What can compare to the joy of having two sets of sheets for your bed, so that rather than making the poor tired hunter/gatherer wait at 11pm for the dryer to run…
because you spaced the laundry…
because you were cooking an extra batch of ground beef/cleaning windowsills/checking your blogs/rescuing a frog/reading an interesting article about the housing crisis/tuning the violin…
and the bed is naked?
If you are not like me, and you prefer and can afford this —
— you are out of my league.
However, if you are like me, you
a) like something more simple,
b) don't have the money for two sets of sheets and
c) can't find any you really like that would go, however remotely, with the thrifted comforter cover and the donated curtains.
You might say you also d) don't have room to store them, but I say, even if you don't have a vast linen closet like I do (someday I'll show you! it's not that I deserve it, it just happened that way :), you have that cute chest you got at a yard sale to put at the foot of your bed, don't you? Well!
I wish I had had the time to post this on Ann Kroeker's Make-Do carnival last week, because this was her very topic, but really, is talking about sheets not always riveting? This week then!
So, just as I thought might happen one of these decades, I found a set at T. J. Maxx for the summer (you will recall with the perfect memory of one who can't get enough of these fascinating posts, that I found flannel sheets for a steal at Target, and I'm all set for winter).
However, the original summer set was ripped.
Worn out.
On one side of the bed, not saying whose side, and you would think that the odds are that you would pull the sheet out of the laundry and put it on the bed NOT the same way each time, but, apparently, no.
Now, I really liked these sheets. I had gotten them, yes, about 10 years ago on sale at Eddie Bauer. They have that Swedish vibe I always long for but seldom achieve, and I believe in buying good bedding and keeping it forever. Yet, the sheet gave out! Hmmm….
Not the top sheet and not the duvet cover, but this poor shredded thing…
The Chief said to chuck it, because even if you patch it, it's so threadbare you would still get tears elsewhere.
True. But closer examination reveals that it really is only this one side, and if I can get through this season perhaps the discount gods will smile on me…because the truth is, I need two sets!!
And I think he does too, not that he doesn't just LOVE waiting for me after falling asleep four times during the game and going upstairs only to find…no sheets on the bed!
Aaaanyway, being a quilter, I have many stashes of random bits of material, including sheeting.
Here we have a Ralph Lauren sheet I got from Goodwill to back a quilt. Of course I couldn't part with the remnants, and good thing, too! or where would I be now?
It helps that both fabrics are striped, but I put on a BIG patch —
and this is key — to cover not only those tears but also the whole worn-out part.
First thing every morning, I make the bed. But I thought I'd give you a peek:
You see what a big patch it is?
Now, this is better…
The pillow cases to this set fell apart last year, so those are really old ones from an 80s set that I think will never die! And underneath, the white ones come from inside a bureau someone was throwing away and I rescued! So it's just a Make-Do jamboree right here on my bed!
Speaking of style, it really is better, as I mentioned in my Frugal For Beginners post, to try to cultivate a less fussy aesthetic — if you don't have maids and do have children and don't have money and do have to eat.
I will try to show you some books that have helped me be perfectly happy with making do.
Here's one that I found at a book sale that's not about sheets, but I think is fabulous:
Look at this: if you or I had this, we'd probably fret about how we needed to put in (and afford) granite countertops, ASAP.
But how charming — they needed a little extension to their counter, and they just went ahead and put one on!
The whole book is full of simple, sweet cottage pictures. I love looking at it!
So let's make-do together! If I can do it, so can you!
Thanks to 11th Heaven's Homemaking Haven!
And, of course, thanks, Ann!
Lindsey in AL says
Ah, thank you, Leila, for always making my laugh and feel like it's ok to be my messy, motherly self.We went wild 2 years ago (in the middle of my 4th pregnancy) and bought not only a new bed (a sleep number one, no less) and a lovely frame with a HEADBOARD, NEW! but two brand new sets of sheets as well. I can change the sheets and leave the others in the hamper for nearly a week if necessary, since the children will wear their pants outside and I will have to wash out the mud before we can go to the library or the grocery store.A brand new, adjustable bed, two sets of sheets and paint on the mis-matched walls that I ADORE all just make me so happy (yes, he painted too, even though our house is a tumbledown trailer, older than he is). And I can now tell myself that the few stuffed animals from my childhood that I can't bear to part with, and that cat dish full of hair elastics are all part of the cottage aesthetic :DYou're the best! I hope your mother's day was as fantastic as mine (who can resist being told at least 4 times in one day that she's the best mother on earth, all by the same 7 year old boy??)
MomE says
I put my hand (literally) through a loved pillowcase (from before I left home some years ago) and couldn't part with it…so made it into a skirt for my daughter…and then Goodwilled and "new" vintagy one! Thanks so much for your sage advice and humor!
Shelley says
I should send you some of my spare sheets — not that you would want them. They belonged to my grandmother and to my mom and some are my wedding presents (I'm not telling how many weddings). I don't figure my sheets have to match my duvet cover, as when I make the bed they are all hidden. I do well to make sure the top and bottom and the pillow cases all match…
Pippajo says
Well, this is just right up my alley! I know, I've been MIA for a while but how lovely it was to come back and see a post on SHEETS! I just love sheets and bedding and linens, for some odd reason. But then I think you may know that. I love this post so much I just have to do a follow-up post about it!LOVE the patch job, by the way! I never would have thought of that (which pains me since not long ago I threw a sheet away that had two moderately-sized holes in them).
