No sheet sleeping
 

My 19 ds doesn't like a top sheet, since he is such a wild sleeper. I am making him a new quilt for Christmas and I want to somehow make it possible to attach a top sheet to the back of the quilt, so that it can be taken off to be laundered. My goal is to prevent the need for the quilt to be washed weekly.
My first thought was to attach buttons along the top and bottom of the quilt back, to correspond with button holes on a flat sheet (cut to fit the quilt). It could then be taken off to wash.
What do you think? I am open to any suggestions. Thanks, Gina

I guess it depends whether the quilt is long enough to fold those down. I personally wouldn't want a row of buttons right up by my face. At a minimum, I would make sure to put the buttons on the inside. I think I'd be more tempted to use Velcro, personally.

I have the same problem with some of my family members. I just make them easy quilts. Don't make him an heirloom quilt. Make him a sturdy wash it when it stinks quilt. I gave up trying to change them. My daughter has an heirloom quilt folded up in her closet. Just like baby quilts, we expect that they will get washed frequently.

If he's a wild sleeper more than likely the quilt is shoved and tossed all over the place. I'd be more concerned about keeping the bottom/fitted sheet laundered.

Get a set of top quality sheets and just use the top sheet as the backing like a bed spread.

I wouldn't use buttons either. Maybe his hair is short, but even when MY hair was short, I still caught it on buttons. (A pox on clothing manufacturers who put buttons at the back of the neck ;)).

I think you're better off using velcro, as someone else said. Or maybe a zipper.

Maybe he just isn't a quilt kind of guy. Store bought comforter and be done with it.

Instead of buttons what about KAM snaps?

I confess to being a 75 yr old non-top sheet sleeper and use a fleece blanky over me. My quilt is folded over the the other side of the bed and pulled back in the morning.

Thank you all for your comments and suggestions.
I had thought of velcro, but thought that buttons would look better.
I 'll let y'all know what I do. ��

I think snaps are a great idea also.

here's my thought. Put a large border on the quilt top. Buy a flat sheet that coordinates with the quilt. Add a double faced border in the same print as the quilt top border to the top of the flat sheet. Stitch the sides of the flat sheet / border to form a pocket. Use heavy duty snaps to hold inside of added flat sheet border to outside of quilt, perhaps every 10".

Ok, thinking about it, he will still not like the top sheet. Why not make him a bed runner to go with a solid comforter. You could even make him quilted pillowcases- a few sets that go with the bed runner. They have masculine patterns out there.

Do not think buttons would work satisfactory--I used velcro to fasten one I made.

We're not fans of top sheets in our family either. I suspect that your idea would make you feel better but would not be something he enjoyed or used on his own.

Posters above me have given good ideas, and we do variations of some of them. Most of us use an inexpensive commercial comforter with an easily washed, solid duvet (cover). Then we use our quilts for cuddling on an extra cold night or for decorative effect draped at the foot of the bed or set on point over the comforter. We use lots of quilts, but not as the primary bed cover-- we each have one to curl up with while watching TV and we keep them semi-displayed in a basket in the lounge. My college age kids have favorite quilts they took to college-- quick easily constructed, heavily quilted with the expectation that they will get washed fairly often in less than optimal conditions. They're holding up just fine and are being well loved, but won't live on to future generations as heirlooms or anything.

Consider making a utility quilt for the bed. Then making something that coordinates in colors or fabric to use as a wallhanging or throw blanket-- it can have more artistry and labor intensive elements and be used without the expectation of being heavily soiled and washed all the time.

I've sewn tape with snaps on it for this purpose...works well.

What about a wall hanging?

Our daughter always made her boys' beds without a top sheet. They were expected to make their beds look "respectful" before they left for school so it helped to have no top sheet. I'd never heard of it.

All great suggestions, but -- if he doesn't like a top sheet, why would you want to attach a sheet to his quilt?

In Europe it is rare to find a top sheet. Everyone we stayed with had twin quilts on the king size bed. So you have your own blanket. They were duvet covered. I really liked it - told my DH if we ever get a king size bed that is the way to go. I hate the weight of the king size blankets.

When does he bathe? ;)
sandy

This is what I do with my 18 year old. He has never been a between the sheets kid also. I guess it's from being too scared to place items in his crib as a baby. I made him a quilt "bedspread" which is folded on the bottom of the bed, of course, it mostly lies crumpled on the floor but surprisingly when company comes, he makes it up with the quilt.

Because a sheet will protect the quilt from body oils and soiling. It's easier to wash a sheet than a quilt. :thumbup:

Hopefully, often.

