Tutorial: How To Make Your Own Fitted Sheets - Sew Tessuti Blog

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Tutorial: How To Make Your Own Fitted Sheets October 17, 2013 Prompted by the arrival of our fabulous 100% linen sheeting range, here’s a tutorial to show you just how easy it is to make your own fitted sheets. It might be easier to enlarge the images as you work through this post so just click on them if you need to see a bigger version. Bedding/sheeting measurements are provided in metrics so if you want the imperial equivalent, try this online converter. What you need: Sheeting 72″ or 1.90mtrs x 6mm elastic Thread

Using this chart below, work out your bed mattress width and length and add 40cm depth, at either end, at width and length. Note: If you own the new extra-high padded mattresses you may need to add 50cm depth.

In this case, a Queen size mattress measures 152cm x 203cm. After you add 40cm depth at each end, you end up with these measurements – 232cm x 283cm.

For our 265cm wide linen, you’ll need 283cm (or round up to 285cm) in length. Note: you can’t achieve this length across the width. With your mattress width measurement of 232cm, there should be an excess across the top of approx 33cm. Keep this excess as you can trim a queen flat sheet top with this amount.

Cut 40cm x 40cm depth squares at each corner or fold whole piece in half, then half again (quarter), making sure that all sides are lined up perfectly and pin together. Here you can cut all 4 corners out at once. French Seam On Corners – for a stronger, more stable corner seam on your fitted sheets, sew a french seam at the corners. First join and pin wrong sides together, taking a 1/4″ seam and tapering off to a point at the corner end. Trim back slightly. Press seam all to one side, then join and pin right sides together and sew 1/4″seam, making sure to taper at the corner end. Now that the corner seams are all joined together, fold piece at the corner seams lining up raw edges evenly and measure out from the corner seam line approx 13″ and notch at this point on both sides. Note: The measurement from notch to notch with the corner seam in the middle will be 26″. This will mark the positioning for the elastic at the corners. Press raw edge back 1/2″ towards wrong side of fitted sheet. Cut four pieces of 6mm long life swimwear elastic 18″ (46cm) long. Fold cut elastic in half, placing a pin in the centre. Line up pin at corner seam point on top of pressed back edge, lining up bottom edge of elastic with raw edge. Make sure that you can see some fabric at the top folded edge (about 2-3mm). Stretch out elastic ends at either end and pin to notch marks. Sew using zig zag stitch along top edge of elastic. Do not sew on folded edge. When zig zag sewing elastic into place, stretch and pull at back and front to keep sewing edge flat when sewing. Now that elastic has been sewn at all four corners, next turn back edge again 1/2″ towards wrong side of fitted sheet and edgestitch at bottom edge all around fitted sheet area. Make sure you stretch and pull at back and front to keep sewing edge flat when sewing around corner edges with elastic, and that you are sewing at fabric edge above elastic at these corners (do not sew on top of elastic). You’re done! Enjoy sleeping in crisp linen sheets this summer. PS. Please leave a comment if you’d like a tutorial for making a flat sheet and standard pillow slips. LinenSoft FurnishingsTessuti Online ShopTutorials 56 Comments Share Previous post Next post
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56 comments

  • Reply Anonymous October 17, 2013 at 7:58 am

    I would definitely love a tutorial on flat sheets, pillow slips and maybe doona covers?

    • Reply Lillian October 26, 2021 at 4:24 am

      Thanks for posting this, I have some old queen sheets that have small holes on the seams I’m going make them into full size sheets.

    • Reply Amie August 20, 2022 at 5:27 am

      Such a simple, well written tutorial! Thank you for sharing!!

    • Reply Carol September 27, 2022 at 12:50 pm

      Couldn’t understand the fold this, fold that ,don’t sew this, sew here , when it came to putting in the elastic. I buy thrifted king size sheets and could make these for my queen size bed

  • Reply Kirsten October 17, 2013 at 11:33 am

    yes yes and yes

  • Reply Kristie October 17, 2013 at 9:18 pm

    Thank you for this tutorial Colette! I will be doing my fitted sheet this weekend. I would just LOVE a tutorial on the rest of the bed linen – yes please!And please keep the 100% linen sheeting as part of the Tessuti range – it's the loveliest thing, ever!

  • Reply violicious October 17, 2013 at 10:16 pm

    Thank you! I was just wanting to make some the other day but malaise on measurements held me back.

  • Reply Anonymous October 17, 2013 at 10:39 pm

    yes and yes (please)

    I was just about to buy new sheets but I'm now going to make them using your linen sheeting.

    Spud.

  • Reply Stephanie Lanzetti October 18, 2013 at 10:22 pm

    Awesome. So going to make me some of these. And yes please, tutorials for the rest.

    • Reply Colette January 17, 2016 at 10:10 pm

      http://tessuti.blogspot.com.au/2013/10/tutorial-how-to-make-your-own-flat.html

  • Reply Linda Lee Steaples October 20, 2013 at 10:57 am

    Yes would love tutorials on full bed sets!!!!!! !! Thanks so very much!!!!!!

