Flat Sheet Fabric

Flannel Flat Sheets Shopping Tips

Living in a climate that frequents the freezing mark necessitates a great set of flannel flat sheets. They will keep you warm during chilly winter nights. Fine quality sheets will last a long time. How can you locate the best flannel flat sheets and keep them looking new for years to come?

Nothing’s really in a name. J.C. Penny, L.L. Bean, Big Lots - all these companies sell high quality flannel sheets. No matter which dollar store or department store you pick to purchase your sheets, make sure your flannel flat sheets contain:

• Heavy, 100% cotton.
• Yarn-dyed fabric. Printed material time and again fades quicker than the yarn-dyed variety.
• Tightly woven material. If you can see through your sheets easily when you hold them up to light, then they are not woven tightly enough.
• Five- to six-ounce fabric weight. Usually, bed sheets of high quality have high thread counts. However, flannel flat sheets that have five to six ounces provide an exceptional amount of durability and warmth. These, too, will endure a higher number machine washings, when compared to thin flannel sheets.

You have to adequately care for you flannel flat sheets if you want them to last. The first wash should contain a small amount of white vinegar to prevent pilling. Do not use any detergent. Use a gentle detergent, like Woolite, for subsequent machine washings in warm water. This will keep the colors from fading. Don’t use bleach or detergents with bleach alternatives, liquids too harsh for flannel. Soften your flannel flat sheets with liquid softener or a dryer sheet.

About the Author

T. Howard, a freelance writer and proofreader, specializes in money-saving and family-related topics. See helpful reviews on flannel duvet covers at www.flannelduvetcovers.org.

Quilting advice please!?

I'd like to make a quilt like this: http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c134/kiko_kamia/quiltplan.jpg

I'm planning on making it 7x8 feet, with 4 inch squares and I'll allow for half inch seams (so I'll be cutting out 5 inch squares).

I'm planning on cheating a bit by using a flat sheet for the back.

With the way everything is looking right now, I'll need 253 light blue , 55 red, 49 orange, 43 yellow, 37 green, 31 blue, 25 purple, and 11 ivory blocks.

What I'd like to know is a) do you have any advice on how to make this work best and b) any idea how many yards of each type of fabric I'm going to need to buy?

Thank you for any help in advance!

1/4" seams are more standard for quilts -- I do use half inch on baby quilts that are meant to be dragged around, though.

I would suggest that you might want to try strip quilting techniques instead of making 11 jillion squares and then sewing them back together again.

Let's take the first three columns of your quilt and "do" those:

#1: 24x4" = 96" strip of blue. Add 1/2" all around, so cut this strip 97" x 5"

#2: 5x4" = 20" of blue, + 1/2" all around = 21"x5" piece
plus: 17x4" = 68" of red, + 1/2" all around = 69"x5" red
plus: 2x4" of blue = 8" of blue + 1/2" all around = 9"x5" blue

#3: 4x4" = 16" of blue " 1/2" all around = 17x5" blue
plus: 2x 4" = 8" of red + 1/2" all around = 9"x5" red
plus: 15x4" =60" of red + 1/2" all around = 61"x5" red
plus: 3x4" = 12" of blue " 1/2" all around = 13x5" blue

etc.

There is a quick quilting technique that would be perfect for this sort of quilt -- it's often used for making serger quilts, but works fine on a sewing machine. Once you've got the columns sewn together, you'll cut strips of backing and batting 5" wide, and you'll sew the quilt together, with the backing and batting in place, one strip at a time. Here's how it's done:

http://www.quilterscache.com/H/howtoquiltoneatatime.html

except yours will be long strips rather than square blocks.

Then, when it's all together and bound, you can, if you like, add some additional quilting -- I think a vine motif down the center of each column might be amazing.

As far as amounts of fabric, if you cut separate blocks, and
we assume 40" wide useable fabric, we can cut 8 blocks per row:

light blue: 253 blocks / 8 = 32 widths x 5" = 160" = 4.4 yards; add a bit more for mistakes and I'd buy 5 yards

55 red: 7 widths * 5" = 35" + mistakes =1.25 yards
49 orange -- I'd buy 1.25 yards also
43 yellow -- 1 1/8 yards
37 green -- also 1 1/8 yards
31 dark blue: 7/8 yards
25 purple -- 7/8 yards
11 ivory -- 1/2 yard

The yardage for the method I'm proposing would be less, and I'd be happy to calculate it for you if you're interested.

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Wakefield 400 Thread Count Sheet Set $41.99 This Wakefield sheet set is constructed of single-ply fabric that has been mercerized and calendared for long-lasting comfort and quality. The flat sheet and pillowcases feature a turn-back hem treatment.

Medallion Cotton 400 Thread Count Lace Hem Sheet Set $45.49 This sheet set features a lovely medallion lace hem treatment on the flat sheet and pillowcases for an elegant look. Constructed of 400 thread count single-ply sateen fabric, these sheets provide a soft and luxurious touch.

Olivia 5-piece Toddler Bedding Set $89.99 5pc Toddler Bedding Set includes: Lightweight comforter, standard sham, standard pillowcase, fitted sheet, and flat sheet.

Bacati Baby Stripe/ Plaid 4-piece Bedding Set $59.99 Four-piece bedding set includes toddler quilt, fitted sheet, flat sheet and pillowcaseToddler quilt is made of soft dyed yarn Hand-quilted baby bedding set is patched and embroidered

Bacati Flower Basket Lilac/ Green 4-piece Toddler Bedding Set $59.99 Toddler bedding set makes an excellent addition to any young child's roomBaby bedding comes with a comforter, fitted sheet, flat sheet and pillowcaseCrib bedding features a lilac and green roses print with lilac ruffled edge

Bacati Metro 4-piece Toddler Bedding Set $63.99 Enhance your child's room with a four-piece toddler bedding setBaby bedding set includes reversible toddler quilt, fitted sheet, flat sheet, and pillow case Baby room accessory is a great addition to any family's home

Sugar Women's 'Fortune Cookie 1' Mary Jane Flats $26.49 A sleek canvas upper and on-trend Mary Jane strap highlight these comfortable flats from Sugar. The 'Fortune Cookie' flats feature a rounded toe and hot pink fabric lining.

Rocket Dog Women's 'Clover' Canvas Slip-on Flats $29.99 Classic styling and a cotton fabric upper construction lend distinctive style to these slip-on shoes from Rocket Dog. A 0.25-inch heel and an abiding sole provide structure and finish the quiet, yet sexy appeal of these Clover shoes.

Sugar Women's 'Fortune Cookie 1' Mary Jane Flats $21.99 A leopard pattern tops the canvas uppers of these Mary Jane flats from Sugar. A silvertone buckle and quarter-inch heel finish these light casual shoes.