Do you have a waterbed that you really like?… Except that the set of sheets they sell for this type of bed cost a lot? Do you hate paying exorbitant prices for roughly sewn and wrinkled sheets just because they fit a waterbed?
If you can sew a few straight (or almost straight) stitches and cut some fabric, you can make your own quality water bed sheets for a fraction of the cost of what you would pay in a store. Now we explain how.
Steps
Step 1. Calculate the measurements of your mattress
Here are the most common measurements you might have, although you can use these instructions to make any size bed sheets.
- Twin mattress - 100cm wide x 190cm long
- Twin XL mattress - 100cm wide x 225cm long
- Double Mattress - 137 cm wide x 190 cm long
- Double XL mattress - 137 cm wide x 203 cm long
- Queen mattress - 152 cm wide x 213 cm long
- King California mattress - 182 cm wide x 213 cm long
- King mattress - 193 cm long x 203 cm long
Step 2. Buy a set of "normal" sheets that are the right size for your waterbed
Normal size sheets are the same size as the "water bed" sheets. The only difference is the "fold" they have at each corner.
Step 3. Wash the sheets before cutting or sewing to remove the "factory smell"
Step 4. Water bed sheets differ from regular sheets for two reasons
1-They have tabs at the corners to help you tuck the sheet into the mattress and 2- The top and bottom sheet are sewn together from the bottom to the bottom.
Step 5.
Step 6. Place the first sheet (also called the "flat" sheet) on your waterbed so that the top edge is aligned with the edge of the bed
Step 7. Pull the sheet to one side so that it comes out of the bed about 10 cm (as you see in this picture)
Step 8. Watch out:
when two sides are well aligned, the others (the left one and the bottom one) protrude a little from the edge, usually by about 45 cm or even more.
Step 9. Mark how far you want the left and back sides to protrude from the edge
You can use tailor's chalk, pins, indelible, whatever you want.
Step 10. Measure well and check the marks before removing the sheet from the bed and cutting along the lines
Step 11. Cut the new fitted sheet (cut the extra fabric along the left and back side)
Step 12. Put the extra fabric away for now
Then it will be used to form the "fold".
Step 13. Line up the ends of your fitted sheet
Step 14. Cut the strip for the wider end into sections of 35 and 45 square centimeters
If you make smaller sections, they won't fit as well as they should. You can make larger sections if you want, but not too much, otherwise there will be too much free space!
Step 15. Line up the ends of your new fitted sheet
Step 16. Put him on the bed
Don't worry about putting it in. It's just to mark landmarks.
Step 17. Mark each of the four corners of the sheet / mattress with tailor's chalk, indelibles or pins (be careful not to puncture the mattress)
Step 18. Measure the bottom end and mark the center point
Step 19. Fold the bottom end of the flat sheet and mark the center point
Step 20. Sew the fold at the marked corners of the fitted sheet
Pull on the rubber bands as you sew to make the sheet taut.
Step 21. Pin the center point of the bottom edge of the flat sheet to the center point of the bottom edge of the bottom sheet
Step 22. Pin the ends of the two sheets together about 50cm in each direction starting from the center point
Step 23. Sew the bottom ends of the two sheets together
Another time, pull the elastic tightly and sew with zigzag stitches to allow the elastic to stretch out later.
Step 24. Enjoy using your new, beautiful, high quality sheets for a fraction of the retail cost
Advice
- If you buy the top and bottom sheet separately, you can buy the first one already smaller so you can avoid cutting, (for example: king size bottom sheet, queen size top sheet). Use other pieces of fabric for the "folds" of the corners. You could use bandanas, for example. The folded material will not be seen!
- Buying your full-size sheets at a thrift store could save you some money.
Warnings
- Saving can be addicting! The author paid about 10 euros for the material needed to make these sheets. In a shop, the ready-made, lower-quality finished product would cost you at least 100 euros.
- Be very careful with the pins when using them near the waterbed. It is strongly advised not to pin your fabric, but with a tailor's chalk.
