Step 1 - Measure your mattress.Measurement C is made up of the depth (or height) of your mattress plus some extra. The extra amount is determined by how much you want to sit under the mattress, plus a little for your elastic casing.
For a cot sheet, I did 10cms extra. The mattress was 12cm deep, so my final measurement C was 12cm + 10cm = 22cm. For a larger bed, you may want to allow more. OR you could measure the corner seam of your existing fitted sheet and add 2cms or so for the casing.
Step 2 - Cut your fabric
First you need to make a rectangle. The width of your rectangle is A + (2 x C), the length is
B + (2 x C). After you have cut your fabric of flat sheet into a rectangle, you need to cut a square from each corner, the size of which is C long, by C high. Discard these squares (or you may save them for another project if you like).
Step 3 - Sew the corners At each corner where you have cut the squares from, you need to sew the two cut edges together to make a kind of box shape. Give yourself about a 6mm seam allowance. Finish the edges with an over-locker or if you don't have one, you could zig-zag the edges.
Step 4 - Make a casing for the elastic
All around the edges, you need to fold over about 1 - 2cms of fabric. Iron and pin this edge. You can also turn over the raw edge or you might choose to overlock your edges. Stitch close to the edge all the way around the sheet but leave an opening to allow you to thread through your elastic.
Step 5 - Thread the elastic
You will need some elastic, I would recommend something about 6mms wide, the length needs to be about (A + B) x 1.5.
Attach the end of the elastic to a safety pin and thread it through the casing. Join the edges of the elastic together. If you want a neat finish, you can sew the ends of the elastic together, but I usually just tie it in a secure knot. You could also stitch the casing closed, or not.
Voila! A fitted sheet!
What a great job ! I have just found you , it's nice to meet you !
ReplyDeletetq for the tutorial :)
ReplyDeletetq for the tutorial:-)...
ReplyDeleteIs it possible to just put the elastic in the corners only?
ReplyDeleteI am sure you could if you wanted to, but I think it would b more work and the small amount of elastic you would save wouldn't cost very much money. I think elastic all the way around also helps to hold all the edges in nicely.
DeleteThank you :) but it's not the elastic I'm worried about. I've never sewn before, and I've got some nice bedsheets and I'm not very confident in sewing all around it.
DeleteAnd thank you for the tutorial, it was easy to understand.
DeleteYou could try practising your stitching on a spare piece of fabric - perhaps even the corners you cut from your sheets. If your sewing is a bit wonky, it will be hidden under the mattress anyway. Good luck with your sheets and thank you for your comments :)
DeleteI have a serger with a nifty foot that applies elastic. I was amazed when I first tried it. Just another nifty way to use your great tutorial.
DeleteI've recently made some fitted crib sheets putting elastic only in the corners and it works great. Cut 4 pieces of elastic 12 inches long (one for each corner). Just place the middle of the elastic right on the corner seam with a pin. From the seam measure 12 inches to the left and 12 inches to the right and put a mark on it. Next, stretch the elastic on each side to meet your 12 inch marks and pin securely. Now you need to distribute the elastic evenly from the seam to the 12 inch mark on both sides. I found it helped to mark the elastic and the fabric every 3 inches and it turned out nice and even. It was hard putting the elastic to fit (my hands are weak) but it was worth it in the end. Hope this isn't too confusing.
Deletethank you for this hint, did it and amazing, saved a big piece of elastic and it fits like a glove, thank you for the amazing hint!
Deletehey i just came across your article... really easy to understand... sorry, years overdue. just one question though - what threads would you recommend to make elastic bedsheets? sorry i am new to sewing.
ReplyDeleteI would just use regular polyester thread. I like to use Gütermann sew-all thread.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the user friendly tutorial... so much easier to understand than others!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the easy to understand tutorial. Just came across your blog!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Samantha :)
DeleteTo bolster your confidence in going all around the sheet, remember that pinning, and pressing are the difference between good sewing, and great sewing. You can do it! And do practice on some old fabric.
ReplyDeletethis is great, I was trying to figure out how I could do this myself but, could not quite figure anything out. Thanks so much.
ReplyDeletethis is great, I was trying to figure out how I could do this myself but, couldn't quite figure it out, then here you are. Thanks so much.
ReplyDeleteOMG!!! Thank You Thank You Thank You. This is just what I was looking for. God Bless!!
ReplyDeleteOMG!!! Thank You Thank You Thank You. This is just what i was looking for now I can complete my bedroom design. God Bless
ReplyDeleteI like your straight forward simple way so easy to understand and thankyou for sharing your knowledge and time :)
ReplyDeleteThankyou for your straight forward and simple style of teaching makes a change :) and thankyou for sharing your knowledge and time :)
ReplyDeleteHi. thank you for sharing this pattern. Will appreciate if you could also teach how to make a fitted sheet without the need for elastic.
ReplyDeleteLove the tutorial, but it would be nice if it were printer-friendly.
ReplyDeleteIt's easy to make any web page printer friendly. Just Highlight all the text, copy and paste it into a Word document. Microsoft Word will format it like the web page or you can choose not to use the formatting. I suggest you try it a few times with different options
DeleteWonderful job, will start tonight and hope by the time I go to bed I got three done! So easy to understand and do! The serger is at the back of the sewing desk so all I do it sit on the opposite end and overlock the edges, easy peasy!!
ReplyDeleteThese are also great projects to develop our sewing skills. It will not matter if your seams are a little crooked as long as you can get the elastic through the casing. I've taught sewing for many years and better to have your mistakes on a sheet, than on the center front of a shirt.
ReplyDeleteGood tutorial. As one other comment mentioned, I don't use elastic all the way around, just corners. I have found that flannel bottom sheets wear out much quicker than the top sheet, so I bought another set in a coordinating solid and used the top sheet to make a fitted sheet. So, now I have two sets of flannel sheets again, using the top sheets from the original sets. It is almost as expensive to buy one sheet as buying a set, so this worked out great, and is a very quick project.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tutorial. I am going to use it to make a terry cloth cover for my chaise loung cushion. Easy removable for washing.With terry cloth my serger will be a great help.
ReplyDeleteNeed to know yardage need as a friend asked me to make fitted sheet out of fabric she picked. Also wish could also be available in inches too.
ReplyDeleteI am wanting to make a covering for a daybed that will fit like a fitted sheet. Would you recommend any changes to this pattern or follow this as it is? I didn't know if I should make it a bit larger.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tutorial. I have taken fitted sheets and made them smaller to fit the "beds" in our trailer and now for our RV I will try this but use the method of "Anonymous" above and only use elastic on the corners. I do not like elastic all around as I cannot figure out where the sides are. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI have purchased some top sheets with fitted bottoms (foot end of the bed)...they are amazing ...the elastic part is just to the width of the bed and the rest tucks in...the end of toes poking out the end of the bed..and of course easy bed making.
ReplyDeleteI could give you directions, but it really is a no brainer.
Very nice tutorial
ReplyDeleteHello just saw this site bec im.planning to make my own white bedsheet and your tutorial is easy to.follow. Just need to clarify on step no 5.can I just use the elastic on the corners and not the entire sheet.h
ReplyDeleteCan u help me on the measurements? Thanks!