How to sew a sheet with an elastic band?

In the past few years, elasticized bed sheets have gained steady popularity all over the world, including in Russia. This fact is explained by the fact that high spring mattresses are widespread. For such products, sheets are required that would have a secure fit.

Bed sheets with an elastic band are optimally suited to such a task, the elastic band rigidly fixes the fabric, preventing it from deforming. The cost of a sheet with an elastic band is noticeably higher, so zealous housewives often sew it in on their own, especially since this operation does not require high qualifications.

Modern beds are equipped with a wide variety of mattresses from latex to box springs. Sometimes the height of the product can reach 25-30 cm, and in order to make such a bed with a sheet with an elastic band, you need to use two simple sheets to sew it. But first, these sheets are sewn into one canvas, and only then the elastic is sewn in.

If all the rules for sewing to the desired size are followed, then sheets with an elastic band will fit the mattress quite tightly, while the shape will remain unchanged. Such goods are always available on trading floors. New-fashioned sheets have proven themselves from the best sides: they do not wrinkle and "keep" their shape. But not everyone can afford them, so, willy-nilly, many housewives have the question of how to do such a thing with their own hands.

Nothing is impossible here. Manufacturing technology is not complicated. Benefits from application:

• the sheet with an elastic band looks aesthetically pleasing;
• it is more functional, does not crumple or bunch together;
• the mattress is practically invisible, it gets dirty less;
• on children's beds, sheets with an elastic band are indispensable, especially when there is a film on them.

For sewing a 160x200 cm sheet, cotton or linen material is best suited. Linen is a fairly dense fabric, it can withstand a large number of washes. It absorbs moisture well and allows air to pass through. Linen and cotton do not accumulate electrostatic charges, do not provoke skin irritation and allergies.

Coarse calico and satin are considered the best selling cotton fabrics. They are ideal for any time of the year and are considered wear-resistant and have a good thermal conductivity.

To make the right choice of size, the first step is to establish the exact size of the mattress. Any product of such a plan has a label, and it contains all the necessary information:

• the first line speaks about the length of the product;
• the second one confirms the width;
• the third name is the height of the mattress.

The sheet can be oval or round to match the shape of the mattress. Rectangular shapes are most often for adults. The sizes of the sheets are as follows (in centimeters):

• 120x60;
• 60x120;
• 140x200;
• 90x200.

Euro products are most often of one color scheme, so making a choice does not present any difficulty - only in size. Knitted sheets are very good - they are flexible and soft. Retain their shape after many cycles of passing through the washing machine. Also, they do not need to be ironed, which is an advantage.Modern paints are stable, so things do not fade over time.

To calculate the required amount of fabric for a sheet with an elastic band, you need to understand the parameters of the mattress. If a bed with a mattress is 122x62 cm in size, and the height of the mattress is 14 cm, then the calculation should be done as follows:

The numbers 122 and 62 are added by 14 cm (mattress height). In this case, you get a parameter of 136x76 cm. In order to sew an elastic band, you will need a certain amount of matter, about 3 cm from all sides. It turns out that the material will need 139x79 cm.

To correctly cut the material, you should draw up a diagram - a drawing, otherwise there is a real opportunity to use up excess matter.

On a blank sheet of paper, using a ruler and a triangle, you need to draw a diagram on a scale of 1: 4, adding the height of the mattress to the schematic quadrangle. Then, according to the parameters obtained, a paper pattern is made (newspaper or Whatman paper). The finished template is applied to the straightened fabric (it can be spread on the floor or table).

It should be borne in mind that cotton fabrics shrink. If you sew a sheet with an elastic band made of coarse calico 230 cm wide, then the fabric should be taken with a margin, that is, approximately 265 cm.

The pattern will be made on the fabric itself, so it should be flawlessly smooth. On each side, 10-12 cm are added, they will go to the lining of the mattress, you should also take into account a small amount of material for the elastic.

It will be necessary to harmoniously "fit" all four corners so that there are no deformations of the fabric. It is recommended to check each parameter several times before starting work. It is important that the template matches the mattress 100%. Sometimes, for various reasons, you have to build up the fabric, this should be done at the top, then the seam will be located under the pillows. It is recommended to remember:

• it makes no sense to make a complex hem, you can easily get confused;
• the wider the elastic, the more safety margin it has;
• the corners of the resulting rectangle should be rounded, so each edge should be tucked 0.8 cm, it should also be ironed well;
• an indent of 3 cm is made and a seam is sewn.

