Monday, May 4, 2009

Mending A Sheet

Last summer, our fitted sheet ripped - from top to bottom. Normally, I'd run out and buy a new set of sheets and I did ~ flannel sheets. They came in sooo handy during the Freeze Yer Buns Challenge and $15 for a set of king-size flannels seemed to be a good bargain. Now that spring is here, flannel sheets are getting a little too toasty. So, what to do with the ripped sheet?

I could go out and buy a new set ~ but that would invalidate my No Buying New rule. (I did look at the few garage sales I visited last week, but no one had king size sheets.) I didn't want to waste the gas to run to thrift stores and I haven't noticed sheets in them before anyway.

Instead, I opted to mend the sheet. Problem is, I wasn't sure how! I looked at a few sewing options ~ most suggestions were to zig zag stitch it several times. This would be a great if my zig zag stitch was working.

I looked into no-sew options and found that I could use fusible interfacing to cover the rip on both sides. I didn't have any in my meager sewing stash and I asked around my circle of friends - but no one had any either. I had to break down and spend $1.06 for half a yard. It was plenty.

I cut the interfacing into strips. I ironed the sheet, put the interfacing down and ironed it. I did both sides.

Funny, but now it looks like we have the "stripe down the middle" ~ you know ~ like kids that share bedrooms do so each person has to stay on their side of the room.

I got the bed made and also decided to switch out the down comforter to the lighter, summer weight one. Guess what I found?! Yeah, the old set of sheets. The ones I replaced 2 years ago because we'd had them for 5 years and I was tired of the pattern. Sigh. Sometimes my "organization" makes me crazy. If the iron on patch doesn't hold, I now have a free back up plan.

6 comments:

ChristyACB said...

LOL..isn't that how it always is? Just when you give up looking, what you're looking for stares you in the face.

Looks like you did a fab mending job though.

Oh, and I did that 30s housewife test I saw on your page...lol. I totally failed! I'm not a wife, per se, but I was one so I extrapolated back.

Anonymous said...

A friend of a friend...um...died. The friend was offered several things from the estate, including several sets of king sized sheets. She offered them to her kids and then to me. I did not take the one set of bright yellow with a 'm' embroidered on them. Would you be interested? If you are, I can see if she still has them and send them to you for the cost of postage. I see you live in Kansas-I'm in wisconsin. shouldn't be too high a cost....
Let me know - Susan

Jena said...

Great job! I love learning skills like this. Now I know what to do if this happens to me. It is all those little things that add up to the cost of living anyways.

Farmgirl Cyn said...

Necessity is the mother of invention! I wish some of the sheets from years ago had deeper pockets...they don't make them like they used to. I remember getting sheets for wedding gifts back in 1971 that lasted us for 15 years. Now we are fortunate if we get 2 years wear out of them.

Leasmom said...

Good job. Thats what people used to do before there were stores to go too to replace and throw them away. Good job!

David said...

Fusible Interfacing? Sounds Star Trek! I must get some of this Fusible stuff you speak of.
Where did you buy it?