• All about me
    • Why the -esque?
  • PR & Advertising
    • Disclosure

Domestic Goddesque

Home life. Home style. Home cooking. Home Exchanging.

  • Home Life
    • Crafts for Kids
    • Photograph
      • Project 366
  • Home Style
    • handmade gifts
    • Inspired by
    • pinspirational
    • sew and sew
  • Home Cooking
    • Cooking with Kids
    • Forever Nigella
    • Vitamix
  • Away From Home
  • Working from Home
    • Blogger event
    • campaign
    • giveaway
    • Product review
      • books for thought
    • sponsored

July 12, 2012 by Domestic Goddesque 16 Comments

How to make an pillow sleepover bed

I’m going to show you how to make a cheaper alternative to the GLTC Bed in a Bag,  which costs a staggering £95.00.  My version cost  a tenth of that. I used a single duvet cover set that I picked up from a local charity shop for £2.50, and pillows that were on sale from Dunelm Mill. Excluding thread, which I had already, the cost of my version is £9.50. Here’s How to make an pillow sleepover bed.

GLTC- style sleepover bed

First up, iron your duvet cover. Annoying but it does make a difference in the making process. Next you should cut a strip approximately 10cm wide down the length of one of the long seams. Put this to one side as it will make the bed-ties. Then you need to place the pillows on the duvet cover next to each other along the length of the cover. Using the pillows as a guide cut along the length of the cover, leaving a 10cm width of fabric beyond the end of the pillow which will become the hem later.

how to make a sleepover bed

The second step is to turn the cover inside out and sew across the bottom of the duvet cover, so that you are sealing up the opening into which you would put the duvet when changing the cover. Turn it the right way out. All the stitching will now be done on the right side of the fabric.

easy sleepover bed from pillows

Next you will make the ‘pockets’ into which you will stuff the pillows. Fold your duvet cover in half (along the long side) and pin along the fold. Sew along this line, stopping 10cm from the ‘raw’ open edge of the duvet cover to allow for later hemming- I sewed a double hem on each channel for strength. Fold this seam to the end seam, pin along the fold and sew a double seam once again. Repeat with the other half of the duvet cover. You should now have four pockets with a long open edge.

make your own bedroll

Stuff one pillow into each pocket, then fold the raw edges in, pin and sew- once again it is best to sew a double seam. Sewing this seam is particularly challenging as you have to manhandle the bulky pillows and so forth.

make your own bedroll

Go back to the strip of fabric you cut initially, tuck in the raw edges, pin and sew. Initially I divided this into two pieces and sewed them to the middle pocket seam but found that they were slightly too short to make tying easy. I then realised that, with a little effort, the bed would fit into the pillowcase that came with the duvet cover for storage- much like the bag in the GLTC version- so I removed them. When I made my second pillow-bed (one for each girl!) I just left the tie as one long piece which was more than enough to hold the bed together whilst I ‘stuffed’ it into the pillowcase, and which was easily stored in the pillowcase when not in use.

bedroll from pillows

And that’s it. Using an existing duvet cover cuts down on the measuring and sewing that you need to do- something that makes sewing a lot quicker for me at least. The fact that the covers I bought came with pillowcases has turned out to be a bonus, since I now have a ‘bag’ in which to store my beds. Yes, it takes a little effort, but no more than is required when stuffing a sleeping bag back into it’s storage bag after using!

bedroll from pillows

 

Share the love for this post:

  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Print
  • Tumblr

Like this:

Like Loading...

Related

«
»

Filed Under: Home Style, Inspired by, sew and sew

Comments

  1. maggy, red ted art says

    January 5, 2014 at 18:05

    Awww that turned out so well! Looks like the kids give it the thumbs up too!!

    Reply
    • Domestic Goddesque says

      January 5, 2014 at 19:28

      They loved it @redted and it still gets regular use!

      Reply
  2. Kathryn says

    January 28, 2013 at 21:22

    So glad I found this as yes searching couldn’t spend more than £30 so this is a little treasure.

    Reply
    • Domestic Goddesque says

      January 28, 2013 at 23:55

      Glad I could help Kathryn 😀

      Reply
  3. mari says

    September 25, 2012 at 18:11

    Genius! I have two ‘naff cheap Peppa Pig covers that need a use and now I have found it – thank you

    Reply
  4. Emmys Mummy says

    September 24, 2012 at 08:46

    Love love love this

    Reply
  5. Heidi says

    July 24, 2012 at 00:21

    What a great idea! It looks like it was a hit. I love this! I would be happy to have you share this and any other idea you would like to link up to “One Creative Weekend” at OneCreativeMommy.com.

    Reply
  6. Kim of Mo'Betta says

    July 21, 2012 at 15:42

    I have had this pinned for a while, but haven’t gotten around to doing it…it’s such a cute idea. Love that last pic too! Visiting from Six Sisters’.

    Reply
    • Domestic Goddesque says

      July 22, 2012 at 10:57

      Thanks for visiting Kim. I confess I’ve been planning to make this for about a year so I’m delighted to finally have it finished.

      Reply
  7. Jessie says

    July 18, 2012 at 23:00

    This is just adorable! You did such a great job 🙂

    Reply
  8. Natasha says

    July 18, 2012 at 11:47

    ohh i love this

    Reply
  9. Jen aka The Mad House says

    July 17, 2012 at 10:44

    Fan blooming tastic. I love you!

    Reply
    • Domestic Goddesque says

      July 17, 2012 at 13:25

      And I you Madhouse Mother 😀

      Reply
  10. Jess at SewSet says

    July 16, 2012 at 12:03

    This is amazing! I hope you will consider uploading a photo into SewSet, a new on-line sewing directory, so others can find this amazing tutorial and your site!

    Thanks so much for sharing!
    – Jess
    sewset.com
    mesewcrazy.com

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Sleepover Cheapover - Make a DIY Bring-Along Bed - Craft Weekly says:
    April 11, 2015 at 01:51

    […] How to make an easy sleepover bed | Domestic Goddesque. […]

    Reply
  2. Sleepover Cheapover – Make a DIY Bring-Along Bed | Craft Ideas, Crafts, Free DIY Projects says:
    July 12, 2012 at 05:44

    […] How to make an easy sleepover bed | Domestic Goddesque. […]

    Reply

Go on! You know you want to tell me what you think!Cancel reply

Outstanding Contribution Finalist

MAD Blog Awards UK 2015

Categories

Vintage Domestic Goddesque

Featured on:

IhookedupwithHoHlamespice
parentdish - for parenting advice
Tots100 BlogCamp for UK parent bloggers
TOTS100 - UK Parent Blogs

What does Mummy do all day?

Lumie Light and aromatherapy alarm clock

Lumie Bodyclock Iris bringing light- and aromatherapy to your bedroom

When Bad Things Happen in Good Bikinis #WillAidMonth

Pudsey Bear Inspired Children in Need Cupcakes

How to make Pudsey Bear Cupcakes

Domestic Goddesque Headshot

Too Much

Copyright © 2025 · Design by Stacey Corrin

Copyright © 2025 · Sprinkle Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d