Boring topic, but... what to do with dying bed sheets?

[blueridgewoman]

My favorite pair of dye free, natural flannel sheets are dying. I need to patch a hole in them, but I know from experience that they won't last much longer since they've basically started wearing out.

Any thoughts on what to do with them? I cut up the last one that died and made family cloth wipes and baby wipes, but we definitely don't need more of those. I'll probably use the parts that are in really good shape still to line homemade baby shoes, but what else can I do?

Also, since I'm now going to be left with two top sheets without fitteds, I'm wondering- has anyone here has ever made a fitted out of a flat? I have elastic and the sheets themselves seem big enough. Any thoughts?

[Amys1st]

I have taken fitted sheets and made smaller top sheets for dds before. But now, we use old sheets for painting. I dont know if you remodel like we do but I cover my furniture, esp the fitted ones for painting and it works great. We have had a few sheets that we used for years die or rip or you could read thru them so we now have a box to save them in for our remodeling which we do a lot of.

[ArtsyMomma]

I was going to suggest family cloth or wipes, but since you could make diaper inserts for pocket diapers or a few flat diapers. Need cloth 'paper' towels?

As for the top sheets - I have this problem all the time. We don't really use the top sheets at all. I use them as a dust ruffle on my bed. The twin size sheets make great table cloths. When my linen closet gets full I donate all of the extras to the dog shelter, they always need old towels and blankets.

[annethcz]

It's pretty easy to make a fitted sheet out of a flat sheet.

I ususally keep old sheets around and end up using them for misc. projects. My last old sheet was used to make linings for the lunch bags I sewed for my kids.

[cristeen]

In some other countries, fitted sheets don't exist. They're all flats. No conversion needed, just tuck it in tight.

For the worn sheets, you can take the less worn edges and make a couple pillowcases, you can make rice (heating) packs, you can make kitchen cloth (to replace paper towels, sponges, napkins, etc.), you can make clothing for your LOs, diapers... anything you would do with fabric you can do with sheets. Sure, you'll need to cut around the worn areas, but that should still leave you with some decent sized pieces of fabric.

[living_organic]

during ww2 they used to cut the sheets down the middle and re-sew them with the former outside to the middle...but that would'nt work for fitteds...maybe cut quilt squares out of all the good parts with the least wear. It would make a comfy quilt when you have enough!

[lucky_mia]

I seem to be running low on fitted sheets so I started to use the flat ones on the mattress and tuck them in. It works surpisingly well, especially considering there are 4 of us in the bed.

[sapphire_chan]

The old thing to do when flat sheets wore our was to cut them in half long ways and sew the former edges together and rehem the whole sheet. That puts the relatively unworn edges into the middle where the most stress is and vice versa

heh, that's been covered.

a big : to the idea of learning hospital corners if you really love the sheets.

[Arduinna]

I've made mama cloth with mine.

[Think of Winter]

Do you knit? Mason Dixon Knitting has a pattern for a bath mat made out of old sheets.

[yeahwhat]

You can buy elastics with clips on the end to hold the flat sheet in the place of a fitted sheet. I used to have some but they got lost somewhere. I want to get another set or two since we have a surplus of top vs. bottom sheets, even moreso because my kids don't use top sheets at all.

[Ruthiegirl]

Originally Posted by yeahwhat

You can buy elastics with clips on the end to hold the flat sheet in the place of a fitted sheet. I used to have some but they got lost somewhere. I want to get another set or two since we have a surplus of top vs. bottom sheets, even moreso because my kids don't use top sheets at all.

These work great. You could probably make them with elastic and some clips.

[CarrieMF]

since you have family cloth & wipes already, turn the old sheets into cleaning rags.

It's not hard to turn a flat into a fitted, put the sheets on the bed upside down(tucking ends in) and pin the corners. Then sew those shut & add some elastic.

[blueridgewoman]

Originally Posted by Think of Winter

Do you knit? Mason Dixon Knitting has a pattern for a bath mat made out of old sheets.

Oh my gosh, do you have a link? That would be way cool. :

[blueridgewoman]

Thank you all SO MUCH for the suggestions! How awesome. I didn't think I'd get that many responses!

I think I'll rip down the old fitted and make a bath mat and then try to do a fitted "conversion" with one of the sad, lonely flats. If it works, I'll definitely post how I did it. I enjoy experimental sewing.

[Code Name Mama]

Use your old flannel as the middle layer for a rag quilt

[jtsmom]

In the movie "The Holiday", Cameron Diaz has on pjs made out of what looked to me like the same material as my favorite sheets. So I've thought of making pjs out of the top sheet of my favorite sheet set that is dying.

Also, it would make a good backing to a quilt if you do that sort of thing.

[CallMeKelly]

Originally Posted by MahnaMahna

Use your old flannel as the middle layer for a rag quilt

That is an awesome tut! I must say, I do love a nice rag quilt, far more than I ever thought until I made one and saw just how cozy and easy they are.

[msjd123]

If it's at least a double or a queen, you could also cut it down to make twin-sized sheets for your child's bed.

[slsurface]

Please pardon repeats, I did not read all the posts. These are some of the ideas that come to mind:

-car chamois
-kitchen towels
-duvet cover for toddler bed
-fitted and flat sheets for toddler bed
-quilt backing
-tear into strips to tie up beans and plants in the garden
-use whole to cover tender plants in spring
-mama cloth
-diapers
-cedar/lavendar sachets for closet and dressers
-pillow cases or toss pillows
-tote bags
-cloth blocks or balls
-stuffed animals
-apron
-kids art smock or apron
-rag rug
-window quilts
-draft dodgers
-lunch bags
-sleep pants (adult or kid sized)

Most of these require a moderate level of sewing skills. I often use sheets from the thrift store to make everyday items for the house. It's even better when you already have a set to make things out of! Have fun re-purposing your sheets!