Sewing Bed Sheets Tutorial: How to Sew Bed Sheets Easily
You may not have the budget to get yourself a nice set of flat or fitted bed sheets. That is okay. Do it yourself is a great way to save money even when you are only needing some simple bed sheets to cover your mattress. Sewing your bed sheets is the way to go.
How to sew bed sheets: The steps to sewing your bed sheets are quite simple and straight forward. The first step is to figure out how much fabric you need. Then pin that fabric together and sew with a straight stitch. Then give your sheets a 1-inch hem folding to the wrong side, pin then sew and you have created your own bed sheet.
This is a very simplified process but if you want more details on how to sew bed sheets for you and your family, just continue to read our article. The information you need is inside and it will only take you a few minutes to get what you need to know in order to create your own perfect bed sheets.
Sewing Bed Sheets 101
The Sewing Items You Will Need to Use
The following is a basic list of the sewing items you will need when you sew your own bed sheets. You may add one or more items if the need arises. The key to sewing your bed sheet patterns correctly is to make sure you have all the tools and supplies you need before you get started.
- Tape measure- the longer reach the better.
- Fabric- the selection is up to your preference and hypoallergenic needs.
- Straight pins- it is best to have more than you need on hand.
- Sewing machine.
- Thread- the color that matches the fabric is the one to use.
- 1/2 inch wide elastic- this is when you are sewing fitted sheets.
- Safety pins- these help secure the fabric and other sewing items.
- Scissors- you will need to trim the fabric as you go or cut the thread.
How to Sew Fitted Bed Sheets
One of the keys before you get started sewing any type of bed sheet is to know the fabric yard size. Knowing this little piece of information will help you economize and keep you from overbuying fabric.
The standard fabric yard is 36 inches long by 44 inches wide. You will need between 2 and 2 1/2 yards to make a good fitted sheet, depending on the size of the mattress you are going to cover.
The first step is to pin your fabric lengths together and get close to the size you want. Never be short as it is difficult to make up the difference. Always try to have more fabric length and width than you need.
After pinning, use a straight stitch to sew the fabric together, making sure you leave a 1-inch seam allowance. Then for the edges, you should use a zig-zag stitch for additional strength.
Once that is done, use your scissors to cut the excess fabric off till you get to the dimensions you need. Now fold the edges at least 1/2 inch covering all the raw edges and pin. Use a straight stitch to sew the edges and remove the pins.
When that is done, you need to measure the mattress to get its thickness. You only measure the mattress, not the box spring. Now lay the fabric over the mattress and cut a square out of each corner. The square has to be one inch longer than the mattress depth.
With a 1/4 inch hem pin the box first and sew using a straight stitch and a zig-zag stitch to get the sewing completed. The next step is to mark out a 20-inch section around each box, with 10 equal inches, then pin and turn over forming a 1-inch casing. Sew the casing leaving the ends open for the elastic.
The last step is to cut 10-inch elastic strips, attach safety pins to the elastic and feed those through the casing. Once the ends of the elastic show through the other end, pin and sew to the casing. Finally, sew casing closed.
How Much Elastic do I Need for a Fitted Sheet
A lot will depend on the thickness of your mattress. As you saw by the example from the previous section, your elastic should be about an inch longer than the thickness of the mattress. If you have an 11-inch thick mattress on your bed, then you would need about a 12-inch strip of elastic material.
The thickness of the elastic is your main concern. You do not want it too thin or it may not hold up over long term use or repeated washings. Use your sewing experience to help you select the right thickness for your new fitted sheets.
Sewing Elastic on Bed Sheets
This task is probably going to be the easiest of all fitted sheet sewing tasks. The main issue is not the length of the elastic sheet but getting it through the casing without twisting the elastic strip.
That is why attaching a safety pin to one end of the strip is so important. Not only does the pin help you get it through the casing quickly, but it also helps keep the elastic from twisting on you.
Once you get the elastic strip to the other end., you just need to pin it to where it needs to go and then apply the proper stitch from your sewing machine. It is not a difficult task to perform and just takes a little patience to get the elastic into the right position.
How to Sew Flat Bed Sheets
The good aspect of sewing your own flat bed sheets is that you have less work to do than trying to sew a fitted sheet together. Here are the important steps to follow when attempting this task:
- Step #1- you know the fabric yard size, now you need to know the size of the bed you are sewing the sheet for. For flat sheets the sizes (all in inches) go as: Twin- 98 l by 68 w; Full- 98 l by 83 w; Queen- 104 l by 92 w; King- 104 l by 110 w.
- Step #2 - pin your fabric sections together and get them as close to size as possible. This will minimize trimming and remember always go longer and wider than you need. Now sew using a straight stitch, switching to a zig-zag when you are sewing raw edges. Remember to leave a 1-inch seam allowance. When completed cut off the excess fabric.
- Step #3 - Now fold the material 1 inch to the wrong side of the fabric. Cover all raw edges and pin.
- Step #4 - Once that is done, use a straight stitch over all four sides and remove the pins. After that, you just need to iron to get the wrinkles out.
Twin Bed Sheets - Measurements
As you know, the twin size bed is basically the smallest traditional bed there is. It does not take a lot of fabric to create a great bed sheet for a twin bed. But it probably takes the same amount of work as it does to make a king sizes bed sheet.
The dimensions for a flat twin bed sheet is 98 inches long by 68 inches wide. Given the size of the fabric yard, you will need to use more than one yard of fabric per sheet. For the fitted sheet, you are looking at 77 inches long by 41 inches wide.
