Can you fold a fitted sheet?

Hoof Hearted • Oct 27, 2007 8:47 pm
This came up on a horse forum. I didn't realize there are people who actually CAN fold a fitted sheet. ...and fold it FLAT! I have done the wad/stuff for years. Someone posted a photo essay of how it is done, and it looks so easy.

Here, it has kitties in it...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/catiecake/sets/515142/

I almost can't wait to launder sheets. Almost. I'm sure I'll be able to control myself.
It really can't be that easy, can it?


The original question was how to figure out the fitted sheet for a King size bed, to put it on the matress. A Standard King is 76x80 and my California King is 76x84. The Standard is nearly square and you really can't figure out the fitted sheet unless you get it on wrong or right. Two of my sheet sets have directional fabric while the other two are solid. On the solid fitted sheets, I use a sharpie pen to mark a 'dash' line on the long-side of the sheet, at all four corners near the elastic. This mark tells me that side of the fitted sheet goes on the sides of the matress and not the ends.

Anyhow, the conversation morphed into how to best wad/stuff the fitted sheet and someone posted the above link about how to actually FOLD them. I was blown away!
monster • Oct 27, 2007 9:03 pm
hm. will look at link in a mo to see if they have a better method, but yes, I can.
monster • Oct 27, 2007 9:05 pm
Link didn't help.

No cats here.
Hoof Hearted • Oct 27, 2007 9:09 pm
Well, I don't think the kitties actually help. I know MINE certainly don't help. They usually think of ways to make things more difficult for me. Like laying ON the fresh, hot laundry while I randomly try to pull items out from under them.
Oh, you should SEE the looks I get when they finally end up on the carpet. Like I had just ruined their day, let alone a comfy/warm nap-spot. It sometimes makes me want to stuff them in the dryer and give them a tumble. Just for a few minutes...so they appreciate me.
Probably a good thing I never had kids...
Aliantha • Oct 27, 2007 9:24 pm
I can do it, but I usually don't bother. Wadding them up is so much easier. Who cares if they have crinkles in them anyway?
TheMercenary • Oct 27, 2007 9:25 pm
I want to know if you have to have the cat on the bed to do it right. The pussy is in every damm picture, nearly.
busterb • Oct 27, 2007 9:54 pm
In a word, NO
monster • Oct 27, 2007 10:29 pm
3 kids, 2 sheets per bed, some kids still wet in the night = many sheets.

many sheets = need to fold or they wont fit on the shelf. Otherwise I wouldn't blooming bother either.......
Aliantha • Oct 27, 2007 10:44 pm
YOu should just get bigger shelves. ;)
Hoof Hearted • Oct 28, 2007 12:25 am
I don't care about wrinkles, myself. Shoot! I figure it gets stretched out over the matress anyway, and eventually the warm body(s) will iron it out.
My problem is storage, I just don't have that much space in the linen/towel closet. My original method of wad/stuff just took up too much space.
lumberjim • Oct 28, 2007 12:26 am
your just padding your post count......


d'oh!
Aliantha • Oct 28, 2007 4:32 am
This thread will do so much better than your shitty thread jimbo
Aliantha • Oct 28, 2007 4:44 am
Here's How:

Slip your hand into 2 top corners of the sheet.
With one hand inside each of the top 2 corners, fold the sheet (right sides together). Slip each of the top corners into one of the bottom corners.
Lay sheet on bed or table. Arrange and fold the corners neatly. Turn in selvage edges enough to make 4 straight sides.
Fold in half, then in half again. (All four corners will be stacked together, and sheet will be in a long strip.
Then fold the long strip in half, then in half (or thirds, depending on the size of the sheet) again to make a square.
Sheet should be a compact, neat square.
Smooth and place on shelf.

Tips:

Learn how to fold sheets consistently so that they remain neat each time.
Store sheets in sets (flat, fitted, and cases) if that is how you use them.
Mark shelves with sheet sizes, or use different shelves for different size sheets.
For patterned sheets, by folding the bottom sheet inside out and the top sheet right side out, you'll be able to easily tell the difference.
Aliantha • Oct 28, 2007 4:51 am
Here's a good link with a video
limey • Oct 28, 2007 7:32 am
Aliantha;400614 wrote:
Here's How:

Slip your hand into 2 top corners of the sheet.
With one hand inside each of the top 2 corners, fold the sheet (right sides together). Slip each of the top corners into one of the bottom corners.
Lay sheet on bed or table. Arrange and fold the corners neatly. Turn in selvage edges enough to make 4 straight sides.
Fold in half, then in half again. (All four corners will be stacked together, and sheet will be in a long strip.
Then fold the long strip in half, then in half (or thirds, depending on the size of the sheet) again to make a square.
Sheet should be a compact, neat square.
Smooth and place on shelf.



