How to Remake King Size Fitted Sheets Into Queen Size Fitted Sheets

Re-sew the corners to make a king sheet fit a queen bed.

Standard king fitted sheets are 16 inches wider than queen fitted sheets, but the same 80-inch length. California king fitted sheets are wider and longer than queen sheets. You can remake king size into queen size fitted sheets by re-sewing two or three of the corners, depending on whether the original sheet is sized for a standard king or California king mattress. Wash and dry new king sheets to pre-shrink the fabric before re-sewing the corners to fit a queen bed.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape or ruler
• Scissors
• Pins
• Pencil
• Sewing machine with zigzag
• Thread
• 1/4-inch elastic

Instructions

1. Put the sheet on the queen mattress, wrong side up, and pull it tight against the top right corner. Pull the sheet tight against the bottom right corner, as well, if using a standard king sheet. Smooth the sheet across the bed and let the extra fabric hang off the left side, and off the foot of the bed, if using a California king sheet.

2. Cut away the corner seam on the stitch line and carefully remove the elastic along the edges from each loose-fitting corner. Trim the sheet fabric 2 inches longer than the mattress on the left side of the bed. Trim the fabric on the foot of the bed also if using a California king sheet.

3. Pull the fabric tight against both sides of each corner, working on one corner at a time. Smooth the fabric over the edge of the mattress on both sides of each corner and pin through both layers where the fabric meets at the corner. Draw a new stitch line from the top of the mattress to the cut edge of the fabric.

4. Remove the sheet from the mattress and sew each corner along the drawn stitch line, removing the pins as you sew. Zigzag next to the seam. Trim away the excess corner fabric close to the zigzag stitching to finish the seam at each corner.

5. Fold over 1/4 inch of fabric along the cut edges of the sheet, wrong sides together, and zigzag to finish the edge.

6. Cut an 18-inch length of elastic for each new corner. Fold the elastic in half and pin the center point to the corner seam on the inside of the sheet.

7. Zigzag the elastic to each new corner, starting at the seam in the middle and stretching the elastic along the edge of the sheet as you sew. Return to the middle, and stretch and sew in the other direction to finish attaching the elastic to each corner.

References

• The Better Sleep Council: What Size Mattress is Best?

Resources

• Alternative Windows: Fitted Sheet Instructions
• Martha Stewart: How to Fold a Fitted Sheet