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Things to Know About Comforters and Bedspreads
by Kathleen M. Peters, www.KatieDidDesign.com
Are you thinking of purchasing a new
comforter or bedspread? There are some things
that you need to know before you go out shopping.
These tips can really save you the lost time,
frustration, and money, and help you choose the
right bedding the FIRST time.
COMFORTER/BEDSPREAD SIZES:
Are you aware that not all
comforters and coverlets are created equal? Not
at all... not even among the same size! To be
blunt, there is absolutely no such thing as a
standard here. One company will sell an 86" x
102" comforter and call it a queen size, another
will sell their 86" x 102" comforter as a king!
Some companies sell separate sizes for full size
beds and queen size beds, and others sell 86" x
86" (or so) comforters for both full and queen
size beds. This is why you MUST pay attention to
the listed measurements of whatever you are
considering.
You should also measure your bed - start on
one side approximately 2" BELOW the top of the
BOXSPRINGS, measure up that side of the bed, all
the way across the top, and back down the other
side again to about 2" below the top of the
boxsprings. This is the MINIMUM width
measurement that you'll want for your comforter.
Then measure from 2" below the top of the
boxsprings on the end of the mattress up to the
top of the bed. You'll want to keep this
measurement in mind, since some comforters are
ridiculously short. Also keep your bed-making
preferences in mind. For example, if you like to
spread the comforter up over the pillows, you'll
need it to be longer than if you just like to
fold it down short of the pillows.
Next, while you're shopping, pay attention
to the measurements for each size. Don't take
the advertiser's word for it that the comforter
is 'oversized'. Very often 'oversized' just
means standard... an understandable claim since
so many companies are making their 'standard'
sizes shorter and smaller! On the other hand,
there are companies who still make their
comforters nice and large, and don't draw any
attention to the fact. So you MUST realize that
the measurements are the only thing to be trusted
when it comes to comforter sizes.
Check the width and the length. You may
want to purchase a king-sized comforter for your
queen sized bed. You'll find that the length is
often pretty good for most retail polyester
comforters, but often short for down-filled
comforters. (The same 84-88" length is often used
for all four sizes: twin, full, queen, and king.)
But there are two options here that may help if
you're considering having a custom cover made:
- The cover can be made with flanged, scalloped,
or ruffled edges, adding two to six inches to
each side and to the bottom edge.
- Or, if you have a full or queen sized bed, you
can purchase the next larger size and turn it
sideways. For example, I found a wonderful down
comforter that is sold in an 88" x 88" size for
both full and queen sized beds. We have a queen
bed, and this length would be about 14" short of
the TOP of the bed when the bottom is draped
properly over the BOTTOM of the bed. My husband
is six feet tall, and hates it when the comforter
is this short. So I bought the 88" x 101"
king-sized comforter instead! If I turn it
sideways, then the width is the same 88" that it
would be with a queen size, but the length is 13"
longer! Just keep in mind that you'll have to
have your cover custom made if you do this, since
all ready-made covers assume you're using it the
way the manufacturer intended.
The paradox here is that while mattress
companies are making their mattresses thicker and
thicker, comforter companies are making their
comforters smaller and smaller! And the thicker
a mattress is, the larger the comforter must be
to completely cover the sides. I don't know if I
ever will understand it, but it is making good
opportunities in business for those of us making
custom bedding!
DOWN COMFORTER CONSTRUCTION:
Down comforters
are made in several different ways... each
affecting the quality of the comforter. You'll
need to consider everything that affects the
quality of a down comforter, so you can choose
the combination that is right for you.
First, is the filling. I recommend avoiding
feathers, and going for 100% down... If you're
going to spend the money for one, then why settle
for the lowest quality available?
Second are the different weights and fill
powers. The fill power is a measure of how high
a comforter 'lofts', so the higher the fill
power, the warmer it will be. This is more
important than the weight, since it is not the
weight that makes the comforter warm, but the air
that gets trapped between the feathers. Some
manufacturers don't advertise the fill power, so
you when you have to go by weight, then you must
assume that the higher the weight is, the higher
the fill power will be. (Side note: When you
first open your down comforter, don't be alarmed
at how flat it is. Shake it out over the bed and
let it sit for several hours. It needs this time
to fluff and expand and re-absorb the air that
has been forced out during packaging.)
Third are the stitching methods. The
highest quality comforters are stitched in a
baffle-box construction. This simply means that
instead of the top and underside of the comforter
being stitched to each other, they are stitched
to the top and bottom of short 'walls' inside the
comforter. This construction is best, because it
allows the down to loft the most. These type of
comforters always have continuous stitching to
keep the down in place so it doesn't all shift to
the edges. Middle-range quality down
comforters are stitched without those 'walls.'
The top and bottom are stitched to each other in
continuous lines, forming pockets to keep the
down from shifting.
The most inexpensive down comforters are
stitched in some sort of pattern that is NOT
continuous. Some designs are made better than
others, but the down in them will eventually
shift to the edges and corners of the comforter.
Just look at the comforter and see if there is a
path that the down could follow from the middle
of the comforter to the edges.
And finally, fourth is the fabric used. You
want as high a thread count as possible, in 100%
cotton. Higher thread counts have tighter
weaves, and therefore are the best choice to keep
the down from working it's way out of the
comforter.
I must also recommend that you always
dry-clean your comforter, even if it says machine
washable. Washings will shrink the cotton, and
damage the loftiness of the down.
I hope that this information makes it easier
for you to find the comforter or bedspread that
is perfect for you. The Internet is a wonderful
resource for doing comparison shopping for these
types of items, especially down comforters. So
have fun shopping!
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This article Copyright 1999-2004 - Kathleen Peters, KatieDid Design. Reproduced with permission.
Kathleen Peters - 'Katie' - is a custom window treatment and bedding designer, and owner of KatieDid Design, her online shop. She is also the editor-in-chief of Decor, Decorating, and Design, a free bi-monthly ezine filled with articles, tips, and guidelines to help with your home decorating.
http://www.KatieDidDesign.com
http://www.DecorDecoratingAndDesign.com
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