    • Reply Colette January 17, 2016 at 10:15 pm

      Hi Linda,http://tessuti.blogspot.com.au/2013/10/tutorial-how-to-make-your-own-flat.html

  • Reply Anonymous October 20, 2013 at 1:15 pm

    Very confused as to why you are quoting some measurements in inches , not in centimetres, and others in centimetres only ,for the instructions of the same pattern.Linda C.

    • Reply Colette October 21, 2013 at 12:36 am

      Hi Linda CAs per the post intro, I've quoted bed measurements in metrics and sewing references in imperial, the latter being simply because that's what I use and how I was taught. I'm aware that not everyone (depending on location and/or preferences) does it this way which is why I provided a conversion link. I can assure you that no confusion is ever intended in any of my posts or instructions.

  • Reply Atholie G. October 24, 2013 at 5:41 am

    Tutorials for the other two patterns please – I feel the urge to sew coming on after about a 25 year hiatus!

    • Reply Colette January 17, 2016 at 10:11 pm

      Hi Atholie,http://tessuti.blogspot.com.au/2013/10/tutorial-how-to-make-your-own-flat.html

    • Reply Myrtle Marlow September 13, 2022 at 9:10 pm

      Hi can you give the measurements in inches for a full size flat sheet?

  • Reply Anonymous May 8, 2014 at 1:47 pm

    turning a old winter flat sheet by cutting it norrower and adding the piece on the bottom for our roof top tent. my sheet had to be 1.400 wide and 2.350 long. made it with the elastic around the bottom …. very excited about the snug fit

  • Reply Anonymous May 28, 2014 at 7:17 pm

    curious….can you make 2 Twin long fitted sheets from 1 fitted King?

  • Reply stacy December 14, 2014 at 1:40 am

    Thank you for this tutorial on fitted sheets. I was trying to follow other blogs on this and messed up two flat sheets. I almost gave up until I found your blog. I was very confused with the measurements and cutting until I followed your instructions. Your instructions are clear and easy to follow. The conversion link was a great help to me. Thank you again and kind regards.Lydia

  • Reply Anonymous March 22, 2015 at 11:15 pm

    I need help. I have had success making the fitted sheet, but I need to make a sheet for a boat mattress. It has a small square cut out piece on one of the sheet's sides and I don't know how to make this so that there will be tuck-in fabric going at right angles to each other. Do I need to cut a certain shape to add to this inside corner? I hope this makes enough sense for someone to have a suggestion. Thank you – I'm going crazy!Sue

    • Reply Duncan Heather September 25, 2020 at 10:46 am

      Did you find out? We’re about to make a similar sheet for a boat mattress, with an indented section. Am thinking we’ll just loose fit so it’ll stretch around, but would be good if internal corners could be cut

  • Reply Nursoltan Toshieva April 4, 2015 at 5:23 pm

    Thank you for your simple tutorial and I'm going to try it. Finally I know what to do with unused flat sheets:))

  • Reply Honnie Dobber April 28, 2015 at 2:19 pm

    Hi can you please tell me how long it takes to make one. Thanks

    • Reply Colette January 17, 2016 at 10:14 pm

      Hi Honnie Dobber,Once cut out, you can definitely make it in a few hours. Made a whole sheet set (fitted, flat and pillowcases in half a day including cutting time)

  • Reply Sue June 14, 2015 at 2:31 pm

    Thank you for the clear and detailed tutorial. I, too, would love to have the tutorial for flat sheets and pillow slips. My grandmother treasured her heavy cotton sheets, and they never greyed as do our cotton/poly, no-iron sheets of today as they age.

    AN OLD-FASHIONED TIP FROM MY GRANDMOTHER (1881-1977). To keep cotton sheets snow white, in the summer, she would often lay them flat on the grass to dry. My mother later explained to me that the theory was that the reaction between the sun and the chlorophyll in the grass was "nature's bleach"! Never a less-than-snow-white sheet at Grandma's house, no matter how old they were!

  • Reply Anonymous July 12, 2015 at 5:32 pm

    it is not that i urgently need a bedsheet but my mother in-law made me sew one.. i gotta tell you Colette that this helps a lot. thanks for making me look like a capable handy do-all thing girl that my mother in-law proud of. lol.

  • Reply Anonymous July 26, 2015 at 5:37 pm

    I like what you have done SO MUCH better than had you decided to create a you tube video! Thanks for alerting us that you might demonstrate flat sheet and pillowcase ideas next. I have been looking for the "how to" of creating a pillowcase with a pocket that holds the pillow into position. CelestineDimanche le vingt six juillet 2015

  • Reply Anonymous August 18, 2015 at 5:09 am

    Do you have a ratio for how much elastic you need for different sheet sizes?

    • Reply Colette August 18, 2015 at 6:25 am

      Hi Anonymous,

      I made these fitted sheets 2 years ago, and don't recall. Note I added only to the corners, so the lengths here would apply to all sheet sizes too

  • Reply Anonymous August 18, 2015 at 5:15 am

    So you only have elastic on the corners?

  • Reply Colette August 18, 2015 at 6:28 am

    Yes Anonymous, it works perfectly well having the elastic only at the corners. Makes the fitted sheet easier to fold too.