This is how I do it.
Aliantha • Oct 28, 2007 7:33 am
I still don't get why anyone bothers though. Sure we can all do it, but it's amazing how tightly you can wad a sheet if you need to. ;)

Maybe you all just have too much linen.
Sundae • Oct 28, 2007 7:53 am
I have two sheets for my bed - one is on it and the other is approximately folded. Even in a small room I don't need to worry about the extra few cm that would come from folding it correctly :)
monster • Oct 28, 2007 10:15 am
Aliantha;400640 wrote:
it's amazing how tightly you can wad a sheet if you need to. ;)


There must come a point when the wadding tightly and ramming in a closet is as much effort as folding?

it seems like learning to touchtype -so complex, it's hardly worth the effort, but once you've mastered it you wonder why you ever thought the other way was easier.
ZenGum • Oct 28, 2007 10:21 am
Can you fold a fitted sheet?

1. (paranoid) Who told you about my sheets?
2. Depends on what it is fitted to.
3. Sure. Swan, rabbit, flower, or sailor hat?
4. Only if the grand Wizard takes it off first.
Aliantha • Oct 28, 2007 7:16 pm
Sundae Girl;400647 wrote:
I have two sheets for my bed - one is on it and the other is approximately folded. Even in a small room I don't need to worry about the extra few cm that would come from folding it correctly :)


I'm with you on that one SG. I don't keep a huge pile of sheets really. A couple of changes for each of the beds, but most of them stay in the linen closet because I when I wash the sheets I tend to put the freshly washed ones back on the bed. (They smell so good)
Aliantha • Oct 28, 2007 7:18 pm
monster;400662 wrote:
There must come a point when the wadding tightly and ramming in a closet is as much effort as folding?

it seems like learning to touchtype -so complex, it's hardly worth the effort, but once you've mastered it you wonder why you ever thought the other way was easier.


No, it's always easier to wad than to fold. Actually, we have an add about toilet paper on telly here that stars a little boy complaining about being a folder in a family fully of scrunchers.

It's quite a funny concept. Makes you really think about your toilet habits.
Hoof Hearted • Oct 28, 2007 9:14 pm
The TP commercial sounds cute!

I had never thought about folding the fitted sheet. I guess it never occured to me, as I'd tried it and couldn't get it to 'go', so I'd just sort of try to fold it in 4ths and then wad/stuff it in the closet. I figured they could only be folded by the machines that folded them to fit in those tiny bags they come crammed into.
Blew me away when I saw that photo-tutorial and found I actually COULD do it.
Aliantha • Oct 28, 2007 9:21 pm
yes, but now you know how, will you bother doing it anyway? ;)
monster • Oct 28, 2007 9:29 pm
Aliantha;400768 wrote:
No, it's always easier to wad than to fold.


I disagree.
Aliantha • Oct 28, 2007 9:33 pm
yes well, that's the difference between you and me. ;)

I have to ask though, don't you think it's quicker to wad?
monster • Oct 28, 2007 9:35 pm
nah, I get all tangled up. Folding also helps free trapped underwear, so it's a twofer.
Undertoad • Oct 28, 2007 9:39 pm
!!!
Aliantha • Oct 28, 2007 9:41 pm
lol...don't you look in the corners for other bits and pieces?

Usually I only put my sheets and pillow cases in the washer, so I know what to look for.
Aliantha • Oct 28, 2007 9:41 pm
wooohoooo...we're beating that shitty thread. (thanks UT)
monster • Oct 28, 2007 9:44 pm
Aliantha;400807 wrote:
lol...don't you look in the corners for other bits and pieces?



