First of all, I keep calling this "sheet elastic" but I've since learned it's called fold over elastic or elastic binding. So when I do a google search it's easier to find. I've been asked by a few of you to do a tutorial on the famous and extremely elusive "sheet elastic" and how do I make smaller fitted sheets from larger ones. Following is the reason why I even know about this trick!

Okay, here's the story. While I was in Australia a couple of years ago with YWAM, I took some donated, flat, motel sheets and made them into fitted sheets for the many twin beds at the base. I went to a local fabric/notions store and bought "sheet elastic". It is FABULOUS stuff, has a rib down the center and elastic on both sides, probably about 5/8 to 3/4 wide and when you stitch it on the raw edge of the sheet fabric, it completly encloses the edge. The "rib" wraps around the edge, the two sides get stitched together automatically with one stitching and you can go all the way around the entire sheet with elastic, not just at the corners. When I was done with each sheet, they looked "professional" like it was factory done, the sheets were gorgeous!!

I have searched the net and with the help of several people here on this blog I think I've found a place to order the right elastic. Meanwhile, let me see if I can walk/talk/type you through this process.

I will explain it from the standpoint of cutting down a standard twin top sheet and making it into a standard twin fitted sheet.

First though, I want to show you a picture of the elastic that I do have, just don't have enough to do several sheets. Also the rough pencil diagram of how to cut the sheet.

So, based on those dimensions, you have a standard fitted sheet cut with approx a 7 inch mattress depth, 3 inch tuck under and 1/2 inch seam allowance. (Give or take)!!

Best to do a "french seam" when you sew those corners together, then it won't ravel when you wash the sheets. Start with your elastic on one side, and pull and stitch the elastic all the way around the sheet (not just on the corners) and when finished you will have a gorgeous sheet with all the edges covered and finished looking. Also they stay on the bed better and tuck under the mattress better.

Needless to say, if you are working with a full size sheet and making it into a twin, you would be able to have more coverage (mattress depth) on the sides and more to tuck way under the mattress.

A couple of years ago I googled and found a wonderful diagram and description of how to do this when I was in Australia. However, try as I might I can't find it right now. There are several but seem pretty confusing to me.

Obviously, the bigger the top sheet that you are cutting down, the more you will have for depth of your mattress and tuck under. Some of the newer beds have a depth of 9 to 11 inches and then need at least 5-6 inches to tuck under. With that in mind, you would need to cut out squares in the corners of 14 to 17 inches give or take in order to have full coverage and a generous tuck under.

This is my FIRST tute, I hope it made sense. Let me know if you have any more questions. Sorry it's not very spiffy!!

Having made my own fitted sheets, I thought you did a fabulous job with explanations! Many people will appreciate your work!

Serendipity. DD just yesterday asked me to cut down the undersheet she is using as it ruckles up. Have to go hunt for "sheet elastic"
Many thanks
Pippa

My DH doesn't like a top sheet, saying they get wrapped around his legs.That means I have an unused sheet in every set.Will keep an eye on this thread.... for info on changing a K size flat sheet.

I have done this with crib sheets.

that is a great tut. i've never seen that type of elastic before. thanks for sharing.

Have you considered making the bottom corners of the top sheet into fitted corners so that they do not ride up and wrap around his legs. I have done this because of the same reason and it makes it easier to makeup the bed.

Thanks for the tutorial, do you stretch the elastic as you sew?

I have a couple of sheets that need the elastic replaced, have bought the elastic but not sure how much to stretch!!!

I have had top sheets that were fitted only on the bottom.....but DH is so tall, the 1st thing he does anywhere,is to pull the bottom sheet loose. Thanks for the suggestion.Think I'll just put elastic on corners & use as fitted sheets.

Thank you for the info. I am ALWAYS looking for deep pocket sheets to fit the bed and they "SAY" it will fit a certain depth but the first washing makes it too small and they ride up agin. Its a constant struggle! I have never tried doing it myself. I may have to call myself seamstress!

That is really informative but where to find the elastic?

Great tut! I've always wondered how to do that. It doesn't seem really difficult. I have a few spare top sheets lying around I just might turn into fitted sheets. Thanks for sharing!

Thank you for the great tutorial :D:D:D

Thank you! and a great tute. I can certainly use this for our four grandchildren who are always requesting "special" sheets that are hard to find and expensive.

This is great - esp when you find sheets on sale that you like and not the right size - now I can make them right. Just need to find where the elastic is purchased. I am bookmarking this now.

I've gotten my fold-over elastic at www.birchstreetclothing.com
Right now if you buy 3 you get 1 free. They have 5/8" and also 1". White, black and dyeable. Check it out. Great place to buy from. I've bought from them at quilt shows before too.

