the wrong side facing up. The drop is “inside out.”

Align the drop’s left edge of the long left side with the deck’s left edge. Pin. The left corner aligns with the left deck corner. Pin the corners. Continue pinning across the edges of the drop end and the deck’s end. Align the right end corners and pin. Continue pinning the drop’s right edge of the right side to the deck’s right edge. The drop will be lying on top of the deck with the outer edges pinned.

Sew the drop to the deck along the pinned edges using a straight stitch and a 1/2-inch seam allowance.

Turn the bottom edges of the drop over 1/2-inch against the wrong side of the fabric. Fold the edges over another 1/2-inch. Pin. Hem the edges using a straight stitch and 1/2-inch seam allowance. Remove the pins.

Turn the edges of the left drop head, the head, and the right drop head over 1/2-inch against the wrong side of the fabric. Fold the edges over another 1/2-inch. Pin. Hem the edges using a straight stitch and a 1/2-inch seam allowance. Remove the pins.

Place the fitted corners onto the corners at the bed’s foot. Arrange the comforter smoothly over the mattress. Place pillow shams over the flat edge of the comforter at the bed's head.