Blanket covers are a single layer of fabric and they are an old fashioned item that is not made anymore. Their concept can be hard to fathom for us Westerners. They have buttonholes that are sewn down the sides, and sometimes along the top and bottom, too. They fasten, (often with double-sided buttons, see above photo, to a blanket which also has corresponding buttonholes. Sometimes they attach only to one side of the blanket and sometimes they wrap around the edges.

Blanket covers were used, as a sheet or duvet cover is used today, to protect the bedspread or blanket which is usally made of something that is more expensive and is harder to launder such as a down comforter or a wool blanket. This blanket cover is placed on the bed beneath the blanket and the sides and bottom came up and over and buttoned onto the blanket/bedcover to protect it. Then the embroidered flap at the top is turned down over the top edge so that the exquisite embroidery is displayed. Most of the blanket/bedcover still shows. Or, of course, you can use them as sheets!

I have tried to approximate the way it would have been used although the original blanket or eiderdown counterpane would have been the exact size and would have had buttons so that the blanket cover could be attached. (I have never seen a real one.) Also, I put this with the top edge facing the bottom of the bed for the sake of photographing it. In reality, the turndown goes at the head of the bed. It is not complicated, just complicated to explain. Plus, you do not have to use it this way... you can be creative. There are several sets of these and they are all spectacular!

A Duvet cover (French: pronounced "doo-vay") is an envelope into which the bedcover is inserted. To see only duvets, please click here.

To see all available bedcovers, please click here.