I’ve always had a problem with the expression “Mend and Make Do”.
I understand the history behind it, and during a period of war shortages, it would have been a critical mindset. But the notion of compromise irks me, because mending and making help our family to thrive, not make do.
My most recent project has been to replace our fitted sheets. After more than a decade of daily service, our king sized Lands End sheets have finally given up the ghost. The fabric won’t be wasted though – I’ve turned the usable parts into beeswax wraps, the thinner sections into large furoshiki to bundle up out of season blankets, and the really torn bits into rags.
I was keen to purchase new sheets from Sheridan Australia – their fabrics are sensational and I’ve long been an admirer of their many sustainability and social justice initiatives. I didn’t end up buying from them in the end (the $300 starting point for a KS set was out of my budget), but their website is definitely worth a read.
So I went back to what I know, and made some new fitted sheets. They’re actually a doddle to sew, providing you can wrap your head around the big numbers. If anyone is interested in knowing more, let me know and I’ll try to draft up a rough tutorial.
In 1994, I’d purchased a roll of thick pure cotton sheeting – a Country Road second, I was told – from Fox’s Fabrics for $1 a metre. Oh how I loved that shop! Old Mr Fox was a wizard at picking up bargains at auction, and Maude and I used to visit almost weekly. The giant roll I bought has since been used for everything from bags to beeswax wraps, and face masks to dress toiles. I’ve also made bedsheets for the entire family from it, and I found two king sized top sheets leftover from an earlier set I’d made (it always seems to be the fitted sheet that wears out first!).
The first sheet was slightly too short, so I added a section from the worn out fitted sheet to extend it (the bits which had been on the side of the mattress were unworn). I then boxed the corners and sewed some leftover boxer short elastic (another Fox purchase from 1994) around the outside and voila…new king size fitted sheet…
The second sheet was larger, but I’d run out of boxer short elastic, so I used the drawstring elastic I’d purchased from The Sewing Basket in Newington. Donated by Bonds Australia, I’d been trimming it down to make mask straps, but it was also perfect for the sheets. I started by pulling the cord out from the middle channel…
The elastic was then folded in half and zigzagged around the edge of the boxed sheet. I used a wide stitch, stretching from front and back as I sewed (see video below). When I make these, I don’t pin anything (too lazy), I simply stretch the elastic, encase the edge, stitch, then move on to the next bit. The elastic on fitted sheets doesn’t need to be precise! My KS fitted sheet used up approximately 5 metres of the elastic, which meant I ended up with a super high quality thick cotton fitted sheet for just $5 and about 40 minutes of my time. It’s hard to argue with those sorts of numbers!
In case you’re wondering, the hand wave was a signal to Small Man to keep filming, rather than a Liberace style flourish…
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To finish off the sheeting story, I sewed a new linen flat sheet from a rescued quilt cover. It also needed an extender piece, provided by the other side panel of the old fitted sheet…
Here’s an upcycling tip – sheeting is the great find in thrift stores. Most people are put off by used bed linen, but it’s completely fine if you’re selective. Avoid fitted sheets and pillowcases, as they’re usually very worn and often a bit gross. Flat sheets are always worth a look, particularly if they’re vintage. But quilt (doona) covers are the real treasure – they’re usually barely used and offer a wealth of fabric for very little money. I picked up an as-new vintage Sheridan (back when it was still made locally) pure cotton quilt cover, queen sized, for just $12 recently at the Salvos. It’s nearly eight square metres of super high quality fabric! A soak in Napisan followed by a hot water wash brought it back to new.
Over the past year, I’ve gone through a lot of drawstring elastic – firstly for mask straps and now for sheeting – so I was keen to find something to do with the excess cord…
I ended up attempting my first macrame project in over 40 years, following this very clever tutorial…
Tah dah! I stitched three cords together to make a thicker handle, and the bag ended up a lot smaller than the one on the tutorial, probably because I was using thinner cord. It’s the perfect size for carrying a bottle of champagne to a restaurant though, 70s hippy style…
Best of all, it made use of a resource which might otherwise have gone to waste…
See how this is so much more than simply making do? Being able to repurpose and rescue materials, save money along the way, exercise creativity, problem solve…it’s all about thriving rather than just surviving.
Do you have a project on the go at the moment? I’d love to hear about it! (I’ve just started a slow stitch journal which I’ll tell you about soon) ♥
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
I’m new to your blog, I love it! I use old and thrifted flannel sheets and mattress pads to make pet beds for my local animal shelter. I use strips of old sheets and clothes lately to make rag rugs. My husband built me the loom, very easy, and it’s a great way to use up ugly fabric. The type of weaving is called twining, I’ve learned.
oooh I’ll google, thank you!
I always enjoy reading your blog. You have such inventive ideas and are always doing something interesting. Keep teaching us to redo, reuse recycle.
Clever cookie that you are Celia. Well done. Love all these projects. You are definitely ‘thriving’ and not making do. You are inspiring. Love that macrame bag too. Our local Boomerang Bag group uses sheeting/quilt cover fabric quite a bit. I have made protective bags in various sizes in the past for transporting framed embroideries to and fro the Embroiderers’ Guild from Sheridan quilted bedspread offcuts I used to buy from their outlets. I have made pillow slips also from their sheeting offcuts. I store many things in pillow slips.
Wow you have been so busy Celia membracing your creativity and resourcefulness. Great tip about sourcing sheets at the thrift shops. I mended a pair of my daughters shorts yesterday, her favourites, and felt so good that she should find another couple of years wear with them now.