Songbirdtiff says
I'm all about making do, as well. What I want to know is why to the sheets always wear out on their side first?
Leila says
Lindsey: Thanks! You are funny! I had a great Mother's Day complete with banana cream pie! MomE: Yes, there is always something to be done with a sheet…Shelley: Well, you can patch one sheet with the other! But don't send them to me :)Pippajo: Good to hear from you! Sometimes I figure out how to do stuff by saying to myself: how mad would I be if I clicked on a blog and found out someone had figured this out AFTER I threw it away? :)Songbirdtiff: Yes, we just lightly lie there, like a butterfly on a cloud…while they are grinding down the sheets, the mattress cover, the mattress, the bedspring, probably the EARTH below the house!!
annkroeker says
Well, my dearest Leila, as you know my make-do sheet mentality is to survive with one and hope I can keep up with the laundry. But as usual, you have inspired and charmed me with the way you can *see* solutions with what's on hand. I lack that visual creativity. I can't walk into a room and see the possibilities; only that it's not right.Beautiful solutions, and just the kind of shabby chic feel that I love and crave.
Mrs. Mordecai says
What a great idea! Who cares if they match? I'd get far more satisfaction from actually using things as much as I can, especially if I love them.
Deirdre says
Haha, that patch cracks me up! But it's cute! And actually, it looks comfy! I love how those stripes complement each other. Have I ever told you, Mom, that I somehow ended up with several sets of sheets for my dormroom bed at school? All of them hand-me-downs. I consider it a luxury that I can take my time with laundry and still always have fresh sheets, which, as we all know, are the BEST!
marné says
The mis-matchiness and patch are so sweet and charming! I am loving your make-do and living frugal posts, and I'm trying to do the same, more and more these days. :o)
shopannies says
learned about this tip from my grandmother thanks for sharing all the new ideas
Stacy (the Random Co says
Ooooh! Great idea! I have a set of flannel sheets that the top sheet has a rip on hubby's side, but the rest of it is perfectly fine as is the matching pillow cases…so I'm totally going to be digging through my scraps of material to come up with a cool patch… 😉 And I've been there before… spacing the laundry incorrectly and forgetting about the naked bed until I have to hurriedly make it before falling into it…heh, heh! 🙂
NeedANap2 says
I insist on 2 sets of sheets (so I don't have to worry about washing right away when I'm already tired!). We have a king size bed and I'm able to store a set of sheets into a Ziploc big bag Large size. The sheets have to be folded neatly (not perfect!) and kind of stuff it in there but it works. And then can be slid under the bed for storage. :)Thanks for the book recommendation.
Esther says
Leila, I love your blog because it helps me ease up on myself and feel more contented with what I have. So what if my house isn't as fancy as the other ones I see and probably never will be because we don't have the time or money…but it's home. Your blog is real life to me rather than a magazine spread.I am lucky enough to have two sets of sheets for my bed and more for the girls' beds but they have either all been bargains or I buy seperate pieces from the op shop to replace worn out pieces. At $2 a piece, who cares if they don't quite match. I try to get plain coloured ones, rather than patterns because they are easier to match. I love getting odd pillow cases for 50 cents from the op shops for that splash of colour and cottage charm.
mamalong says
I love your patch. I've had to patch several sheets which weren't worn, but cut by my kids. (grrrr!) They're now my favorites. I love the character the patches give them.
Decadent Housewife says
I confess, I love sheets and likely have too many, but keep them for years and years and years.
Anonymous says
Thank you for this sweet post. It is such an encouragement to me!
sue says
Leila,Only you would do this and have it come out so perfectly! I think the pillowcases look intentional.. Since the colors all go together. BTW. My DH gave me a 3 year subscription to Country Living for Mother's Day. He said it was cheaper than a year of Backpacker. (Thank goodness he passed on that.) (I was reading it on Friday night in the Emergency Room. Then I mentioned to one of my kids that I wouldn't mind having a subscription to that)I guess it's time to be inspired! 🙂
sewingchick says
I love the patch! Mismatched bedding is the way to go 🙂 I actually have three fitted sheets for my bed (Kmart going-out-of-business sale yielded two of the sheets for two bucks each!). In addition, I have about twenty pillowcases. I'm a bit of a pillowcase freak. I love to find mismatched ones at thrift stores, plus I've sewn several sets out of fabric from my stash. The more mismatched, the better!
Whitney says
I've loved reading your blog for the past few weeks. Thanks for all your great tips! Your decor style is wonderful.
lifeasme says
HiI am loving the real, down to earth-ness of your blog!! I have lately became more awake of 'fixing' rather than replacing and I have to say i'm enjoying it a lot more because i'm actually appreciating things better!Debs
Anel says
I know this is a very old post, and probably someone has mentioned it in the other comments. Whatever… it was the first thing that popped into my head when I saw this, because my own mother did this often: you could even avoid putting a patch on altogether when you: cut the sheet in half [or wherever the bad patch is] and stitch the other ends to one another. Those ends that are always neatly tucked under the mattress and which never gets any wear. Then you just trim off the bad pieces that are now on the outside and will have their turn under the mattress, seam them and Leila is your aunty..
Love you!