How to Make a Fitted Sheet Smaller & Make Sheets Fit Tight – 2 Hacks & 2 Easy Methods

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You will need to adjust the fitted sheets if you’ve changed beds or the sheets have come loose over time.

Save your money, because you won’t need to replace your sheets. An easy to install adjustable band is simple to use and works with all beds and bedding.

Making a fitted sheet smaller can save you the effort of finding new perfect linens, and give you the satisfaction of making something useful again.

No matter your mattress or futon size — king, queen, full, California king, twin long — there comes a time when you need to make the fitted sheets smaller.

The good news is that you can make sheets fit tight easily at home. Read on to find out how to make a fitted sheet smaller so that they fit tight again.

5 Steps to Make a Fitted Sheet Smaller

You will find 4 methods of making fitted sheets smaller. A 2 quick hack methods, a quick tailoring, and a measured tailoring method.

Method 1: How to Make a Fitted Sheet Smaller with an Easy Hack

A bed band is all you need to make your fitted sheets fit a smaller mattress.

You can use a dual-band or a triangle band.

Snap them on the corners of the sheets. Then use the included adjustments to tighten.

This will work perfectly for sheets that need up to a foot of adjustment.

The bed bands will stay on securely to keep your fitted sheets in that size until you need to remove them for laundering. It’s a good way to make your sheets smaller with a semi-permanent solution.

Method 2: How to Make a Fitted Sheet Smaller with an Easy Hack

You can use adjustable suspenders to make a perfect fit for your sheets.

This hack will make any larger bed sheet fit your mattress.

The fasteners go under the mattress and hold on to your fitted sheet. It is adjustable so it will not only make it fit perfectly, it will keep it neat and comfortable until your next laundry time.

Method 3: How to Make a Fitted Sheet Smaller with Easy Tailoring

Step 1:  Put the sheet on inside-out

Do launder your sheets before you make any alterations. Brand new sheets can shrink in the washer and dryer.

When you’re ready to start, put the fitted sheets on the mattress inside out. This will give you access to the seams.

Then, smooth it out so that you have equal distance on the 4 corners.

Step 2:  Pin the corners

Use safety pins to pin in the new corners. Adjust it to make sure the sheets look nicely fitted.

Step 3:  Stitch the corners

Then, take the sheets over to a sewing machine.

Run a basting stitch on the four corners.

Then try it on the mattress.

If it fits nicely, you can permanently sew in the corners. The new seams will taper into the existing corners.

Step 4:  Optional, Trim the Overcast

You can choose to trim the overcast edges. Then, you can tuck and sew the edges or leave them as raw edges.

You might not need to trim at all because the fitted elastic will hold the sheets as the excess is tucked under the mattress.

Method 4: Guide to Make a Fitted Sheet Smaller by Tailoring

You will want to use this method for large projects like making a king sheet into two twin sheets.

Step 1:  Measure your mattress

If you need to make a perfect sized sheet or need to make your sheet smaller, measure your mattress.

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

Step 2: Measurement the sheets

Then you will have to plan out how to cut the sheet.

Measure the sheet and use sewing chalk to mark where you will have to cut.

Allow enough space for the seams to make the sheets fit right.

Step 3: Cut the sheet

Based on the measurement you took, cut the sheet.

Use tailor scissors because they’re designed for fabric layers to give you clean cuts.

Also, remove all the elastics from the sheet.

Sometimes, sheets are so big that you can make two separate sheets for single beds.

To make efficient use of the bedsheet, start cutting from one side.

The middle part of the sheets are usually more stretched, and they can be challenging to cut. You can ask a helper to hold the sheet while you cut.

Step 4: Form the sheets’ pockets

It is time to cut and sew the corner of the sheets. To do this, measure the depth of the mattress.

For example, it is 5”. Add one inch to this and cut a square from each corner of the sheet.

Use a sewing machine to sew these edges together to form the pockets.

Step 5: Cut the elastics and sew with the sheet

You will need elastics as well to make the fitted sheet. You will need four pieces of elastics. The length can be 6 inches or more.

Use at least a 1/4″ width elastic. Although it can change depending on your preference.

Measure the size of the elastic and then add it to the bedsheet. Place the elastic at the center of the seam of each pocket. Sew it with a zig-zag stitch.

How to Make a Fitted Sheet Smaller

Ways to Make Sheets Fit Tight

After making the right size of bedsheet, it’s time to have a good night’s sleep.

However, even well-fitted sheets can have trouble staying in place. You can prevent your sheet from sliding from your mattress during sleep in other ways as well.

If you don’t want to get bands for the fitted sheet, check out this DIY method to create your own bands for the fitted sheet:

A bed band will help keep your sheets

You can fit four bands, one on each corner of the mattress.

These bands come with knobs, which will help the sheet to stay in the right place. Lock the gripper so that the sheet doesn’t move. After placing the bands, place the sheet on the mattress. Adjust the bands to the right size for your bed.

Related:
How to Clean a Mattress Properly – 6 Easy Steps to Follow
23 Easy Hacks to Organize Your Small Bedroom Closet

2 COMMENTS

  1. It would be great if you could do a YouTube video that shows how you do the sewing part in your Method 3. Can’t quite visualize how to do the sewing you describe. Or even a picture or two of the sewn corners.
    Thanks!

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