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Bedspreads
When June Cleaver made the bed for Wally and the Beaver, she straightened the sheets, pulled up the blankets, and then topped it off with a bedspread.
Bedspreads have long been superseded by comforters and other more flexible bedding options.
A bedspread is much more fitted. In fact, bed spreads are designed to fit on the top of a bed like a cover. Many bedspreads had definite seams and folds so it had to be applied to the bed just right to hang correctly.
Chenille bedspreads were less fitted and draped over the bed.
However all bedspreads of that era tended to be thin. Many hotels still use that sort of bedspread. The bedspread is meant to be removed from the bed or at least turned down to the foot of the bed for sleeping.
Comforters eased out bedspreads for sheer practicality. It's easy to make a bed with a comforter--you just sort of tug everything into place. Comforters are very forgiving, too. You don't have to fuss with them to get them to fit just right. In fact, they look best when they are a bit haphazard.
Getting a stain or a spot on a bedspread usually involved a trip to the dry cleaner. Many comforters on the market today can go in and out of the washing machine and even dryer without much fuss.
Mattress-Shopper
The Joy of Comforters
Top 10 Things to Know About Comforters
ONE. Comforters are popular because they support the "pulled together" bed rather than the old-fashioned bed you had to make up with hospital corners and a precisely fitting bed spread.
TWO. Comforters are just big fat blankets.
THREE. You can often get decent comforters in the "bed in a bag" sets sold in department and specialty stores.
FOUR. Some European styles encase the comforter in a sheet; you launder the sheet. To make the bed, you just stuff the comforter part back into the sheet (which is like a giant pillowcase).
FIVE. Most American comforters are designed to be cleaned. Check the labels to see if they mean dry-cleaned or washing machine cleaned.
SIX. Down comforters cost more than the comforters that are filled with that fabric stuff.
SEVEN. That fabric stuff is called batting.
EIGHT. Comforters can be stored in the plastic zippered bags they usually are sold in.
NINE. A good option is to invest in several inexpensive comforters to take your bedroom through the seasons.
TEN. Comforters are a close cousin to the quilt. However, a homemade quilt is a work of aristry and individuality, whereas a comforter is more like something you can buy in a store.
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Tidings of Comforters and Joy
Comforters are one of the most popular items in stores that sell bed linens, and they are really just modern-day variations of the old American standard, the quilt.
A comforter is a fat blanket. They’ve become so popular because of their incredible versatility: a good comforter acts like a blanket and a bed spread. Some European styles even work as top sheets in that you can just snuggle up underneath them.
Comforters are filled with some sort of material that acts as insulation. Most department store comforters are filled with a cotton or polyester material known as batting.
Upscale comforters may be stuffed with feathers (down). While some stores tend to advertise down-filled comforters as European, in reality, that description is more evocative than real. Europeans use batting just like Americans do. And both Americans and Europeans use down.
Expect to pay much more for feather than for batting—and be careful with that kind of comforter if you have allergies. Some individuals are highly allergic to down.
Comforters are placed on the top layer of the bed and replace the old-fashioned bed spread.
Some comforters can be laundered while others demand dry cleaning. Check out washing instructions before you make your purchase.
Comforters can be inexpensive enough to allow you to get a few different options, which can help you change the mood of your bedroom or “redecorate” quickly and without spending any money. If you like changes like this, invest in a few cheaper comforters to take you through the seasons or your mood swings. (Be sure you have a good place to store them. It’s best if you can store them in the large plastic zippered sacks they come in.)
Comforters are not the same as quilts, although they are related. Quilts refer to a special sewing technique that binds the outer covering with the inner batting. Quilting is actually a type of very fine stitching, although today quilting conjures up more images of patchwork designs.
A good homemade quilt is a true treasure. You can make one yourself if you have the time, talent, and ability. You can buy them in stores (or even yard sales), but expect to pay top dollar. Quilt shows and craft shares will sometimes offer them. Another way to get a great quilt (without breaking out a needle) is to commission one. There are professional quilters who do "work for hire" as well as local seamstresses who may be able to design a quilt to your specifications.