What is a "duvet"?  What is a "duvet cover"?   

A duvet, pronounced "due-vay" (it means "down" in old French) is the same thing as a down comforter; in it's simplest form, a cloth bag filled with down and feathers. Duvets, or down comforters (also often referred to as a duvet insert by American interior designers), originated in rural Europe and were often filled with whatever kind of feathers that happened to be available. Eiderdown, even back then, was highly desirable!

Many people in the United States say "duvet" when referring to a duvet cover. Most people in Europe and Canada refer to a down comforter as a duvet. We find in our conversations with our customers that it is a good idea to be very clear about what we are talking about!A duvet cover is the protective and often decorative cover that slips over the down comforter (or duvet), much like a pillow case on a pillow. Duvet covers are bought, like other bedding, according to the size of the bed. A duvet fitting a queen-sized bed needs a queen-sized duvet cover, for instance. Another advantage of duvet covers is that they are changeable. These days, a quality down comforter is much more than a rough cloth bag filled with the inedible portions of last nights supper! :) Luxurious soft down proof fabrics, highly processed, super clean, de-dusted and sanitized white goose down and state of the art baffled box construction results in a down comforter that will stay fluffy and warm for many years to come.The one issue with duvet covers is actually getting the things on the duvet. It can be tricky, especially with king-sized duvets. The easiest way is to spread the duvet flat on the bed, with the cover turned inside out and the bottom seam facing the bottom of the duvet. The person making the bed then puts her arms inside the cover, grasps the bottom corners of the cover and the bottom corners of the duvet and raises the duvet off the bed, allowing the cover to fall around the duvet. The person can then shake the cover in place over the duvet and secure it at the top.

Duvet covers are useful because duvets usually cannot be washed. Water would ruin the stuffing. However, duvet covers can be laundered along with the sheets and pillowcases. This keeps the duvet fresh as well. Duvet covers button, zip or tie at the top to keep the cover secure.