How to Sew a King Fitted Sheet to Queen Size

You can sew a fitted queen sheet from a fitted king sheet.

Modifying a king fitted sheet to fit a queen-size mattress isn't difficult. There are two sizes of king bed, however. A standard king is the same length but 16 inches wider than a queen while a California king is only 12 inches wider but 4 inches longer than a queen-size bed. Sewing a standard king fitted sheet to queen size requires trimming the excess on one side and making two new corners. Modifying a California king fitted sheet requires creating three new corners because one side and one end must be trimmed.

Things You'll Need

• King-size fitted sheet
• Scissors
• Straight pins
• Pencil
• Sewing tape measure
• 1 1/2 yards of 1/4 inch elastic
• Sewing machine with zigzag stitch
• Thread
• Iron
• Ironing board

Instructions

1. Wash the sheet by machine using warm or hot water and tumble dry. Iron, if desired.

2. Place the sheet, right-side down, on the queen-size mattress and pull the sheet to fit snugly in the upper right corner. If using a standard king sheet, fit the sheet onto the lower right corner and then pull taut from the left side of the bed, allowing the excess fabric to drape over the side. If using a California king sheet, allow the excess fabric to drape over the end of the bed, as well.

3. Carefully cut away the seams at the corners that need adjustment. Be sure to cut close to the existing stitch line. Also cut through the elastic at the edge of the sheet. If the sheet fits the length of the bed, cut the existing corner seams from the left side of the sheet only. If the sheet is also too long cut the bottom right corner as well as both corners on the left side.

4. Trim away the elastic on the corners being modified, as necessary, to allow the fabric to drape freely. Some sheets have elastic just at the corners while the elastic on others may extend along the side or around the entire perimeter of the sheet. Be sure to trim only what is necessary.

5. Smooth the sheet over the edge of the mattress on the left side of the bed and trim away the excess fabric so that the remaining sheet fabric hangs about 2 inches longer than the mattress depth. Repeat at the foot of the bed, if needed.

6. Form the new corners and pin securely. At each corner to be sewn, smooth the fabric that is draped over the edges of the mattress toward the corner. Pinch the two pieces of fabric together to form a neat corner and pin to fit snugly. Place the pins through both layers of fabric from the top of the mattress to the edge of the fabric, holding the fabric snugly against the corner of the mattress while pinning. Mark the seam line by drawing a pencil line on the sheet on one side of the corner where the fabric layers meet.

7. Sew the corner seams and place the sheet back on the mattress to check for proper fit. If a mistake has been made, remove the stitching and modify by repeating the step above. Otherwise, reinforce the corner seams with a second row of stitching and then zigzag close to the seam. Trim close to the zigzag stitching.

8. Hem the corners and side. Also hem the end, if necessary. Wherever the fabric has been cut, fold 3/4 inch of fabric to the back and press. Then fold the fabric again so the raw edge is against the inside of the crease and press. Straight stitch 1/4 inch from the edge all along the fold to finish the hem.

9. Add elastic to the new corners. For each new corner, cut an 18-inch length of elastic and mark the center. On the back side of the sheet close to the edge, position the elastic so that the center mark matches the corner seam and secure with a pin. Starting at the corner seam and using a zigzag stitch, stretch the elastic while sewing it to the sheet. Sew first in one direction from the corner to the end of the elastic and then repeat from the seam in the other direction. Repeat until all new corners are finished.

References

• Better Sleep: What Mattress Size is Best?