Why do two tasks when you can do one? No need to look, you find and remove by stacking the corners. I fold as the things come out of the dryer, though -not in a nancy way laid out on the bed -that would take forever.
monster • Oct 28, 2007 9:44 pm
(30 vs 27)
Aliantha • Oct 28, 2007 9:56 pm
Hmmm...looks like a whole lot of whoring going on over in that other shitty thread.

I think it's pretty pissweak that people have to post crap when they really have shit to say.
BigV • Oct 28, 2007 9:59 pm
Of course I can fold a fitted sheet.

Is this a trick question?

And I've never seen the link you posted. Sorry. Thought everyone could do it.
Aliantha • Oct 28, 2007 10:01 pm
Some people are foldingly challenged.

Others of us simply choose to ignore their natural talents. ;)
BigV • Oct 28, 2007 10:02 pm
Oh, and can you fold waterbed sheets?

That's another two-fer. A fitted sheet sewed to a flat sheet. Plus with the CalKing mattress, they're an handful. The only real trouble comes from standing at the foot of the bed, and flinging the sheet toward the head of the bed.

What trouble is that you ask? Apparently you forgot, as I did that the sheets an the ceiling fan make a bad combination. :yikes:
Chocolatl • Oct 28, 2007 10:02 pm
Several generations of women have tried to teach me to fold fitted sheets... but I still just kinda roll 'em up and toss them in the closet. :headshake
Aliantha • Oct 28, 2007 10:04 pm
Dazza stuck his hand in the ceiling fan the other morning when he was getting dressed for work. lol I shouldn't have laughed, but it was pretty funny, and he didn't lose any fingers. lol

I've never owned a waterbed, so I didn't know there were different types of sheets for them.
Aliantha • Oct 28, 2007 10:05 pm
Chocolatl;400833 wrote:
Several generations of women have tried to teach me to fold fitted sheets... but I still just kinda roll 'em up and toss them in the closet. :headshake



yeah...that's the way to do it choco. ;) Why worry about a folding when you can scrunch them?
BigV • Oct 28, 2007 10:14 pm
I reckon the sheets are all the same. But the point of sewing two together is that there's no other way to tuck in the topsheet. The mattress is just ttooooo heavy. Water weighs a lot.

Plus, there are other things on the mattress, like mattress covers. Those aren't strictly "fitted" as much as they're flats with straps that pass under the corners of the mattress.
Aliantha • Oct 28, 2007 10:16 pm
That's true. Most people over here put a mattress cover on ordinary mattresses also. Do they do that over there?
Urbane Guerrilla • Oct 28, 2007 10:17 pm
I got so tired of alleged waterbed sheets elasticized all the way around forever popping up from around the waterbed mattress that I only go for the attached pockets at the corners that have sleeves for anchor sticks (short lengths of CPVC vinyl piping are lightest and smooth too) which makes a deep corner-holding pocket (more than a bit like a giant bra cup) that is firmly held in place by the weight of the mattress. This or a flat sheet held in place with elastic straps with garter snaps at either end. This works the same way unless the snap unsnaps.

I use those elastic straps on the all-around elasticized sheets as a cure for their problem. The makers seem not to have considered that some waterbedders have mattress covers between sheet and mattress to keep things from going clammy or underventilated. All-around sheets don't work well with these; they never anchor well underneath.

A permanently placed X or six-ended array of straps under the mattress to clip to the sheets' edges would work with any sheet type too.

Oh yeah, I fold fitted sheets with the "pocket tuck" method, too, but not so elaborate about truing the edges. Might try that sometime.
BigV • Oct 28, 2007 10:28 pm
I can't say. I have extremely limited experience with anyone else's mattress but my own.

Which begs the question, how do you know that Ali?
Aliantha • Oct 28, 2007 10:29 pm
I knew you'd post something very detailed and pedantic in this thread UG. I have to say, the quality of your post is so much higher here than in that other shitty thread.
Aliantha • Oct 28, 2007 10:30 pm
BigV;400850 wrote:
I can't say. I have extremely limited experience with anyone else's mattress but my own.

Which begs the question, how do you know that Ali?



Ummm...I've rumpled a few sheets in my time?
Urbane Guerrilla • Oct 28, 2007 10:32 pm
The wife and I can make our waterbed squeak.

Detailed, yes. Pedantic heck no -- on the grounds that sheets are utterly unpedantic, you naughty girl!
Aliantha • Oct 28, 2007 10:35 pm
ok...that post just made me crack up. lol Very funny.
Aliantha • Oct 28, 2007 11:23 pm
I can't say. I have extremely limited experience with anyone else's mattress but my own.



