Comforter is too big. What to do?

[flower01]

This probably sounds so silly compared to all the serious questions in this forum, but I'm tired of my comforter dragging on the floor. We bought a new king-sized bed this winter, along with new bedding when Linens & Things went out of business. So the comforter cannot be returned. Because we have the mattress/box spring on the floor and not on a frame, the comforter is WAY too big. I actually think it might still be too big even if it was on a frame. But, anyway...I'm not sure what to do. Is that the kind of thing a seamstress would alter? I wouldn't want the cost of fixing it to be more than the actual comforter! Would it be really difficult to shorten it myself? Any ideas would be helpful.

[momma-d]

I've taken one double comforter and separated it to make two kids'-sized ones. It was very easy...all I did was sew two straight seams up the middle of the comforter (to keep the feathers intact), cut in between those lines, over-lock the sewn edges and - voila - done. Easy-peasy.

BTW...I'm guessing this should probably be in the craft/sewing forum...

HTH!

[To-Fu]

Moved to sewing.

[Maluhia]

do you sew?

It sounds like an easy enough project if you sew

[cristeen]

My first question is how big is too big?

Honestly, we use a king sized comforter on a queen sized bed and there are nights where I wake up freezing because DH has stolen all of it.

Also, what is it made of? And how much would you be wanting to trim off? Do you have it in a duvet cover (that will have to be trimmed, too)? Would getting a smaller duvet cover resolve the problem without having to cut down the comforter?

To actually do it is not that difficult if you have a machine that you can squeeze the bulk of the comforter through. You'll also need a flat area so you can mark a more or less straight line to see where to stitch/cut.

Oh, and even if you're just going to throw away the excess, stitch two seams and cut between them... or you'll wind up with feathers everywhere. You could also turn that excess into pillows, though.

[AlwaysByMySide]

I never knew there could be such a think as a too big comforter! I have a king-sized one on my queen-sized bed and still wish it was bigger.

If you don't sew, it will most likely be cheaper to just buy a new one, especially if it's down/feather. How much smaller are you wanting to make it?

[flower01]

It's WAY too big...like I said, I think it'd be too big even if we had our bed on a frame. When the bed is made perfectly, the top is all the way at the head of the mattress and the bottom and sides hang on the floor. I hate that the sides touch the floor because they get dirty - we have hard wood floors and even with sweeping regular dust just settles and then collects. The bottom of the comforter is the worst because when we're sleeping we dont need it covering our heads, so if it's pulled up to our chests where it's comfy...the comforter drags on the ground at least 12inches.. So ideally, i would want about 12" cut off the bottom and a couple inches off either side.

I am not a seamstress - that's why I posted this in nighttime parenting because i thought maybe someone else has had this problem, but apparently not. Anyway, I have sewn a few things and I could borrow a sewing machine...but, I think it would be really difficult to sew through the two layers and the stuffing. So I'm hoping someone has a brilliant idea...

[Maluhia]

here is my attempt at brilliant - talk to your friends and see if anyone else thinks they have one that is too small ie. Queen and TRADE

[flower01]

Originally Posted by KailuaMamatoMaya

here is my attempt at brilliant - talk to your friends and see if anyone else thinks they have one that is too small ie. Queen and TRADE

Oh, but we just bought it and is SO pretty!

[thixle]

I wouldn't risk breaking a borrowed sewing machine (comforters can be super thick )... If I were you and had my own heavy duty sewing machine (and no kids, lol) I would absolutely do it myself.

Try a local sewing/quilting shop. Ask at the shop if they can sew 2 lines of stitching, then cut between and bind it all with something like premade blanket binding, or if there is enough, with the excess fabric. I'm in a "quilting region," and the local shop has prices posted on a board for specialty work-- like Quilt Binding $X King.

[texmati]

Ok... this might be a dumb idea, but what about just pinning it with saftey pins? Along the bottom edge, so it won't bug you while you sleep.

[flower01]

Originally Posted by thixle

I wouldn't risk breaking a borrowed sewing machine (comforters can be super thick )... If I were you and had my own heavy duty sewing machine (and no kids, lol) I would absolutely do it myself.

Try a local sewing/quilting shop. Ask at the shop if they can sew 2 lines of stitching, then cut between and bind it all with something like premade blanket binding, or if there is enough, with the excess fabric. I'm in a "quilting region," and the local shop has prices posted on a board for specialty work-- like Quilt Binding $X King.

Ok, this is helpful. I have no idea if we have a local sewing shop, but it's a start. Thanks. Hopefully, I can find someone to at least point me in the right direction.