Before beginning to use your needles, you should pre-treat your flannel fabric. Flannel tends to shrink more than your typical cotton fabric. Wash the fabric in hot water and dry it using the hottest setting. In some instances, repeating this step can bring better results. Before cutting the fabric, starch or size it first. Be careful when cutting it as flannel tends to fray easily because it is woven loosely so using starch or sizing spray can help make crisper cuts. Bring in a lot of new needles when working with flannel because it can easily dull your needles. Use a new needle when doing this project and throw it out when it is already dull. If it is still useable, you can continue using it for your other flannel projects. Remember to never use it for other kinds of fabric as a dull needle will most likely tear them apart. If you plan on using a machine, clean it constantly while and after using because threads from the fabric breaks off easily during the entire process. You will surely end up with a huge ball of lint after you’re done so remove all of these to keep your machine in good condition. Try to put in more allowances on seams because it frays easily. Instead of using ¼ inches for seam allowance, try using ½ inches to create stronger seams. Keep the patterns on your deep pocket flannel sheets simple since the fabric will stretch and warp more than normal. Keep the pieces as square as possible and cut along the grain of the fabric that is parallel to the selvage whenever possible.

It may take some time for you to learn this but when you do get the hang of it, you can surely make beautiful deep pocket flannel sheets every time. Another good thing about this is that you can easily repair your sheets when they get damaged.

Most would think that altering the four corners of the sheet would be enough but sadly, doing so would only produce poor results. If you want the corners to fit snuggly, it would be best to do some simple alterations on the entire sheet. First thing you should do is measure how much extra fabric you would need to add to your old sheet. To get a better measurement use this formula that I learned from Good Housekeeping, (mattress width + (2 x mattress depth)) – sheet width. When you’ve figured that out, buy a strip of matching fabric and color that is about the size you need from your measurement with 1 to 2 inches of allowance. Fold the extra sheet lengthwise and cut along the folded line then pin the fabric onto place and sew them on. Then to extend your border, cut the garter off your sheet and lay it on the mattress so you can determine how much extra cloth you’d need. Save the garter because you can use it to do some estimation on how long your new garter would be. When you get your fabric, it doesn’t need to match your sheet because it will be tucked under the mattress. On all four sides, pin and stitch the additional fabric and trim corners into curves for better fit. Around the border, stitch a ½ inch pocket seam and thread in the garter then close the seam.

When you’re done, you will now have much bigger deep pocket flannel sheets that not only fits perfectly on your mattress but is customized to your needs. You can do this for all your other bed sheets while doing this, to save you from several trips.

Messy Bed

Making your bed is easy and rather straightforward, unfortunately though most of us find it bothersome. Well, in my opinion, I think most of us think that way because what is the point of making your bed when, one, nobody is going to look at your bed anyway, two, you are going to mess it up again at night and lastly, why do it when you can do other things. I mean if you have kids, surely even they would be too lazy to fix their beds. However, this is never a good practice in etiquette, personal hygiene and self discipline for both yourself and your children. Most especially if you have heavy sheets like deep pocket flannel sheets, the task becomes more cumbersome. Nevertheless it should be done and did you know that it is really easy once you put your mind to it.

Clean Bed

To begin with, you shouldn’t think of this as a tiresome and menial task that shouldn’t be bothered with because starting off with a pessimistic mind will only discourage you more from making your own bed. Start off the day thinking that you should make your bed and your deep pocket flannel sheets because you want it to look orderly, hygienic and of course, think of yourself as a responsible adult. One way of making your bed easily is using the short cut method or the “lazy person’s” method. You can do this by holding your comforter on both corners and stretch it as far as you could to cover the entire bed and when you are done, slowly slide out of your bed without pulling the cover with you, voila, it is done. For your kids, you can always reward him or her or make a game out of it to see who makes his/her bed the fastest and the neatest. Although giving him rewards or even punishments if he/she does or does not make his/her bed, respectively, can be a bad practice for your child early on. It would be better to instill a sense of responsibility and self-discipline in your kids so that they’d have the initiative to do it themselves.

Below is a short video from the Clutter Busters showing what I’ve been saying all along. Have fun making your beds and your deep pocket flannel sheets. Remember think positive and it shall be done.

How to Make the Bed — powered by eHow.com

sleep comfortably with deep pocket flannel sheets

Before I have given any thought to deep pocket flannel sheets, seeing that I lived in a warmer part of the world where there is no winter season, there was no problem, as the nights weren’t so cold and we’d actually have to use air-conditioners just to keep cool. My aunt asked me to spend the Christmas holiday at their place in Canada which I eagerly replied yes to since, one, I haven’t gone to Canada yet, two, I haven’t experienced winter yet and three, I was in dire need of a vacation. When I arrived there in the morning, it was freakishly cold but nevertheless I was able to endure it but come night time, I thought it would be the same but the temperature dropped quickly and using the sheets that I brought, that was one hell of a night. I couldn’t sleep, my toes were numb, I thought I was in the freezer, my body felt like lying on soft ice and my body was more concerned about shivering rather than relaxing. The next morning, my aunt laughed her ass off when she heard my story and told me to use their sheets which I didn’t liked because I’d rather use mine, remembering last night though, I had no choice but to take up on her offer. That night, everything was so different, my body was warmer, I didn’t have to shiver like crazy and my feet were warm and cozy, it was just so comfortable using these deep pocket flannel sheets.

Since then, I have been constantly using these sheets when I go to colder places although I’ve tried using it back at home and it was still very comfortable.