quilterguy27

After reading all of this I have an observation. When cutting out the squares on the corners shouldn't you ADD the half inch seam allowances TO THE SHEET instead of adding it to the part you are cutting off??? You want the seam allowances on the part of the sheet you are keeping wouldn't you??? or am I just not reading it right???

For instance, somewhere you mentioned for a queen size bed to cut a 15 1/2square. Shouldn't it be a 14 1/2 inch square??? Leaving a 1/2 inch seam allowance on either side of the square??

dollycaswell

Good Morning Quilterguy,
Yes, you would add to the "sheet" part, not the cut out part. Please remember that I was trying to give a "ballpark" estimate for how to calculate the dimensions, they are not exact to the gnat's fanny!! haha In my humble opinion, a 1/2 inch seam more or less on a fitted sheet won't make a huge difference, especially if/when you have 4+ inches of material for the "tuck under" the mattress.

All of the measurements MUST start with the size of your FLAT sheet, minus the top, minus depth on the sides, and minus tuck-under portion of your calculations for the FITTED sheet. For example, all queen flat sheets don't measure exactly the same, so you'll have to start with what you have (the existing queen flat sheet), make your calculations and see if it will work for the queen fitted.

For example, I know if you are going to use a queen FLAT for a twin FITTED, you will have lots of sheet to work with. And you'll need it if you have a really deep twin mattress. If you have a skinny twin mattress (for example) you can possibly use a twin FLAT to make the twin FITTED, I know that works, because that's what I made for the YWAM base in Australia - fitted twin sheets from flat twin sheets, because the mattresses were pretty skinny.

You are welcome to PM me and I'll give you my phone number and we can discuss this further if you'd like.

Any of you on this blog are welcome to PM me for my phone number, just remember I live in Alaska and we have a time difference and I don't calculate really well in the wee hours of the night/morning!! haha

In general, IF YOU HAVE A NEWER, VERY DEEP MATTRESS, NO MATTER WHAT SIZE (twin, full, queen, king) generally speaking, you WILL NOT be able to use the same size top to make the fitted bottom. You may be able to squeek it in, but it won't have much to tuck under and look beautiful.

plainpat

I don't need more fitted sheets, but do have a stack of flat sheets.Some are used for company,some for dust covers.The others will be cut up to use as quilt backing...or for blocks like PP or stings quilts.Sheets seems to last & last.Seems I can always find a use for sheets.

noveltyjunkie

Thanks for this. I have been wanting to repurpose a winter weight flannel comforter cover that I bought for a Queen size, as it is just too big and heavy, and does not fit into my washing machine!

My children love flannel sheets and I thought I'd make some soft fitted sheets for them from it, but did not know how to start. Now I do!

I still dont understand how to sew on the elastic, but if I buy some I'm sure I can work it out.

MommaDorian

Silly question, but how do you measure and cut a sheet this size? I have a hard enough time finding room on my living room floor for a lap quilt. lol Mostly though, I'm curious how to cut it straight.

Thanks!!

MommaDorian

Another question, do you have to use fold-over elastic? Could you use regular elastic?

franie

WOW this ended up being a great discussion. Thank you Dolly in Eagle River. Hope you are having the nice weather we are having as I write this.

Oma63

Thanks for the great Tute. I have 2 twin mattresse to make a king size and the king sheets are way to big so this would work for.Where to buy the elasic is the question someone, please let me know?

dollycaswell

When I was making the sheets in Australia I had some really big cafeteria dining tables to spread them out on. I did bring my rotary cutter and pad and you really only need to have the cutting pad under the area where you are going to cut, you don't have to have it under the entire sheet.

Also, once you get the sheet trimmed down to the right size, you can fold it into quarters, which makes it lots smaller and then cut all four corners at once.

dollycaswell

Certainly you could use regular elastic, but I LOVED the fold over elastic because it makes such a beautiful, clean, professional looking edge all the way around the bottom of the fitted sheet.