Such an excellent post and embedded video. I will acquire some twine for this purpose.
I have a Sheridan doona cover set plus a similar knock-off set (a lucky find on a trip to Perth in a cheap shop in the city mall) that have been alternating in constant use on my bed since 2000… the Sheridan set cost $300 plus, the knock-off $99. The covers are wearing at the corners but I patch and mend ‘cos I can’t bear to part with them.
Well that ws great! fitted sheets and those bags…….haven’t thought of macrame in Years! Good job.
Have a look at making a rug or basket with the cord the ones you cover fabric with and stitch with a zig zag stitch on the machind.
I made a jjte macrame door matt in 1983 and it is still going strong it is at our main entry yo the house and even after 4 kids who are all grown up and in their own houses there is nothing wrong with the matt, cant say that gor some bought ones thst i had in other area of the house.
This piece brought back a memory of my great aunt a wonderful seamstressShe used to tail all the family cosy flannelette sheets and turn sides to middles all good as new again Simples
Quilt covers also make excellent tents and wigwams for children.
When you say things like having a giant roll of fabric since 1994, I have a vision of you standing Mary Poppins style as you pull things out of a carpet bag. Singing at the same time. And (obviously) then clicking your fingers to clear away the mess. Haha – sounds as though I don’t get out much at the moment doesn’t it?
I have a giant carpet bag of a room 🙄😆
Love this post!! Keep thriving!
Patricia
Loved all of this. I have found some great doona covers on the ‘bancarelle’ at the markets here in Rome. And love the bag, wish I had a bit more spare time, I still have to finish knitting a scarf before winter is over.
Awesome post! I love it. So timely! We splurged and bought a California King split mattress bed. It’s an odd size and very hard to find perfect fitting sheets. The ones I do manage to find are ridiculously priced! Thanks very much for this fitted sheet tutorial. You are my hero!
Bonnie, Tessuti have a tutorial on making fitted sheets with clear instructions on how to measure and cut the fabric, and how to box the corners. It’s worth a read!
https://blog.tessuti.com.au/2013/10/tutorial-how-to-make-your-own-fitted/
What I do differently is: a) I sew the corners with my overlocker (serger) rather than French seaming, and they’re completely fine, and b) I use fold over elastic as mentioned above rather than running the elastic through a casing. The fold over elastic creates a very solid elastic edge and saves a few fiddly steps. Good luck and let me know if you need more info!
I have used a pair of old worn king-sized sheets to make a pair of fitted and top sheets for the caravan bunks. They’re long, but fairly narrow, and I was able to use the best parts of the sheets to create lovely soft custom size bedding. The worn bits became ‘yarn’ for crochet mats beside the bed – they wash beautifully!
Lovely post. I SO miss the old Sheridan factory! Millends and quilted mattress coverings for $8 a kg (or $8/metre for the 2m wide fabrics that made up their luxury sets, which were over $300 quarter of a century ago when I visited the factory!) They also had rolls of – huge amounts, was it 25 m? of 20 and 30cm trimming fabric in mix-and-match shades – I have used to add to sheets fitting an extra deep mattress, and to make plain pillowcases ‘match’ my doona covers. My homemade sheets are still good; I had similar elastic also bought in bulk but cased it, good move as its needed to be replaced. The other thing I found, particularly for my king singles, which are on a sprung base that is usually covered by a valance, is this – using the wide fabric, I just made a box-shaped sheet that went to the bottom of the base, ie just above the legs. Like a fitted sheet but longer sides. You have to make a king single from a length not a width anyway, so make it bigger, very little extra fabric. NO need for elastic, because the extra length keeps the sheet in place very well, no need for a valance which DOES get dusty and is a bugger to change, and it looks so neat! Rant over. For the moment.
PS Katechicona is on the right track; I happened across a NEW fitted sheet for $3 in an op shop which was exactly what I needed for the van and my enthusiasm for cutting down an old one faded. However the crocheted rag rugs, made of old flannelette sheets, make an amazing difference in winter, the van feels much warmer.
Sheets are simple to make. I like the use of your elastic; much easier than making a casing for the elastic. You macrame bag looks lovely. Macrame is so simple, relaxing, and elegant.
The shift in thought is an important one!
Love the bag, you’re so resourceful and always thinking outside the square. I always love your posts.
Wow that is fantastic. I admire all your projects but making your own sheets is brilliant because they are so ridiculously expensive. And my cat has decided they are great to shred with his claws – a bad habit I am trying to stop. I don’t have projects at the moment but was pleased when I ordered bike panniers and realised that they didn’t have a shoulder strap so I asked a crafting friend for advice who gave me her box of straps to choose a new strap from. Problem solved! And your macrame makes me feel all nostalgic for school projects and wishing to try some macrame (and wishing for some extra time in my life too)
Always in awe of your creativity and sewing skills. Have you any tips on repairing pillow cases? One of mine has developed a tear in it. Loathe to part with it as lovely cotton.
I’d sew a patch over it, Sally. When the fabric gets very thin, it’s not worth simply sewing the edges together as it will tear again – it needs reinforcement
Thanks Celia – can see what I’ll be doing tonight!
You are so ingenious! I love the macrame bags. I remember my mum turning sheets side to middle when my sisters and I were growing up. My parents certainly didn’t have the money to just go out and buy new.