How to Make a Fitted Sheet

From crib sheets on up to whatever size bed sheets you'd like to make...these instructions will take you through the easy steps of doing so. The instructions are specifically for a crib/toddler bed sheet, but at the bottom, I give instructions on how to make ANY size...using the same basics.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 1 square cut out of paper 8 ¾” x 8 ¾”
• 3/8” elastic – cut into 4 lengths of 15” each
• Flannel, Cotton Blend or Cotton woven fabric 44-45” wide (most fabric store cotton fabrics come in this width already) x 70” in length
• Thread
• Scissors
• Sewing machine

1. Take your 8 ¾” square template and place it in each corner of your 45”x70” fabric and cut out the corner. After you finish, each corner will have an 8 ¾” square cut from it. You can save these squares to make a pillow or to make a matching quilt.

2. Next, match up the two sides of each cut out square so that the right sides (the outside of the fabric) face each other. Stitch the sides together. This forms the pocket for each fitted corner.

3. You can finish the edges with a serger if you have one. Otherwise, turn the edges under ¼” and then another ¼”, so that all of the raw edges are folded under. Stitch all the way around the edge after folding.

4. Now you will need to add the elastic. Take one of the 15” lengths of elastic and find the center of it. Stitch that center to the inside seam where the two sides of the pocket were stitched together. Just make a few stitches to hold it in place so that you can stretch the elastic in each direction. With a zigzag stitch, stretch the elastic approximately 12” across the top edge inside seam as you stitch. After the top edge is finished, go back and do the same thing down the side edge inside seam stretching the elastic to approximately 12” as you stitch.

5. Now, do the same with the other 3 pockets. The elastic will most likely overlap a little bit on the top of the sheet and the bottom of the sheet, but that’s okay. It will make the entire top and the entire bottom of the sheet one continuous stretch of elastic.

6. You're done!!!

7. BONUS INSTRUCTIONS! Do you have a bassinet or other mattress that you are unable to buy fitted sheets for? Well follow these easy instructions to figure out how to make your own!!

8. Let's say the mattress is 40" long, 20" wide and 3" deep (high).
   You would figure the length of your needed fabric by taking the 40" length of the mattress and then adding 6" (3" for the depth going around the top of the mattress and 3" for the depth going around the bottom of the mattress), then add about 4" to that to account for stitching and also for a little bit to fit underneath the mattress to hold it. So, the length of fabric you'd need would be 50". Then do the same for the width 20" (width of mattress) + 6" (depth of each side 3”+3”) + 4" (to account for stitching and a little to go underneath) = 30" wide.
   To figure the size of the square that you'd need to cut out from each corner, you would take the length of the mattress and add 1/2" to it. Then, subtract the length of the fabric that you would need from that. So, 50" - 40.5" = 9.5". You then divide that by 2 and voila! You would need to use a 4 3/4" square on the 4 corners.

Tips & Warnings

• A fitted sheet...especially one used in a crib or for small children, must fit snugly. An ill-fitting sheet can come loose and pose a suffocation hazzard. Following these instructions carefully and making sure your sheet fits properly will help avoid this hazzard.

[nightshift]

on 4/13/2009 Great Article. 5*

[grammastacie]

on 4/13/2009 great article! 5* and recommendation!

[FrogDoc]

on 4/13/2009 Love the bonus instructions! :) Great article, very clear and informative!