Do you always make the bed yourself?
BigV • Oct 28, 2007 11:28 pm
Yes.

As to the reasons why, I demure.

Suffice to say that it is easier for all involved. Especially since I am at considerable risk for the same injury Dazza recently suffered.
Aliantha • Oct 28, 2007 11:32 pm
Well my advice is, don't do it! If you do happen to stick your fingers in the fan though, can you make sure you've got the camera going? I really am a sadist. ;)
BigV • Oct 28, 2007 11:37 pm
You know, I can count two times in recent memory that UG has been civil to me, no, kind and friendly even.

One was when he called me naughty for accusing Cloud of telling him to shut up, and the other was when he called coincidence agreement with respect to the current version of the Pledge.

In this post, he simply ignores me.

I prefer both of these to his usual belittling, but these are still unsettling.

Does any other dwellar use so many words to say so little?

Besides myself, of course.
Aliantha • Oct 28, 2007 11:38 pm
There are a number of others. lol
lumberjim • Oct 28, 2007 11:41 pm
i concede to aliantha's superior post whoring abilities. i'm way out of my league here.
Aliantha • Oct 28, 2007 11:43 pm
thankyou! I will accept your surrender gracefully.

Better luck next time mate. ;)
DucksNuts • Oct 29, 2007 12:02 am
Shes a good whore, I am glad to be her pimp.
Aliantha • Oct 29, 2007 12:08 am
You want a lil lovin sugar mamma? ;)
Hoof Hearted • Oct 29, 2007 12:10 pm
Aliantha;400791 wrote:
yes, but now you know how, will you bother doing it anyway? ;)

I have a feeling I will try...but it just may wind up wad/stuffed anyways. Though the corners will all be neat and together. Surely that counts for points?
Happy Monkey • Oct 29, 2007 1:16 pm
I folded a fitted sheet this past Friday. I used a very similar method to the provided instructions. I may do the pillowcase thing later.
Cicero • Oct 29, 2007 1:28 pm
Happy Monkey;401090 wrote:
I folded a fitted sheet this past Friday. I used aery similar method to the provided instructions. I may do the pillowcase thing later.


Judging from your folding abilities...I just want to watch that....
:D

Laundry just got a lot more interesting.
Happy Monkey • Oct 29, 2007 1:39 pm
I don't think the sheet folding would be all that interesting, but I do make origami cranes out of restauraunt napkins...
Cicero • Oct 29, 2007 1:49 pm
Exhibit A:

http://www.cellar.org/member.php?u=731
smurfalicious • Oct 29, 2007 2:24 pm
Aliantha;400614 wrote:
Slip your hand into 2 top corners of the sheet.
With one hand inside each of the top 2 corners, fold the sheet (right sides together). Slip each of the top corners into one of the bottom corners.
Lay sheet on bed or table. Arrange and fold the corners neatly. Turn in selvage edges enough to make 4 straight sides.
Fold in half, then in half again. (All four corners will be stacked together, and sheet will be in a long strip.
Then fold the long strip in half, then in half (or thirds, depending on the size of the sheet) again to make a square.
Sheet should be a compact, neat square.
Smooth and place on shelf.

Precisely! Papa Smurf drives me crazy because he wads up the sheets. Now, I'm not SO anal that I will iron sheets... okay, so I might have done so once or twice... but I can't stand wrinkled up sheets.

Oddly, I hate making my bed in the morning. I just don't see the point of making something I'm going to mess up again.
Hoof Hearted • Oct 29, 2007 2:40 pm
smurfalicious;401124 wrote:
Oddly, I hate making my bed in the morning. I just don't see the point of making something I'm going to mess up again.

I don't "make the bed" per se...but I will pull the covers up and smooth them. This keeps the cats out of the sheets.

I cannot stand sheets tucked in at the sides. Hotels?...I must pull the sheets out to the foot of the bed so they have enough room to flow over/around me. I cannot sleep in a 'tent' of sheets/blankets. I need to have them snugged around.
Clodfobble • Oct 29, 2007 5:56 pm
Hoof Hearted wrote:
I cannot stand sheets tucked in at the sides.


