Designed by Susan Abramson and Rachel McGarry
Produced by Janine Falcon

Creative covers
Vintage-style fabric and bold colour accents turn plain sheets and pillowcases into designer dressing for any size bed. These easy projects were created exclusively for Canadian Living Magazine by the design team Susan Abramson and Rachel McGarry of 2 Great Gals, who have appeared on HGTV's "Home to Go" and are regulars on WTN's "The Decorating Challenge."

Before you begin either project:
• Measure your duvet width from side to side and length from top to bottom; [width + 2 cm/3/4 in] = total width, [length + 6 cm/2-3/8 in] = total length.
• Measure your pillowcase around the opening edge; [measurement + 2 cm] total edge measurement.
• Preshrink and press sheets and fabric before cutting and sewing.

Duvet cover

Supplies
• 2 flat sheets of required size and desired colour(s), each cut to rectangle, total width x total length, for cover front and back
• Cotton or polycotton fabric as follows:
1 printed band, total length x 48 cm (18-7/8 in)
2 wide strips, each total length x 12 cm (4-3/4 in)
2 narrow strips, each total length x 7 cm (2-3/4 in)
• 12 snap fasteners, 15 mm in diameter, or self-adhesive Velcro circles or buttons
• Dressmaker's chalk pencil and ruler
• Matching thread

Instructions
1. Press under 1 cm (3/8 in) along each long edge of printed band. Press under 1 cm along 1 long (outside) edge of each strip; mark a line 1 cm in from remaining long edge.

2. Overlap 1 pressed edge of band to line on 1 narrow strip; baste in place. Repeat with opposite edge. Overlap pressed edge of 1 narrow strip to line on 1 wide strip; baste in place. Repeat with opposite edge.

3. On right side of cover front, position basted band and strips, right side up, down centre so raw edges are even; pin along edges. Edgestitch through all layers along pressed edges; remove basting. Baste through all layers along raw edges.

4. With right sides together and edges even, pin cover front to back along side and top edges; using 1 cm seam allowance, stitch. Remove basting. Machine-zigzag edge of seam allowance to bind. Turn right side out.

5. Press under 2.5 cm (1 in), then 2.5 cm again around opening; pin and edgestitch. At equal intervals along bottom edge, sew 1 side of snap fasteners to inside hem along cover back; sew remaining side of each to corresponding spot on inside hem along cover front.

Pillowcase

Supplies
• Standard pillowcase of desired colour(s)
• Cotton or polycotton, plain or printed fabric, cut into strip, total
edge measurement x 17 cm (6-3/4 in), for border
• Scraps of coordinating plain or printed fabric, for flower(s)
• Scraps of paper-backed lightweight fusible interfacing
• Contrasting or matching thread
• Dressmaker's chalk pencil

Instructions
1. With right sides together and short edges even, fold strip in half to form loop; using 1 cm (3/8 in) seam allowance, stitch short edges together. Press seam open, then press under 1 cm around each raw edge. With right side up and seams aligned, slip loop over pillowcase so outside edges are even; pin and edgestitch through all layers along pressed edges.

2. With chalk pencil, draw simple flower shape(s) on plain fabric and cut out (or simply cut large flowers from printed fabric, such as chintz); following manufacturer's instructions, fuse wrong side to interfacing and cut out. Peel paper backing off interfacing; fuse to wrong side of matching fabric and cut out.

3. With wide, closely spaced machine-zigzag, stitch around edge of each flower to bind; if desired, stitch centre.

4. Leaving edge(s) free, tack flower(s) to pillowcase where desired.

Fabric, courtesy of One Stop Fabric; Fabrics from Around the World. Sewing, courtesy of Nada Thompson, Artful Organizers. Harmony bed, dresser and night table; Suede lamp; and mirror, all Sears. Photographed at Sears, Eaton Centre, Toronto.