Date: 4/8/04 12:41 PM

Ressy has LL Beane flannel at $4/yd.  I've priced out twinset flannel sheets, and for the good stuff, it's at least $35/set.  Are there any patterns to make sheets?  It can't be that hard, right?

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Leah

"As I stand before God at the end of my life, I hope that I do not have a single talent
so that I may say I used everything you gave me." Erma Bombeck

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Date: 4/8/04 2:56 PM

No, PROMISE, it isn't hard! I personally think it's worth it making sheets, duvet covers and pillow cases (in my family when I grew up it was the only way - my mother would buy many, many meters of unbleached muslin and then start sewing).

You have total control over fabric and size. Commercial ones are often skimpy. And the choice of fabric is limited.

They have to make money on the ready-mades - so, skimping on quality.

So many advantages: Lovely to sleep in something you made.

Commercial ones often have too much synthetic in the fabric. I love pure cotton and pure linen.

Home-made can be any pattern you choose, plain, flowered, striped. Can choose pure cotton, not always easy to find ready made. Or pure linen - a treat - costs a fortune ready made.

Overall cost: much less.

Also, just making something really simple is a good launching pad for further sewing adventures - a dress, or skirt, or whatever.

Long seams, yes, but you can get away with long selvages, too.

Go for it!

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Date: 4/8/04 3:16 PM

It's probably not too difficult, but it's definitely not worth it to me. It's hard enough for me to find time to launder sheets, much less make them! JMHO.

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Now blogging at http://sewwest.blogspot.com

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Date: 4/8/04 4:38 PM

It's very easy to make them, but think about whether you'll like having seams in them if it's a size bigger than twin.

I just bought a set of cheapie ones and the edges on each side aren't even hemmed, they're just selvedge!  

If you want to make some, just take an old pair and measure them and use that for your guide.  No pattern needed.   Like Annette said, you can customize them to fit.  Right now since they're making mattresses really thick, it's hard to find sheets to fit a thin mattress.  It's nice to be able to make the size you need.

I'm making a *big boy room* for ds who just outgrew his crib, so I'm going to make a set from the leftover fabric.  I can already tell they'll be nicer than the cheap set I bought.  

I am kind of excited because I want to use my elasticator attachment for my serger to apply the elastic to the fitted sheet.  When I bought the silly thing I didn't realize that it wouldn't work in the round (swimsuits, etc.) so I haven't used it much.  Fitted sheets are the perfect application. . .

Mary B

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Mary B
http://rightsidestogether.blogspot.com/

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Date: 4/8/04 5:41 PM

I hear or read some where that sleeping on linen sheets help you have a more restful sleep,  I have wanted to make some Linen ones just never found the right linen in good size.

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Linda E.
"Creative minds have always been known to survive any kind of bad training."
Anna Freud

"Inspiration will always sing; inspiration will never explain" Kahlil Gibran

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Date: 4/9/04 12:45 PM

personally, i'd rather spend my sewing time making something fun.  and who wants a seam in their sheet?

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Nikki Medved
My blog:
http://subversivesewer.wordpress.com
Visit my pro-sewing store!
http://www.cafeshops.com/sewingdiva

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Date: 4/9/04 1:53 PM

Ulster Linen.com has sheeting linen at 72", 90" and 108" wide.  You have to download their 2003 pricelist but it's on the bottom of the first page.  I can't bring myself to  pay the prices asked for linen sheets so I've eyeballed this stuff forever (and may continue to just eyeball it).  Ulster only sells business to business, though, with a $200 minimum order and a $100 minimum reorder.  If you definitely want to make linen sheets then maybe I can help put an order in with them since I have a business.  Contact me through the boards here if you're really really serious.  I've never ordered from them so I don't know what to expect.

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http://www.thestitchery.wordpress.com
http://www.thesewingdivas.wordpress.com

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Date: 4/9/04 4:02 PM

Threads did an article on making sheets and bed linen - I'm pretty sure it was the April/May2002 issue.

Phyllis

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Sewing = Fashion
http://coudremode.com/

Luck happens when preparation meets opportunity.

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Date: 4/9/04 7:30 PM

The only sheets I ever made were crib sheets.  They are so easy, take 2 yards, and fit better than any I ever bought.  I can post directions if anyone is interested.

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Date: 4/10/04 8:56 AM

My husband LOVES the high thread count sheets--he orders them online at overstock.com: 600 and 800 thread count queen-size sheets and pillow slips were approximately $70 and $90, respectively, per set he reports.  There wasn't much, if any, choice of colors, he reports (I'm questioning him as I write this.)  Haven't found any fabric sources for high thread count sheets (haven't really looked! that would be cost-effective, worth my time to make, and provide more color choices.

However, I agree with Annette that it IS worth it to make Duvet covers, because of the almost infinite fabric choices you have for decorating options.  I use Singer's book Sewing Projects for the Home, which is about 10 years old, but excellent.  It tells you have to measure and use panels on the sides.  But be careful adding panels and openings at the top and bottom--I did and it made the math a lot more challenging.  But results have been very good.  

Also, Mary B, good point about needing to get correct fitting on bottom sheets and using elasticator for that.

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Yahoo group: Sewing with Industrial Machines
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sewing-with-Industrial-Machines/

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