Green, Frugal and Easy!
The bottom sheets on our bed are older but still fine- except for the elastic in the corners that has lost all its stretch. So they may pop off in the night and that makes for a very uncomfortable way to wake up.
I shopped online to buy new sheets but did not see anything I just loved. I like old fashioned percale sheets- and don't want those gauzy 200 count sheets, or microfiber sheets or those luxury high count sheets. We've had 2 sets of those thread count sheets and they did not wear well at all, the threads popped and gave them an all over snagged look.
Anyway, it dawned me that I could just try to replace that worn elastic.
So, last week, I added new elastic to the sheets after I laundered them. It literally just took 15 minutes.
Those sheets have been used almost a week and are staying tucked under perfectly!
Since the first project was success, I decided to repair the rest of the sheets that needed it.
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When I looked in the linen cabinet for the red print set, I discovered there was a 3rd set of queen sheets, that fit our bed, also needing elastic. |
from the right side
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You want the elastic to look like this, with gathers, so it will curve around the under corner of the mattress. |
from the wrong side
that is some worn out, sad looking elastic on the corner of this sheet.
To repair the elastic, you need 4 pieces of elastic- I used 1/2 inch and 3/8 inch because that is what I already had- and cut each length about 1 foot long.
Then pin the center of each strip of elastic to the corner of your sheet.
Now, holding the center of the corner, stretch one end about 6 more inches and pin.
Then machine sew- stretching the elastic as you sew.
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unstretched |
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then, pulled tight whiled I sewed. |
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Finished!
shown from the right side.
This is a set of vintage-y sheets, just bought a few weeks ago at the $1 a bag rummage sale.
They are full size and would never work on a real thick mattress but they will be great on either bed in our 2 guest rooms. |
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Elastic is sold several different ways.
You may be able to have a clerk cut and it buy it by the yard.
There should be small length packages with the notions, usually about a yard, enough for one garment.
But the most economical way I have found is to by a big package of it.
This package is 6 yards and I think was about $1 at Walmart.
And if you don't sew and still want to fix your sheets, you could buy a set of sheet garters that fasten around each corner. I saw them at Joanns Fabrics for about $4 for a set.
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