my mother and all our neighbors used 'quilt covers' that fit like a pillowcase and zippered at the bottom. they were changed weekly with the sheet sets and used to keep the utility quilts clean and longer lasting and also to match up with the colors of the room. they were washed and ironed and they were folded for the next week's rotation. my brother had blue stripes and solid green ones, my sister and i had pink and yellow ones with tiny rosebuds.