Needlecrafts Sewing Sewing Basics

How to Sew Your Own Fitted Sheets

By
Debbie Colgrove
Debbie Colgrove
Debbie Colgrove is an award-winning seamstress and tailor who shares her knowledge with beginner sewers on how to work with patterns and fabrics. She has over 40 years experience and has been writing and authoring books for two decades.
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Updated on 11/19/24
How to Sew a Fitted Sheet
Mollie Johanson
Project Overview
  • Skill Level: Intermediate

A fitted sheet, or "bottom sheet" as it's often called, may be incredibly difficult to fold but it's easy to sew. Following our simple tutorial for making your own fitted sheets, you can learn how to easily customize different types of bedding, from crib and toddler sheets to sheets for your bed or a guest bed.

When you know how to sew your own fitted sheets, you can repurpose flat sheets or duvet covers, or buy fabric to personalize bedding to match your decor. And since mattresses come in different depths, making your own fitted sheets gives you control over the fit. The process for making a fitted sheet is as simple as sewing a few boxed corners (similar to darts used in garment construction) and adding elastic to hold the sheets in place.

Here's how to make a fitted sheet and what you'll need before you get started.

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • Flexible measuring tape (an extra-long one is helpful)
  • Rotary cutter, ruler, and mat
  • Pins
  • Sewing machine
  • Ballpoint or stretch sewing machine needle for attaching elastic

Materials

  • 6 to 9 yards 45"-wide fabric, such as quilting cotton (or 2 - 3 1/4 yards of 108" cotton for quilt backs)
  • 6 1/2 to 9 yards 1/4"-wide flat elastic (or only 1 1/4 yards if only using elastic at corners)
  • Thread

Other wide fabric options:

  • Flat sheets (use a larger size than the sheet you're making)
  • Fitted sheets that are too large for the mattress
  • Duvet covers

Instructions

  1. Measure the Mattress

    For the best fit possible, measure your mattress before you start sewing. Mattress sizes may have standard guidelines, but they do vary, especially when it comes to depth. Fitted sheets often come extra-deep to accommodate different mattress depths. You can customize your sheets to fit your mattress exactly. Here's how.

    Measure the width, length, and depth of the mattress.

    Multiply the depth by two, add the width, and then add six inches, which allows three inches to tuck under the mattress on each side.

    Multiply the depth by two, add the length, and then add six inches to tuck under the head and foot of the mattress.

    Measuring the Mattress
    Mollie Johanson

  2. Cut Out the Corners

    Cut the fabric to the dimensions you need for your sheet. ​Use a rotary cutter, ruler, and mat for accurate cutting. If you're using standard fabric with a 45" width, cut pieces to the length needed, then sew them together along the length. You may want to add pieces to each side of one center piece to avoid having a center seam. Make sure to finish the seams so they won't fray or open up with repeated washing.

    Add the depth size of the mattress to the three inches allocated for tucking under each side. Cut a square this size from each corner of the fabric. 

    Cutting the Corners
    Mollie Johanson

  3. Sew the Sheet Corners

    With the right sides together, pin and sew the two edges at the corners. This is called a boxed corner.

    Finish the seam with a zig-zag stitch or a serger. Alternatively, you can sew a French seam for a beautiful finish.

    Pinning and Sewing the Corners
    Mollie Johanson

  4. Press the Edges

    Prepare to hem the edges of the sheet by turning and pressing 1/4" to the wrong side and then 1/4" again.

    If you plan to add elastic only to the corners, then stitch the hem all around the sheet. However, if you will add elastic around the entire sheet, it isn't necessary to pre-sew the hem.

    Pressing the Edges Under
    Mollie Johanson

  5. Sew the Elastic to the Sheet

    Insert a ballpoint or stretch needle in your sewing machine if you have one. It will help keep the stitches from skipping when sewing through elastic.

    Use a zig-zag stitch to attach the elastic to the edge of the sheet, overlapping the inside fold of the hem. Be sure to backstitch at the beginning, then stretch the elastic as you sew. 

    Make your way around the entire sheet. When you reach the starting point, overlap the elastic and backstitch again. Trim the excess elastic.

    If you prefer to only have elastic at the corners of the sheet, cut four pieces of elastic 10 inches long.

    Center each piece of elastic at the bottom of each boxed corner on the wrong side of the sheet. Stretch each end of the elastic as far as it will go along the edge of the sheet. Use a zig-zag stitch to attach the elastic to the corners of the sheet, keeping the elastic stretched so it pulls in the sides. Repeat on all four corners. 

    Tip: Pulling the elastic can put stress on the needle and thread. If you find that the thread is breaking, make sure you have a large enough needle without any spurs and you're using good-quality thread.

    Sewing the Elastic to the Sheet
    Mollie Johanson

  6. Finish Your Fitted Sheet

    When the elastic is attached to the edge of the sheet and no longer stretched, it should have a gather to it as you see here. Having elastic all around helps hold the sheet in place nicely.

    Fitted Sheet Finished Elastic Edge
    Mollie Johanson

  7. Cover Your Mattress With Your New Fitted Sheet

    Now that your sheet is finished, make your bed with your new homemade fitted sheet.

    Need a flat sheet to match? Cut your fabric in the same size rectangle as you cut for the fitted sheet and just hem all four sides.

    Finished Handmade Fitted Sheet
    Mollie Johanson