  • Reply Colette August 18, 2015 at 6:32 am

    Yes Anonymous, it works perfectly well having the elastic only at the corners. Makes the fitted sheet easier to fold too.

  • Reply Tania Farghali September 23, 2015 at 3:00 am

    I came across this tutorial after making some crib sheets and thought it would be great to custom-make my own bedding to match a duvet cover I bought. I ended up buying a lovely sheet set and because I never use the top sheet, I made a second fitted sheet out of it – thanks for your helpful tutorial!

  • Reply Jennyjacks October 9, 2015 at 4:43 am

    Thanks for the detailed explanation and picture . I have struggled with this task for years and couldn't get it right.

  • Reply Jennyjacks October 9, 2015 at 4:47 am

    Yes please do more tutorials

    • Reply Colette January 17, 2016 at 10:15 pm

      Hi Jennyjacks – http://tessuti.blogspot.com.au/2013/10/tutorial-how-to-make-your-own-flat.html

  • Reply gatewaywa November 7, 2015 at 12:20 am

    Used your tutorial as a guide for a inflatable mattress in a baby's traveller portacot. Minimal depth so only needed small "tuck under" section. Worked really well, though I put the elastic all the way round the edge. The advice to taper into the corner with the French seam makes a nice finish. Thank you.

  • Reply Unknown January 17, 2016 at 6:09 am

    Would like the tutorial for a flat sheet also, Thank you.

    • Reply Colette January 17, 2016 at 10:09 pm

      Hello! The tutorial for a flat sheet is here – http://tessuti.blogspot.com.au/2013/10/tutorial-how-to-make-your-own-flat.html

  • Reply danidan67 March 3, 2016 at 7:27 am

    Tankyou very much !Grazie infinite!

  • Reply [email protected] May 19, 2016 at 1:04 am

    I do this to my flat top sheet, but only the two bottom corners, that why it stays put.

    • Reply JAM June 28, 2016 at 6:59 pm

      Oooooh yes! Just the tip I was looking for!! Thanks!

  • Reply Anonymous May 27, 2016 at 11:05 pm

    Really wish you had provided inch measurements! The converter link does not work for me and it is hard enough to follow instructions. Know you were trying to be helpful, but this simply didn't help me.

  • Reply Mari August 15, 2016 at 5:55 am

    Thanks for this tutorial. It was really helpful.

    • Reply Sally February 6, 2019 at 3:00 pm

      A simple google search will give you any conversion you could ever need rather than being critical of such a useful and intelligent tutorial. Most of the world is metric!

  • Reply Anonymous August 30, 2016 at 7:22 am

    Please put this in inches. I'm new at sewing need very simple instructions. Thank you

  • Reply Dominique March 11, 2017 at 4:39 am

    Hi Colette. Great info. Do you have a tip on how to ‘deepen’ my brand new fitted sheets to fit a new very deep mattress?

  • Reply Emily Alyn May 9, 2017 at 5:41 am

    Thanks for this tutorial. It was really helpful..Check Advantage coupon

  • Reply My First Saving December 5, 2017 at 6:06 am

    Please put this in inches. I’m new at sewing need very simple instructions. Thank you

  • Reply MARIA MERCEDES July 19, 2018 at 7:49 am

    Fantastic tutorial. I ‘m going to sew my owns sheets!!!!!

  • Reply Em Dee March 26, 2019 at 6:59 am

    Hello and congratulations to anyone who has made anything larger than I cot sheet. I tip my hat to you all. I would like some clarification or help on the instructions. I have just completed a cot sheet for my new grandson, but when I fitted it to the mattress it was very saggy/too big at the back. (BTW it looks very neat and professional – thanks for the French seam instruction!) As I was searching for instructions on many websites I was quiet confident cutting the corners out as 20cm (not 40cm like the instructions here) as the mattress is very thin (7.5cm) and small 60cm x 120cm. Do I need to use stronger elastic to gather it in more or make the cutout corners even small so that it fits more snuggly? Or maybe even put the elastic all the way around instead of just at the corners? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated as I will need to make a few more yet!

    • Reply Em Dee June 13, 2019 at 7:41 am

      Further to my request for help, experimentation has taught me that the 20cm allowance for the tuck under part works well, but instead of doing elastic at all 4 corners sewing the elastic all the way around works really well on this size sheet. Much quicker and sits well.

  • Reply Maggie New February 9, 2022 at 7:21 am

    Hi, My name is Maggie & I live in Adelaide Sth Australia. Please let me know if you put the elastic all the way round how do you workout the length needed?

  • Reply Jen November 12, 2022 at 8:35 am

    Hello!

    This post was SO HELPFUL! I am just learning to sew and your instructions, along with the photos, were so helpful. I really thought the pillow cases and flat sheet would be the easiest, so I started with someone else’ design for a pillow case, then found your design for the flat sheet. From there I combined some ideas and made a few mistakes, but it worked out! Upon reaching the fitted sheet stage, I realized this was the easiest of the three stages of bed sheets HAHA. Thank you for sharing this superb directional post on how to make sheets. 🙂

    • Reply Lisa November 14, 2022 at 1:25 am

      Happy to help Jen 🙂

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