Vent: bedding - what's what

[kaytieeldr]

Okay, the decorative thing that's placed over the 'sleeping' linens in the morning so the room looks nice, that's tailored, made out of several pieces of fabric, draping down the sides of the bed, and encasing the pillows as well? That's a bedspread.

A comforter is a blanket with filling - generally either down or some type of poly fiber. It's used with or in place of blankets, for warmth. It's like a quilt, to a degree - not as detailed, but usually thicker.

A duvet is simply the 'pillowcase' or 'slipcover' for a (usually down, because the cover fabric is white or off-white) comforter.

Bedspreads are usually removed from the bed before retiring. Designers, manufacturers, and retailers don't expect consumers to sleep under them. Duvets provide no warmth whatsoever - they're not intended to be slept under 'unstuffed'; that's the purpose of top sheets.

There (yet again ) seems to be some confusion over these terms/items on another thread on the DIS, and I just had to vent somewhere. Now back to your regularly-scheduled Community Board.

 

[C.Ann]

LOL.. Sorry, but I had to comment on your description of a "comforter"..

As I'm doing my research on the Amish, I was kind of surprised to learn that they use quilts and comforters to keep warm.. So of course then I got to wondering what they make their "comforters" out of - as opposed to their "quilts"..

It makes sense that they would use comforters too - because they're far less time consuming to make than quilts.. So eventually - when I get to the "house furnishings" portion of my research - I'll be trying to track down that info.. Colors; fabric (plain, I'm sure); filling; etc. - and I'm sure each "Order" will likely have certain colors that they are limited to..Then again - maybe not.. Most of their quilts are very colorful! Hmmmm...

 

[Kath2003]

Okay, the decorative thing that's placed over the 'sleeping' linens in the morning so the room looks nice, that's tailored, made out of several pieces of fabric, draping down the sides of the bed, and encasing the pillows as well? That's a bedspread.

In the UK, that's called unnecessary.

A comforter is a blanket with filling - generally either down or some type of poly fiber. It's used with or in place of blankets, for warmth. It's like a quilt, to a degree - not as detailed, but usually thicker.

This is a duvet or quilt.

A duvet is simply the 'pillowcase' or 'slipcover' for a (usually down, because the cover fabric is white or off-white) comforter.

This is a duvet cover or quilt cover. This is because it's a cover for the duvet or quilt

Bedspreads are usually removed from the bed before retiring. Designers, manufacturers, and retailers don't expect consumers to sleep under them.

Which is why they are unnecessary

Duvets provide no warmth whatsoever - they're not intended to be slept under 'unstuffed'; that's the purpose of top sheets.

Duvets are warm in the UK. In my house, we don't believe in top sheets.

 

[We_Love_Disney]

Thank you for the educational moment!

 

[C.Ann]

Wait! I'm not supposed to use the quilts that I've made as both a quilt and a bedspread?????

Uh oh.................................

 

[SandrA9810]

I sleep with a comforter, and usually no top sheet. The thing is so thin and usually wraps up around my feet some how, causing me to wake up in the night.


Comforters - I believe to be a large piece of fabric, usually with stuffing inside to make it big and fluffy

Duvets - Those snooty sounding, fancy shmacy comforters that let you change the outside. Or kinda like a pillow case for the comforter.

Quilts - Usually hand sewn pieces together, not as thick but generally warmer than a comforter.

Bedspread - a fancy comforter type cover to place over the bed, when not in use, to make it look more pretty. My grandmother had a blue one that she put on when company was coming, but never slept under it. Or what you would find at a hotel.

 

[DVCLiz]

Uh - oh, I'm doing it wrong, too. My bedspread is a solid piece in the matelasse style and it doesn't come off the bed unless it's being washed. Who knew?

My cats like it, though - so I'm keeping it even though it isn't made of several pieces of fabric, nor is it tailored...

 

[Luvchefmic]

its too hot now for anything on the bed but a top sheet and all the other things need to be washed

 

[Imzadi]

Comforters are NOT puffy quilts. Most quilts that I have experienced are stiff and flattened down from all the stitching. They also look horrible after they've gone in the dryer because the thread gets all puckered.

That may have been the look in colonial times, (or whenever quilts were invented,) but that wasn't by choice. I don't care for a puckery look on my bed.

Comforters look, and DO feel very soft, fluffy & cushiony.

Duvet covers DO add warmth. They are 2 layers added onto a comforter, creating insulation and trapping warm air from body heat.

 

[Luvchefmic]

Comforters are NOT puffy quilts. Most quilts that I have experienced are stiff and flattened down from all the stitching. They also look horrible after they've gone in the dryer because the thread gets all puckered.
That may have been the look in colonial times, (or whenever quilts were invented,) but that wasn't by choice. I don't care for a puckery look on my bed.

Comforters look, and DO feel very soft, fluffy & cushiony.

Duvet covers DO add warmth. They are 2 layers added onto a comforter, creating insulation and trapping warm air from body heat.

We bought a handmade wedding ring quilt when we got married in 1986 from yes an Amish woman (followed the hand painted signs all the way to her house) in PA it still looks beautiful.have machine wash/dried 1000s of times.I know you said "most" but boy if you can ever buy the "real" thing that is quality

 

[kaytieeldr]

Bedspread - a fancy comforter type cover to place over the bed, when not in use

Thank you, Sandra. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!!! THIS is my point!!! People keep talking about the 'disgusting' comforters, and 'don't ever bring a blacklight to a hotel room', and 'there was an episode of 20/20*...' when they MEAN bedspreads. You don't sleep under the bedspread!!!! And the comforter or blanket or quilt (sorry, C.Ann and NHDisneyLover, but rarely found in the hotels I frequent ) is protected from any grubbiness BY the bedspread.




