If you know how to sew using a sewing machine, the possibilities are almost endless with the useful and fun items you can make. With a pattern, your basic sewing supplies, and your sewing machine, you can sew clothing, cover old furniture cushions, and make new light-blocking curtains for your bedroom. Quilts and comforters are items that are useful on a daily basis and can be kept as part of your family emergency preparedness. These instructions will tell you to make a reversible queen-sized comforter with two matching pillow cases 

For this project, you will need:

• Sewing machine
• Two coordinating fabrics, seven yards each
• Matching sewing thread
• Straight sewing pins
• Sewing shears only used to cut fabric
• Steam iron
• Queen-sized bag of quilt batting (90 inches by 108 inches)

Prepare and Cut Your Fabric

As soon as you bring your fabric home from the store, you should wash and dry it. This cleans the fabric to remove any residue from the manufacturing process and shrinks the fabric before you make your quilt. Most fabrics will shrink the first time you wash and dry them, and it is better that you do this before you cut and sew the fabric into your creation. Otherwise, you could end up with a newly-sewn item that will shrink the first time you wash and dry it, rendering it useless. You can expect 1/4 to 1/2-inch of shrinkage on a full yard of fabric.

Next, measure and cut off one yard, or 36 inches of fabric from each length. Then, measure and cut off three yards of fabric from each length. This will give you one piece of fabric measuring 36 inches by 45 inches and two pieces of fabric measuring 45 inches by 108 inches in each print of fabric.

Sew Your Fabrics Together

Now you can sew your fabrics together to create the top and bottom pieces for your queen-sized comforter. Place both three-yard pieces of matching print right sides together. Make sure the pieces are even with each other and are exactly the same sizes. You may need to trim off any uneven cut-edges from around the fabric to make them even.

Using a 1/3-inch seam allowance, stitch the two halves of fabric together, sewing along the longer, three yard side of the two pieces of fabric. When you open the two pieces of fabric you will have one full section of fabric measuring approximately 90 inches by 108 inches. With the iron, press open the seam between the two pieces of fabric. 

Repeat this process for the other two lengths of fabric.

Construct the Comforter

1. Layer the pieces of your comforter on a floor or other large area that will accommodate its entire size.
2. Place the batting on the bottom, then place both pieces of fabric on top with their right sides together.
3. Pin the layers together around the edges using straight pins, positioning each pin approximately every six inches.
4. Using a 1/2-inch seam allowance, sew all three layers together, leaving a 18-inch opening on one end.
5. Pull the comforter's insides out through the opening so the batting is between the two fabrics and the seams are folded on the inside.
6. Press the edges around the comforter so the seams are flat.
7. Fold and steam press the raw edges of the comforter's opening under 1/2 inch and stitch it closed.
8. Sew the layers of the comforter together by stitching three seams down the length of the comforter every 24 inches.

Make the Pillow Cases

Using one of the one-yard pieces, fold and press down a three-inch hem along one of the sides measuring 44 inches. Stitch the hem in place using a 2 1/2-inch seam allowance. Fold the piece of hemmed fabric over with right sides together to create a 33 by 22 inch shape. Using a 1/2-inch seam allowance stitch the two remaining raw edged sides of your pillow case. Turn the case inside-out and press open the seams. Repeat this for the other pillow case.

Each side of your comforter will have a different print. You can turn the comforter over to display a different print that matches one of your pillow cases. You can also check out sites like http://www.kinglinen.com for more info and ideas.