How to Make Twin Fitted Sheets

Just like toddler sheets it's very disappointing when you go to the store to find twin sheet sets of licensed characters.  The sheets they have rarely have the characters on them, most of the time they're just on the pillow case.  Yet you are expected to pay more for these sheets because of the licensed characters that it lacks.  I remember when I was little our sheets would have the characters all over them or one big picture of the characters on them.  So for my youngest I decided to try and make twin sheets.  The difficulty with making twin sheets is that most fabric isn't sold wide enough, so you have to consider there being seams somewhere.

My daughter is in love with Mickey and his friends so we went to JoAnn's and I let her pick out the character fabric.  Then we picked out a solid color to match it for the sides.  This is how I made the fitted sheet and pillow case.

I used this website as a guide www.ehow.com, I had to do some things a little differently.  I did three pieces for the sheet because I didn't want a seam down the middle.  For me it would seem weird.

What you need
Fitted Sheet
-main fabric 96" at about 45" wide
-solid fabric/side fabric (96" at 8.5" wide) two pieces
-4 pieces of 12" long 3/8" wide elastic
-thread
- 9" x 9" square template (can be made with a piece of paper, etc)

Pillow Case
-piece of main fabric 29" x 44"
-solid fabric 8.5" x  44"
-thread


Fitted Sheet

This just shows the three pieces of fabric laid out to be sewn together.  The widths added together equal the 60" called for to make the twin sheets, I should of had an extra inch for the seams so the final piece equalled 60" but it worked out.  Any way you can design your sheets anyway you want as long as your final piece equals 60" x 96"

Sew the side pieces to the main middle piece making sure right sides are together, I did a half inch seam.  Then I like to sew the extra fabric down to help with protection from fraying.  Iron the seam down to one side and then sew about 1/4" from the seam.

This is what it looks like when you're done.

After you sew both sides on fold all the corners of the finished piece together.   Use your 9 x 9" square template or just cut a 9" x 9" square off of all 4 corners.

Fold sides of corner together and sew

These two pictures show the corner after being sewn.  Again I like to sew the seam down to make it a little stronger.

Next fold over 1/4" of the fabric on the wrong side all the way around and sew down, easier if you iron it down.  This helps prevent a lot of fraying.  Another option is to serge the edge or do a zigzag stitch.

After you sew all the corners lay one out flat.  from the seam measure 12" and place a pin, then do the same to the other side of the seam.

Fold a piece of elastic in half and pin the center onto the seam.  Then stretch the elastic ends to the pins on your fabric.

Next place one end in your sewing machine and do a couple of stitches with some back stitches to secure that end.  Then holding the center pin stretch the elastic till it is flat against the fabric and adjust it till it just about meets the edge of the fabric.  Sew with a zigzag stitch to the center pin.  After that grab the last pin and stretch the elastic the same way and sew with a zigzag stitch.  When you get to then end make sure to do a couple of back stitches to secure it.  

This is what it looks like when you are done.  Repeat for all corners.

To finish the seam you will fold you fabric over, on the wrong side, the width of your elastic and sew it down along the inside edge.  You have to stretch your elastic as you sew by it.  Do this all the way around.  And it's done!

Pillow Case

This shows how the pieces will look together.

Sew the two pieces together down the long sides.  Fold and sew down seam

Fold piece length wise together matching together the short ends, with right sides together.  Sew down side and bottom.

Fold and sew side seam down.

Fold bottom seam over about 1/2" and sew along inside edge.

Fold over fabric around opening about 1/4" toward the wrong side.  Then you'll match the opening edge to the seam of the different fabrics together, basically folding the solid color in half width wise.  Sew around along inside edge.

Finished pillow case.  The blue is wrinkled because I guess I didn't have straight seams down the side.  So when I folded the blue piece over and sewed in down I had a little extra length from the top.  Also shows why it's important to iron your folds, it helps keep the fabric straight.  I'm always too lazy to iron.

This shows a store bought pillow case over top the one I made.  The length is good but my pillow case is a little wide, which isn't bad but something to think about.  The difference wasn't too much and it fit our pillow fine. 

Some pictures of the sheet and pillow on her bed.  She has a bunk bed mattress so it's a little different.  The height of the mattress is only 5"  but regular twin sheets work fine on it.  On a regular twin mattress you will see the blue down the length more.