I think that even I can figure this out.

THANKS for sharing!

Katt

Dolly, thank you for those instructions. Where do you find the elastic like that? I have made baby crib sheets exactly like that. What a great idea for sheets for reg beds. Grandchildren would love them!

This is great. Thank you. I wish I had known this elastic years ago. I would like to add to it.
Years ago I worked at a knit fabric shop and we sold tricot fabric. It is 108” wide and makes the nicest sheets I ever had, but the heavier tricot was hard to get even then. I measured the mattress top+side+turn under the same as you, for top and bottom sheet. I cut the all corners out of the bottom sheet and the foot of the top sheet. I left the extra legend of the top sheet for a deep hem and inserted wide lace encased inside the fold back hem to give it more body and beauty. Then hem the sides of the top down to about 24” from the foot. Joined the top and bottom and about 24” up the sides of the foot. Then sew elastic all the way around the bottom sheet. The sheets are now one unit, very light weight, slick, and dry in no time. It is easy to put on and off as a unit.

If you seach ebay under sewing there is lots of sheet elastic. They call it fold-over elastic.

I've wanted to make crib sheets as I have some really darling baby fabric. Can you PM me with the instructions you use or post it so everyone who is interested in making the crib blankets can use it. I don't even have a crib to check the size but I do have a brand new great granddau. born prematurely last Monday. Thank you.

I have made my sheets for a while I got sick of fighting over the top sheet. I have a store that sells sheeting fabric and make the whole set, but you have to buy a good thread count or you will wear them out quick. We never fight over the the sheets now.

Yes, I stretched as I sewed. I don't have a specific "formula" - just stretched it enough that I wasn't ripping the sheet and still had plenty of material "sucked up" when I released it. This elastic is really great for encasing the entire bottom sheet. I don't do just the corners, I go all the way around and have all the edges finished then. As I recall, I think I used about 2-1/2 to 3 yards for a twin sheet.

The tute is at the front of this thread. If you have more questions you can ask again, but I don't have much more to add - the tute says it all.

Hey Fran in AK! Nice to hear from you, and you're welcome. I've been given LOTS OF websites to check on, so I'll make some calls on Tuesday after the 4th. I'll post here when I order and receive the right stuff. I need to talk with them because pics online are not really very clear.

Dolly, thanks for your answer. I saw the tute but didn't know if the same dementions worked for a quilt...I think the cut out square on the twin in the tute is 10 1/2 " square. That seems like too much for a crib????

Nan, I see the elastic all the time in JoAnn's or other sewing supply stores, but it's in tiny bubble packs that cost $4-5 each. I'm on a budget and need to do several sheets, and I would rather spend about $1-2 per sheet.

Thank you for sharing this tutorial. The kids like to have the character sheets but the top sheet, in the package, is worthless....too narrow and short to tuck under so it usually just ends up in a ball while they sleep. I finally just stopped even putting them on the bed. Now I know what I'll be doing with those extra top sheets!!! :thumbup:

Believe me, I don't normally get involved in what goes on behind closed doors of married (or unmarried) couples, but
what pray tell does hubby use to keep warm in the winter that doesn't get wrapped around his legs.
I apologize, but this "inquiring mind wants to know" LOL

I sewed the top sheet to the fitted bottom sheet acrosss the bottom to prevent this

Thanks for the tute, Dolly!
I copied it to print but can't seem to be able to copy the pics! All I get is the address of the ture!
Did you use the top demensions for the mattress? I need to make a full width out of a queen.
Terry

Oh, my yes, you don't cut out that much for a crib size sheet. You are only cutting out that much because you are basing the cut on the twin size fitted sheet measurements. Basically you need to cut out the squares in the corners equal to the depth of the sides of the mattress and the amount of "tuck under" that you want. The 10 1/2 inches was based on a 7 inch deep mattress and a 3 inch tuck under with 1/2 inch seam allowance. You need to measure the crib mattress and cut different corners out for that.

Yes Terry, the dimensions I used was the standard size for a TWIN SIZE mattress. For a queen, you need to measure your mattress and then measure the depth of the mattress and the amount you want to tuck under, for example if your queen mattress is 10 inches deep and want a tuck under of 5 inches, you would want to cut 15 1/2 inches out of the corner (1/2 inch for seams). BUTTTTTTT, stop everything here!!! You have to start with the size of the sheet FIRST. YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE ENOUGH TO TO TUCK UNDER 5 INCHES. What size is your sheet? Make all your calculations based on the size of the sheet. For a queen fitted you'll possibly have to use a king flat sheet in order to have it fit the depth of the mattress and the tuck under you need. Just measure and give it some careful consideration before you cut.