You don't think it's rude and quite a jump from stated information to imply that someone who doesn't like a top sheet is lacking in hygiene?

Teen boys don't tend to love to fuss with bedding and room decor. I've got 4 of them currently, so I do feel like something of an authority on the subject. Their bathing habits do not correlate with the state of their rooms or beds.

I wash quilts often with no ill effects. They're really quite sturdy.

I think Velcro would really tangle your hair, wouldn't it? I'd be afraid it would.

L.p. Thank you, I really wasn't sure what to say to that question. :)

He is not into fuss, but he has noticed that I've made quilts for his sisters and I've only made him one several years ago.
I know he would like one.
The snap tape sounds like something to look into, and I might just not worry about it and just keep it washed. I so appreciate all of your comments and suggestions. Thanks again, Gina

Go to ourfamilyunit.com and take a look at the tutorial for bunk bed caps or snugglers, much like what you are thinking of making.

<<<he has noticed that I've made quilts for his sisters and I've only made him one several years ago.
I know he would like one. >>>

Exactly. I was deeply honored that my college bound son asked me to make him a quilt that he could take to school and use every day, and not worry about keeping special. I made him a nice but not fancy quilt, and he truly does use it. I hope he uses it up and I get to make him another.

It's something he'd appreciate. I think Velcro would trap hair , and buttons or snaps wouldn't hold up in the wash over time. And I don't think
theyd be comfy. My son isn't a teenager who has never liked a top sheet but he loves a fleece blanket or a quilt. If he asks for one, I'll make it simple and durable and plenty big enough to
wrap up in . Wash when smelly-- happens even with daily showers. Ahem. Heck I wash my own quilt about every three weeks for that reason!

This sounds like a perfect solution. Gives you warmth and can be tossed around and washed.

Meant to say he IS a teenager. ...

This is what I did with my grandsons. I bought them fleece fabric with their favorite sport team and movie heros. I doubled the fabric by sewing the full lengths together. The boys love them, as the blankets are soft and wash well.:o)

This reminds me of a private conversation I had with my then 14 year old grandson. His personal hygiene was fine. He was responsible for putting sheets on his bed. He didn't. He just slept on the mattress cover. When I visited, I went into his room and was almost knocked over by the smell.

He, of course, had gone nose blind to it and couldn't smell it. The mattress bad was badly stained from sweat and body oil.

So I asked him how long it had been since it had been washed. He couldn't remember, and wanted to know what difference it made anyway.

I explained that washing the mattress cover and sheets is the preferred method of keeping mattresses clean, and told him that it is much cheaper to replace old sheets than a mattress and box spring.

He truly didn't know why sheets were used. Now that I think of it, no one ever told me why they were used, it's just something we had to do religiously every week or so. So we washed his bedclothes and he put sheets over the mattress pad. And he probably stopped doing it immediately after we left!

On a similar note, my 13 year old nephew was excited because he purchased a pair of shoes that had socks in them, so he never had to wear socks! Similar response to sheets - socks absorb sweat and are easy to wash. The socks in his shoes also absorb sweat and can't be washed easily. That could make his shoes stink and people might start avoiding him - especially girl people! That was an "aha" moment for him!

I never use a top sheet either. I do wash my blankets or quilts frequently and the quilts seem to be surviving thus far. Is it your belief that the quilt shouldn't touch skin that is guiding your need for the removable cover? Is the quilt for you? or for him to enjoy? If he is content touching the blanket or quilt, then let him.

I think Velcro would be worse than buttons. A restless sleeper often covers their head with the blanket also and Velcro is more likely to stick in your hair than buttons. Large snaps would work well. Really a washable duvet cover is the way to go but I believe they also have buttons.

I love your post - my eldest nephew recently turned 15 and I swear he went from being a little boy to being a young man seemingly overnight! And boy did he get stinky! He doesn't like top sheets either (and hasn't for years), which I think is strange, but whatever! (He actually used to hate even sleeping in a bed and for about 2 years would take his quilt and pillow into the dining room to sleep on the tile floor, but he's outgrown that since.)

I made him a quilt a year or two ago that's quilted a little more heavily than my norm and has a smooth backing (rather than flannel like his other quilts) and that's all he uses on his bed for most of the year now. It's been washed countless times and it IS starting to fade a little bit but overall it's holding up fine. I will be more than happy to replace or repair it once it starts looking too shabby but for now he loves it. :)

I wouldn't use Velcro. I can only imagine the cries of pain as he attempts to pull the quilt from his stubble. lol

Not everyone is a quilt person. You can always get a duvet that you can wash regularly. If you want it to be something you made, sew two sheets together, add a zipper to the bottom and put in a cotton or down comforter.