*or some such show

 

[C.Ann]

Comforters are NOT puffy quilts. Most quilts that I have experienced are stiff and flattened down from all the stitching. They also look horrible after they've gone in the dryer because the thread gets all puckered..

Excuse me, but mine aren't all "puckered"..
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

Because I "cheat" and tie them off with yarn like my grandma did - or - I don't do all the "stitching" - just sew the 3 layers together (with the top layer being the "designed" one).. Lazy quilter here..

Mine are also very thick - because I usually use a blanket in the center, rather than batting..

 

[C.Ann]

Thank you, Sandra. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!!! THIS is my point!!! People keep talking about the 'disgusting' comforters, and 'don't ever bring a blacklight to a hotel room', and 'there was an episode of 20/20*...' when they MEAN bedspreads. You don't sleep under the bedspread!!!! And the comforter or blanket or quilt (sorry, C.Ann and NHDisneyLover, but rarely found in the hotels I frequent ) is protected from any grubbiness BY the bedspread.



*or some such show

Are you saying we're "grubby"??

 

[DVCLiz]

Thank you, Sandra. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!!! THIS is my point!!! People keep talking about the 'disgusting' comforters, and 'don't ever bring a blacklight to a hotel room', and 'there was an episode of 20/20*...' when they MEAN bedspreads. You don't sleep under the bedspread!!!! And the comforter or blanket or quilt (sorry, C.Ann and NHDisneyLover, but rarely found in the hotels I frequent ) is protected from any grubbiness BY the bedspread.




*or some such show

Sorry, kaytieeldr, but who died and made you boss of bedding? I sleep under the bedspread all the time - what should I do - take it off and dump it on the floor?

 

[MIGrandma]

Sorry, kaytieeldr, but who died and made you boss of bedding? I sleep under the bedspread all the time - what should I do - take it off and dump it on the floor?

This.

In the winter the bedspread in my house serves as an extra blanket.

 

[Luvchefmic]

Sorry, kaytieeldr, but who died and made you boss of bedding? I sleep under the bedspread all the time - what should I do - take it off and dump it on the floor?

YES to both things you just asked she is the boss because its hers thread and yes throw that grubby thing on the floor

 

[Imzadi]

Excuse me, but mine aren't all "puckered"..
.
Because I "cheat" and tie them off with yarn like my grandma did - or - I don't do all the "stitching" - just sew the 3 layers together (with the top layer being the "designed" one).. Lazy quilter here..

Mine are also very thick - because I usually use a blanket in the center, rather than batting..

Oooo! Now, this would be be more of a quilt I'd be interested in. I sometimes like the intricate designs on quilts, just not all the flattened puckers.

I wish they'd make duvet covers with intricate quilt designs.

 

[DMRick]

Geesh..who knew, I have a bedspread on one bed and a quilt on the other that I use as a bedspread, and I and my company have slept under them both.

When I visit my son and family in Ireland, they have a fancy something on the bed that I take off (cause it only comes up half way and it appears to be decorative..and fancy pillows match it) and a comforter covered by a duvet, that is very warm (no top sheet). And a whole bunch of fancy pillows that I take off..and just use the plainest one I can find for our heads. We try to balance them on things, so we don't get them dirty on the floor.

A fancy bedspread came with our RV, and I was told by other campers, that that should be put away, and not taken out until we sell our unit, since it matches everything. Oops, silly me, we use it, and I even ignored the dry clean only tag and washed it in the machine. Still looks as good as new.

Sorry, kaytieeldr, but who died and made you boss of bedding? I sleep under the bedspread all the time - what should I do - take it off and dump it on the floor?

 

[lovemygoofy]

Well I have a question for the all knowing bedding people.

What the hell is that piece of fabric that is thrown over the bottom of the bed in a hotel(at least the Marriott chains) that is pretty much useless? I use it as a tablecloth on my lap when I eat but I'm guessing it's for something else.

 

[Tinkermommy]

Okay, the decorative thing that's placed over the 'sleeping' linens in the morning so the room looks nice, that's tailored, made out of several pieces of fabric, draping down the sides of the bed, and encasing the pillows as well? That's a bedspread.

A comforter is a blanket with filling - generally either down or some type of poly fiber. It's used with or in place of blankets, for warmth. It's like a quilt, to a degree - not as detailed, but usually thicker.

A duvet is simply the 'pillowcase' or 'slipcover' for a (usually down, because the cover fabric is white or off-white) comforter.

Bedspreads are usually removed from the bed before retiring. Designers, manufacturers, and retailers don't expect consumers to sleep under them. Duvets provide no warmth whatsoever - they're not intended to be slept under 'unstuffed'; that's the purpose of top sheets.

There (yet again ) seems to be some confusion over these terms/items on another thread on the DIS, and I just had to vent somewhere. Now back to your regularly-scheduled Community Board.

Dear OP,

I have to respectfully disagree on your definition of a duvet.

A duvet is another type of blanket but filled with down or feathers. You use a duvet cover over it for decoration or for easier cleaning since duvets normally have to be dry cleaned. Duvets are very warm but can vary from "summer" or lighter ones to very warm winter ones.

I say sleep under whatever you want to. It's your bed if you make it you have to lie in it!