How to Make a Dress from a Fitted Bedsheet

Step-by-Step Guide

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   Step 1: Find or buy a fitted bed sheet.

   Fitted bedsheets are the type which have elastic at both ends, to hold the sheet onto the bed.
   
   While you can still make this dress with a normal sheet it will require more effort as you will have to sew the elastic in yourself.
   
   You will need either a double (135cm/53 inches wide) or king (150cm/59 inches wide) sized fitted bed sheet, depending on your size and the size of skirt that you want.
   
   Check that you can't see through the material from any side, no matter how hard you look.
   
   If there is any simple, or even non-simple, way to see through it, don't use it
   - it will show your underwear, guaranteed.
   
   This trumps everything else, from sales to pushy store employees to softness and comfort.
   
   This may be a problem with cheap or pale coloured sheets.
   
   If you are recycling an old sheet, make sure it doesn't have any worn patches or marks. , These will be near where the elasticized parts end, you can identify them by the seams there.
   
   Find the place where the seam starts (not at the edge of the sheet) , The line to cut along is usually clear from the creases from the way the sheet is folded in the packet. , When tackling the elasticated part, be careful that you don't lose the elastic inside the rest of the sheet.
   
   Then put the side pieces to one side so you can work on the main part of the sheet. , Just above the knee is usually a good length for this type of skirt, if you aren't sure.
   
   It's often a good idea to get a friend to help with this step, as measuring yourself can be difficult.
   
   If you do do this yourself, make sure you don't bend down to check the measurement, you'll end up making it shorter than you intended. ,, When you're happy with this, sew the ends of the elastic together. , This should leave you with a tube of fabric with one elasticized end. , The "rough" side of your fabric should be on the inside.
   
   Make sure you keep the seam lined up at the top. , Stretch out the elastic to make this job easier. , There should be plenty of extra stretch in the elastic when taking it on and off, as you will lose some of the elasticity when you attach the top part of the dress. ,,,, Do not pin to the skirt. ,,,
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   Step 2: Find the corners of your sheet.

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   Step 3: Cut along the length of your sheet from corner to corner on both non-elasticized sides.

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   Step 4: Unpick the corner seams.

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   Step 5: Measure from just under your bust to where you want the skirt to fall.

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   Step 6: Cut the sheet to double the length you just measured

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   Step 7: measuring from one of the elasticized ends.

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   Step 8: Pin the elastic together to form a circle

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   Step 9: and check that you are able to stretch the elastic enough to wear it

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    Step 10: and that it isn't too loose or too tight around your waist.

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    Step 11: Sew the length of the sheet together.

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    Step 12: Fold the material back on itself so you have a double thickness tube of fabric.

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    Step 13: Sew the tops of the fabric together.

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    Step 14: Turn the skirt the right way around and try it on

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    Step 15: make sure that it is the right length and that it fits you.

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    Step 16: Take one of the side pieces of the sheet and

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    Step 17: with the hem at the top

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    Step 18: wrap it around you

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    Step 19: underneath your arms

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    Step 20: crossing the hems over at the front.

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    Step 21: Cut off the excess length of the material.

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    Step 22: Tuck the top into the skirt and pin the top part to the skirt where the hems cross over and at each side.

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    Step 23: Mark the line where the top of the dress will meet the skirt

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    Step 24: while wearing the dress

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    Step 25: with pins in the top part of the dress.

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    Step 26: Take off the dress and stretch out the skirt enough to sew the top part of the dress to it

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    Step 27: following the line you marked with the pins.

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    Step 28: Sew the back of the dress to the skirt

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    Step 29: once again stretching out the skirt just enough to do this.

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    Step 30: Cut off any excess material from the top.

Detailed Guide

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