It is worth considering the presence of a small gap in the stitching of the seam, where the braid will be inserted. A pin is attached to the tape and inserted into the drawstring, pulling the elastic along the entire perimeter of the sheet. Both ends of the tape are then fastened together or each separately.

As recommendations, the following should be noted:

• the elastic should be ten centimeters longer than the perimeter of the mattress itself, and after inserting it into the drawstring, it is set to the required amount of tension with cutting off the excess length;
• natural fabric should be washed, then dried and ironed to shrink.

In order to sew a sheet with an elastic band with your own hands, you should master a small master class.

A piece of fabric is usually taken 2x1 m. If the required size is not enough, then one product can be made from two old sheets. Most often, hygroscopic fabrics are suitable for sheets:

• linen;
• cotton;
• bamboo.

There are also materials made from flax, cotton, PVC threads. Flannel and knitwear are also popular, they are soft and pleasant to the touch. In the cold season, sheets made from such materials are more preferable. The advantage of these materials is that they are elastic and stretch well. There is no need to make complex calculations taking into account shrinkage tolerances, it is at this point that errors and inaccuracies are most often encountered.

Traditional natural material cannot "work" without shrinkage, therefore, in the calculations, you should always add a margin of 10-15 cm. After completing all the necessary calculations, the matter is attached at the corner points. Everything should be carefully measured again, having recorded all the parameters.The smaller the error, the better the item will be, the longer it will serve. If there are no questions, then sewing is done in all corners with two seams. The crown of the work will be a full-fledged cover, which should fit the mattress tightly.

There are two ways to insert a rubber band into a material.

1. In the first version, the edges of the fabric are folded around the entire perimeter; a ribbon or braid should be sewn from the outer face.
2. The second option is when the matter is bent around the entire perimeter, a seam is obtained, which in professional everyday life is called: a drawstring. Then an elastic band is threaded, the ends of which are securely attached.

As already mentioned, ironing such bed linen is difficult, therefore, professionals often use the third method of inserting an elastic band. The elastic is attached only at the corners, respectively, 22 centimeters will remain at each corner, that is, approximately 85-90 cm elastic will be required. The material is also bent by ironing, the fabric is sewn up in the corners. Then all the places are drawn on a typewriter. Everything can be done in three hours.

The last method: clasps are fixed at the corner points of the sheet. Elastic tapes are called clasps in a professional environment. For greater reliability and strength, transverse tapes are also often used. In the last two versions, the fold of the sheet can be reduced by 6 cm.

The sheet has additional fastening, which means that it can be stretched even more. In addition, this technology provides significant savings in matter. In many good hotels, you can find so-called braces on mattresses - these are clips that really resemble this piece of clothing.

As additional devices for fixing the stretch sheets, various clamps or clips are used, which are attached to the edging or clamp the edge. Such simple devices allow you to double the life of the fabric. * +

Sheets with elastic bands are in demand in the infectious wards of many hospitals. It is an effective remedy that prevents pathogenic microbes from entering the mattress. This factor allows you to save tangible funds for unscheduled disinfection.

Ironing such things is a simple matter: the sheet is turned outward at the corners, they are folded together, then ironed with an iron in the "Steam" mode.

Wash sheets with an elastic band using a substance that softens the fibers of the fabric and makes the water softer. After the wash is finished, it is recommended to check the fabric for the presence of small items of washing, they sometimes get there.

Often a sheet with an elastic band is used as a mattress cover that protects the product from dirt. Such a simple accessory extends the life of mattresses, especially latex mattresses. The topic is quite relevant, because such mattresses are quite expensive. The fabric for these purposes is most often used dense - linen or cotton.

Terry sheets are very functional in winter, the material has a good thermal conductivity coefficient and is pleasant to the touch. Such products should not be used by people who are prone to allergic reactions.

If an elastic band of the same color with a sheet is a sign of good style, it is not difficult to find the necessary material in online stores.

It is recommended to sew the elastic with a stitch called “zigzag”. In this case, a special "foot" is used. It is recommended to use an expensive wide elastic band from a well-known manufacturer, this will be a reliable guarantee that the thing will last a long time.

Tools for the job:

• scissors;
• triangle ruler;
• whatman;
• sewing machine;
• market;
• meter wooden or metal ruler;
• threads and needles.

Sewing such products is not the most difficult job, but practical experience must be present.It is best for a new person to double-check their calculations several times and make neat, correct patterns. It is they who represent the pitfall in this matter, if you make a mistake, then the material can be spoiled. Then everything will inevitably have to be redrawn, and this will entail unnecessary costs.

For information on how to sew a sheet with an elastic band, see the next video.