There are reasons for the difference in sizes. One of those reasons is that the fitted sheet needs to be no larger than the full size of the twin mattress. The flat sheet needs extra material in order for you to tuck it in and make the bed look nice.
Sheets for a Queen-Size Bed
You will find the same discrepancy in all the bed sizes you are making flat and fitted sheets for. For the queen size bed in your home, there is a larger difference between the two sheet sizes.
The flat sheet measures 104 inches long by 92 inches wide. For the fitted sheet, you are only looking at making it 82 inches long by 62 inches wide. The good news is that when you are making your sheets, you have a wide selection of colors and designs to choose from.
You also have a large selection of quality as well. The money you save by making your sheets can help you purchase a quality fabric that will last you a very long time without fading, etc.
That is part of the fun in making your sheets. You get to see and use your handiwork every day over a lot of years.
Sheets for a King-Size Bed
Everything that applies to the Queen size bed sheets applies to the king size as well. You are in total control of the quality and look of your bed sheets whether they be flat or fitted.
However, there is one noticeable difference. The king-size sheets are usually wider than they are long. The flat sheet measures 104 inches long by 110 inches wide. While the fitted sheet comes in at 82 inches long by 80 inches wide.
This is the only bed style that does this and when you are making your own, you need to be sure not to get confused by the measurement. The fitted sheet follows the pattern of the other bed sizes by being longer than it is wide.
If you do get confused, you will have to start all over and that is a big waste of time. So be careful when working on King size sheets
How to Sew Baby Bed Sheets
The instructions to make your fitted crib sheet are very simple to follow. And the most important step you need to take before you start sewing is to pre-wash the fabric.
Doing this keeps you from having to make another crib mattress sheet when the first one you make shrinks to an unusable size. After you pre-wash, here are the steps you need to take to make a fitted baby sheet.
Oh and one other thing, crib mattresses are basically the same thickness so this one set of instructions should handle almost all crib mattresses made.
- Step #1- Cut your fabric to 70 inches by 45 inches in size.
- Step #2 - Remove a 9 inch square from each corner. Then sew the corners together. Make sure to use a strong stitch as this is where the most pressure is applied when using the sheets.
- Step #3 - Fold up the raw edge of your sheet. Make sure you use about no less than a 1/2 inch. Now pin and sew using a zig-zag stitch. Perfection is not the goal here as long as the stitch remains out of sight.
- Step #4 - This step is a little different from the fitted sheet mentioned above. Place your elastic strip on the corner edge sewing the middle first. Once that is done, you sew from the center to the end stretching the elastic strip as you go. Do both sides and all four corners this way. Again you will want to use a zig-zag stitch to make sure the stitch has some elasticity to it.
Once that last step is completed, you are done and the sheet is ready for use.
How to Sew a Sheet Corner
Sewing a bed sheet corner is only tough when it comes to sewing the fitted sheet. That is because it has to have the elastic included in its construction. For flat sheets, all you have to do is make sure that the raw edge of the fabric is folded over nicely and sewn with a nice stitch to hold the hem in place.
For the fitted sheet, there is a little more work involved. One of the keys to doing a fitted sheet corner is making sure you got the casing just right. If it is not wide enough, you will have trouble slipping the elastic through and you may have trouble getting the sheet to fit correctly.
Take your time and make sure your corners are evenly cut and sewn with the proper stitch to make sure the elastic fits just right.
DIY Bed Sheets Ideas
Sewing a bedsheet together is a very straight forward project that doe snot take a lot of creativity to do. The creativity comes in the material and design selection you do before you start sewing. Traditional beds all come in the same dimensions making creativity very limited.
Here are some ideas to help you use leftover fabric, older bed sheets that still have their color and good looks:
- If the sheet is strong enough you can turn it into a hammock.
- Let your kids build a nice indoor fort out of old bed sheets.
- Create a throw pillow that fits with your décor.
- Create a Christmas or decorative wreath out of a bed sheet.
- Use wood hoops to create decorative wall hangings.
- Design your own picnic or dinner table napkins.
- Design a picnic or camping table cloth.
- Make a room divider or a curtain out of your favorite sheets.
- Create gift wrapping, a blouse, shirt or dress out of still good bed sheets.
- For added comfort make a pillow bed that can fold up easily.
Pattern to Sew Bed Sheets
If you are a novice or a person who likes to use patterns to create your individual sewing projects. There are a lot of places you can look to get sewing patterns for bed sheets.
One of the first places you can look is All Free Sewing and to get to their website just click here. Another place to look is called the Fabric Store and you can connect to their patterns at this link.
A good internet search should get you even more options.
Best Fabric to Sew Sheets
The best fabric to use when making your bed sheets would be cotton. Not only because cotton is soft, durable and easy to clean but also because there is a wide range of cotton fabrics that you can choose from.
Another good reason is that cotton is very breathable. You stay comfortable the whole night. Other good fabrics to use are silk because you are kept cool, its a hypoallergenic fabric and its very romantic.
After those two top fabrics, you have both polyester and bamboo. The former is inexpensive but not as soft as Cotton. The latter is a bit stiff and rough.
Some Final Words
It is always a good move to learn to make your own sheets. You save money and you get the design and feel of these sheets that you want. Plus, you save a lot of money that helps get you a fabric that will last you for many years and a lot of washings.
