Why did the Soviets make duvet covers with a hole in the middle?

Duvet covers did not begin to be sewn around the world until after World War II, when mass factory production of fabrics began to develop. Before that, people used a flat sheet instead, to which they fastened a blanket (usually a woolen one). Blanket covers were known mainly in countries with cold climates, but this was not widespread everywhere.

By the 1950s, the Soviet Union had already begun producing bedding sets that included duvet covers. They featured a cutout on the front. Such duvet covers could be found anywhere, from home bedrooms and kindergartens to hospitals and army barracks. Why did they choose such an odd design?

The most common explanation is that it was easier to sew this way. “One of the reasons for this decision was that the fabric used for sewing, for example calico, was 80–90 cm wide, while the width of a duvet cover had to be from 143 to 220 cm. Two pieces had to be stitched together and this seam ran right down the middle,” says Elena Meshcherina, head of the garment production department at a Russian company that manufactures bedding.

To prevent the seam from spoiling the appearance of the front side, a diamond, square or circle was “cut out” and finished with piping or lace. Some sources say that the leftover fabric was used for pillowcases, but no evidence of this has been found.

In addition, such a design also made it possible to do without buttons, zippers, snaps and other fasteners on duvet covers. And this immediately made production cheaper and increased productivity. After all, a worker could sew more per shift.

Those who lived in the USSR often recall that such a cutout also made it easier to tuck the blanket into the duvet cover. It was much easier to do this through the central opening than in modern models. The blanket shifted around less and did not get twisted.

By the way, some Russian factories make duvet covers with diamond-shaped holes in the middle to this day.