At one point this week I was plagued with self-doubt, fretting over whether or not I had committed myself prematurely to a goal I could not maintain. Although I did not state that goal in my last post, my intention is to blog at least once a week. Of course to write a sewing blog I must be sewing, or at least working on things sewing-related. I might include needlepoint and embroidery in that category as I see them as embellishments on fabric, or the creation of fabric. Yes, I know this is a stretch. The goal is primarily one of motivation.
In truth, fretting about what I would write actually got me not only into the sewing room but actually making something. What did I make? Sheets. Yes, the 7-yard project was a set of sheets.
Some time ago Marcy Tilton sold some wide-width Italian linen sheeting dubbed “Pratesi Linen”. It was up for sale twice that I know of, and I bought a piece each time. I love linen sheets and the intention was always to make it up but I didn’t get to it until now. Why now? I was somewhat desperate because my old set of linen sheets was falling apart.
I have enough linen for three sheets that will fit my rather deep queen-sized mattress. Notice that is not enough for two complete sets of sheets. Luckily, although my old fitted sheet has worn out completely, and is in shreds, I still have a useable linen top sheet. Three sheets will do for now.
Apologies for the lack of photos. Large expanses of white on white do not a good photo make, and sheet construction is pretty simple and straightforward. The most difficult part really is wrangling large expanses of fabric, long seams, and, if you are slightly dyslexic, making sure that all your corners face the same way.
The linen itself is nice, heavy, and although not as rough as the naturally imperfect washed linen that is currently fashionable, it is also not as smooth, fine, or as tightly woven as the Sferra Classico sheet set I have been sleeping on for the last 7 years. Because I prefer the smoothness of the Sferra linen, as well as its lighter weight, I decided that I would make two fitted sheets and one top sheet. Eventually, when the Sferra top sheet wears out I will need to make another.
My initial plan was to buy the linen for that last top sheet directly from Sferra, an expensive option, but cheaper than buying the actual sheet from Sferra. However, although Sferra still sold linen sheeting and their classico linen sheets last year at this time, neither is available now. I do not know if this is a pandemic-related shortage, or a permanent discontinuation. Fine wide linen sheeting is also available from Ulster Linen and Ferguson’s Irish Linen. I have samples of both, and although they are more expensive than this linen, they are also smooth, fine, and lovely. Both are considerably cheaper than the cost of sheets made from the same or equivalent linen. To my way of thinking the cost is worth it, but we each have our own priorities in this world. My one set of Sferra sheets was on my bed constantly for nearly seven years. I would wash them, iron them and put them back on the bed every week. As I work it out, the cost of the sheets themselves worked out to about 26 cents a night. It is a price I can live with. My own, me-made sheets, even with the best quality linen, will be both cheaper and even more rewarding.
I managed to make two sheets this week, one simple top sheet and one fitted sheet. I had just enough white thread to finish the first bottom sheet. You will note, if you look carefully at the photo below that I did not bother with white serger thread. Natural is close enough and is not visible in the finished sheet anyway. For hemming however, color matters. I will have to go out and buy thread so that I can finish the second sheet by the end of the week, laundry day, although in a pinch, I could just wash the sheets and put them back on the bed. It will be nice however to have two sets of sheets.
The two batches of linen are not quite the same. The smaller piece, enough for one sheet, is slightly rougher in texture and has a slightly looser weave. It also shrank more in the wash. I made the flat sheet from the “nicer” linen but I used for the looser linen for the first bottom sheet, saving the best for last. I only serged and stitched the corners, not turning them under in a properly enclosed seam, mostly because I wanted to get finished. I may do the second fitted sheet, with the slightly nicer linen, differently. I also only put elastic in the corners, not around the entire sheet. This was primarily a stock issue, and I did not want to run out just to buy elastic (I did not yet know I also needed thread). But I am not convinced that it makes any difference on whether or not the sheet stays tucked. In my experience keeping the sheet tucked depends on having deep enough corners, and enough extra fabric to tuck under the mattress, not the amount of elastic used. This sheet has remained perfectly tightly tucked whereas the more expensive Sferra sheet, although smooth and delicious to sleep on, was not deep enough and always rode up during the night, making morning bed-making more of a chore as I had to go around and retuck the sheet every day.
So far I am happy with my first sheet set. I do not have enough of the Pratesi linen to make matching pillowcases, at least not unless I piece them from the corner squares cut from the fitted sheets. But I have other pieces of linen that would be suitable for pillowcases, including samples of the Ferguson and Ulster linen mentioned above. These, and other ecclesiastical and fine linens in my stash, have a smoother, silkier, hand than the Pratesi linen and will make nicer pillowcases.
Poncho joined me in the sewing room, mostly because he gets antsy when he doesn’t know where I am for long periods of time, and also partially because if I get wrapped up in a project, I am likely to forget to go back to the house to check on him. I like the companionship, but I had not been convinced he liked the studio much, at least not until this past weekend. Perhaps it is simply the addition of a bed to curl up, perhaps also the companionship. He is learning the word “studio” and, more slowly, the path to same. As it is, he tends to be downstairs when I am downstairs, upstairs when I am upstairs, and now in the studio with me. Moisés on the other hand figured out that Poncho was getting to go somewhere he was not allowed (the garage and trips in the car are not an issue) and was desperately crying at the door the first time we went up. M is not allowed for two reasons: First I have developed a mild cat allergy and I don’t need dander in my fabrics and secondly, he has a tendency to pull threads from the ends of fabrics and eat them, which is hazardous to both his health and my state of mind.
Comments