"Ditto"////Thanks for the Tute!!

Ooo, thanks for the tut. I currently have a fitted on my king size that the elastic wore out on but sheet still fine. I wanted to replace the elastic but was not sure how to. I have never done that and was going to Google it. Now I don't have to.

Not sure who this was posted to, but my DH is always under a k size comforter. it's puffy,warm & comfy.I always hate having to shop for a new one that meets those standards :) Odd....but the cheaper ones work best.

[quote=plainpat].....but DH is so tall, the 1st thing he does anywhere,is to pull the bottom sheet loose.

My DH does this too. So when I make up our bed, I don't even tuck anything back under the mattress. The bedspread hides the loose ends.
:lol:

**********************MAKING FITTED SHEETS FROM FLAT SHEETS***********************
After searching the internet, I’ve come up with the following as “standards” (loosely speaking) for bedding sizes. I’ve also discovered that some of the extra deep newer mattresses (some with pillow tops) are 16 to 20 inches deep and would take a great deal more fabric to start with and make a difference in the size of the corner cut-outs.
Since beds come in different sizes, so do the sheets covering them. Sheet sizes are determined by the length and width of the bed and come in the following categories: twin, double, queen, king and California king. These sheet sizes are seen throughout the industry.
Sheet sizes are fairly standard except for the "pocket" measurement on fitted sheets. This tells the shopper/sewer how "deep" the sheet is, in case he or she has an extra thick mattress, or one with a pillow-top. So, if you have a thick mattress, look for a deeper pocket, ensuring the sheet will be a good fit.
As a rule, sheet sizes are (for fitted sheets):
TWIN - 39 inches (99 centimeters) wide by 75 inches (191 centimeters)
DOUBLE - 54 inches (137 centimeters) wide by 75 inches (191 centimeters)
QUEEN - 60 inches (150 centimeters) by 80 inches (201 centimeters)
KING - 80 inches by 80 inches (203 centimeters)
CALIF KING72 inches (183 centimeters) by 84 inches (213 centimeters)
A shopper can expect sheet sizes to be 20 to 30 inches (51 to 76 centimeters) longer and wider for the fitted sheets in each size.
************************************************** ****************************
STANDARD MATTRESS SIZES + mattress depth added for drop on all four sides
CRIB: 26 x 48 IF the sides are 5” deep, then add 10 in. to each dimension for total of approx 36 x 58
Add tuck under of 4 inches each side = approx 44 x 66

TWIN: 39 x 75 IF the sides are 8” deep, then add 16 in. to each dimension for approx 55 x 91
Add tuck under of whatever amount you have, at least 3+ inches if possible, or go to next larger sheet
Example, a standard twin TOP sheet is 66 x 96, maybe enough to make a twin FITTED sheet

DOUBLE: 54 x 75 IF depth = 10” then add 20 in. to each dimension for total of approx 74 x 95
Add tuck under of whatever amount you have, at least 3+ inches if possible, or go to next larger sheet
Example: standard DOUBLE flat sheet is 81 x 96, this is too close to make the fitted bottom. If it were me, I’d use this for a twin, or go to a queen size to make my double fitted bottom sheet.

QUEEN: 60 x 80 IF matt depth = 11” add 22 in. to each dimension or approx 82 x 102
Add tuck under of whatever amount you have, at least 3+ inches if possible, or go to next larger sheet
Example: standard queen FLAT is 90 x 102, that’s not big enough – go to a king size, or use your queen flat for a full or twin bed.

KING: 80 x 80 IF matt depth = 12” then add 24 in. to each dimension for approx 104 x 104
Add tuck under of whatever amount you have, at least 3+ inches if possible, or go to next larger sheet, but it's not likely you'll find a larger sheet, instead you would need to piece on the ends and sides.
To make a King fitted sheet from a King flat you should measure VERY carefully to see if you have enough. Remember you have to have some “tuck under” and you might possibly need to add material on the bottom and sides to make the fitted sheet big enough, especially if you have a very deep mattress.

CAL KING: 72 x 84 IF matt depth = 12” then add 24 in. to each dimension for approx 96 x 108
Add tuck under of whatever amount you have, at least 3+ inches if possible, or go to next larger sheet, but it's not likely you will find a sheet any larger. Instead you would have to add to the sides and the ends but be sure to put any seams on the edges of the sheet, not on the part where you sleep - it would be very uncomfortable there.
Same as above.

this is a great tut.
I have some flat sheets with no fitted sheet. I think I will give it a try.
Thanks!