Over the last decade ( or there abouts ) it has become the trend to ditch flat sheets on beds. Maybe for some of you, you've never used them. For others, the fitted sheet has worn out before the flat one and you've been left with a small pile of flat sheets.
Please don't throw those flat sheets out. They are great source of material that can be made into a variety of crafts or even repurposed around your home.
Here are 10 ideas to help you use up those sheets and save money along the way
* If they are 100 % cotton bed sheets and in excellent condition, cut them up, hem and use as tea towels.
* Flannelette sheets are great for wrapping around a clothes horse full of wet washing. Use clothes pegs to fasten all the openings closed then place over a floor ducted heating vent. The clothes will dry quicker.
* Cut the sheets up to make kids dress up costumes. I made princess skirts and wedding veils for my girls when they were little.
* Repurpose the sheets into table cloths. I have an old bed skirt that is the perfect size for our folding trestle table.
* Let your kids make a cubbyhouse with a flat sheet and your dining table. Give them a couple of torches and let them play camping.
* Make curtains from flat sheets and line with block out material. If you don't have the width, make them into side curtains ( for decoration ).
* Make pillowcases. This is a very simple sewing project. Personalise the pillowcases and give them as presents.
* Flat sheets can be made into super cheap cushion covers. The envelope style cushion cover is super simple to make. Have you seen the prices of cushion covers in the shops ? You'd be likely to pay $20 or more.
* For the environmentally conscious person, make them a set of hankies.
* Make a library bag for your children to use at school. You could personalise it with a colorful pocket on the front made from a scrap bit of material.
Have always just bought a new bottom fitted sheet. You can even get flannelette fitted sheets. When I put fresh sheets on the bed this week I noticed that the top sheet is looking very thin. I think this is the third bottom fitted sheet that I have replaced for this set.
ReplyDeleteHi a Kiwi friend told me she cut up flannelette sheets to hankie size for when family had runny noses, much kinder on the nose, I use them for everyday use, when I walk and need to wipe the sweat off my body much more absorbent ,and then another Kiwi lady had a neaten piece of flannelette which uses as a serviette and had purchased a set of them for everyday use Mel
ReplyDeleteAre tea towels the same thing as cloth napkins in the U.S.? We use cloth napkins almost exclusively...100% cotton are the best!
ReplyDeleteTea towels are used to dry dishes. Cloth napkins are also known as serviettes in Australia.
DeleteHi Wendy lovely useful post. When I was younger of course everyone had two flat alternated sheets which wore out at the same rate. When fitted sheets became the thing I remember my dear mum in law remaking flat sheets into fitted ones using a piece of elastic zigzag sewed into each corner. I have friends who use flat sheets, particularly printed vintage ones as backing for quilts. Hope you and your family have a lovely Easter season.
ReplyDeleteGreat ideas, Wendy. We don't use flat sheets much anymore. I love these ideas, thank you. Bridget (Lily)
ReplyDeleteSeveral years ago, I made a bunch of hankies for my husband from an old white sheet. They can be used to throw over plants when there is likely to be a frost. Sheets with a design can be used to make little shorts and tops for young girls.
ReplyDeleteIf they are cotton and not heavily worn they make excellent quilt backs.
ReplyDeleteI know that my grandparents made rugs to put in front of the fireplace in England.
In years past, they were used to cover wounds and whenever there is a late frost, the weatherman always says to cover your tender plants with sheets.
ReplyDeleteI have used them to make napkins, handkerchiefs, pillows, curtain linings and then when finished, the scraps go to the garage to wipe up spills. Cotton is best - polyester just smears the mess.
Jeannie@GetMeToTheCountry
I use matching pillow slips to sew on to the sheets where they’re worn and have the start of holes, they completely cover where we lay most often. When they’re to worn I cut them up to use as rags.
ReplyDeleteWe use sheets to cover sensitive plants during frost warnings. (We also recently used one of those padding pieces that go under a table cloth to protect from heat and scuffs - it was round, so it wrapped around a succulent in a planter quite nicely.)
ReplyDeleteI volunteer at an Op shop & we get many flat sheets donated, they don't sell very well unfortunately but we do get painters ask for a bagful now & again & we fill a large stripey bag up with tightly wound sheets for them to use as drop sheets for painting. Some that are donated are brand new & as you say people are not using them. There is a youtube on how to make the flat sheet into a fitted sheet when the fitted sheet has gone thin....but only for the very crafty with a sewing machine. Deb.
ReplyDeleteMy darling sister made my daughter her baptism dress from a white flat sheet. We had so many comments! After all, it's just a section of white fabric!
ReplyDelete