I'm the same way. Mr. Clod, on the other hand, must have them tucked in tightly. So his half is tucked in, mine is not.
Happy Monkey • Oct 29, 2007 6:09 pm
Can you sit on a slitted sheet?
kerosene • Oct 29, 2007 7:00 pm
I am a sheet freak. I have to have them situated exactly right or I won't sleep. There has to be an equal amount of sheet/blanket on both sides of my bed before I can deal. And I won't sleep on any sheets that are rough or made of that damned T-shirt material.

Yes, I know how to fold a fitted sheet...poorly.
TheMercenary • Oct 29, 2007 7:07 pm
My wife is obsessed with making the bed in the morning. No one can do it right. If I make it she ends up making it over. If I help she has to tell exactly how to do it right. At least it looks nice and I never have to make it. :D
Aliantha • Oct 29, 2007 7:09 pm
Sheets made out of tshirt material? That's weird.

I'm a bit OC about my bed too Case. It has to be just right or things just don't go well for me when it comes to sleep.
DucksNuts • Oct 29, 2007 8:06 pm
Tshirt material sheets rock!! I love them, but they arent good with rough bits on your feet in summer.

I dont make my bed in the mornings, I pull the covers all the way back and air them.

I dont like tucked sheets and I dont like blankets.
Urbane Guerrilla • Oct 29, 2007 10:44 pm
And V, stop yer poutin'. There's plenty things about you to like, and some few to bitch about too.

Insert smiley here.
ZenGum • Oct 30, 2007 12:11 pm
Can you fold a fitted sheet?

I don't know. I have only one fitted sheet. It gets washed (I'm not saying how often :p ) dried and put back on.
I'm with Ducks as far as not making the bed each morning goes. I let it air out during the day. Nicer that night.
BrianR • Oct 31, 2007 11:10 am
all this talk makes me wonder: How many of you use satin sheets and how do you deal with the sliding all over? My truck rocks and rolls and my sheets keep sliding off! I fixed it by having the top and bottom sheet sewed together a la waterbed sheets.
Aliantha • Oct 31, 2007 5:40 pm
I have a set of satin sheets but rarely use them. I really don't like the feeling of sleeping on them.
monster • Oct 31, 2007 10:30 pm
ugh. cotton all the way.....
jinx • Oct 31, 2007 11:23 pm
Jersey knit (t-shirt) or flannel only.
Aliantha • Nov 1, 2007 12:07 am
I'm with you monster. I love cotton sheets. Can't stand flannel or anything that you're prone to get tangled up in.
JuancoRocks • Nov 1, 2007 12:09 am
If the sheets are not at least 1200 thread count its like sleeping on sandpaper....Terry cloth??? ...Only when camping....

Think about it....You sleep on your sheets every day of your life....
If your sheets aren't something special...They should be.
Shawnee123 • Nov 1, 2007 1:17 pm
JuancoRocks;402305 wrote:

Think about it....You sleep on your sheets every day of your life....
If your sheets aren't something special...They should be.


Brought to you by the National Cotton Council of America.
Cotton. It's what's for dinner. :p
Aliantha • Nov 1, 2007 6:49 pm
1200 thread count??? Are you CRAZY? Isn't that like really high? I find sheets with a high thread count too hot to sleep under to be honest. I like the ones that're lighter so you can hardly feel they're there, but you know they are just...well, just because.
Hoof Hearted • Nov 1, 2007 10:59 pm
Aliantha;402605 wrote:
I like the ones that're lighter so you can hardly feel they're there, but you know they are just...well, just because.

Go ahead, you can say it. You have to know the sheets are there so the monster under the bed cannot grab your foot.

I like smooth sheets, but I do not like slick, satin ones. I like flannel sheets in the winter, but I have a terrible time turning over in bed with them, they twist my nightshirt all around my body because the fabric drags on the flannel and I don't like it. It wakes me up too much trying to straighten everything out when I roll over.

One thing I like to do when making quilts (quilts for me, at least) is use a sheet for the backing. Then the quilt is like it's own portable bed; sheet, blanket and pretty top all sewed into one.
Aliantha • Nov 1, 2007 11:03 pm
Go ahead, you can say it. You have to know the sheets are there so the monster under the bed cannot grab your foot.



[COLOR="Silver"]ahem...yeah, something like that[/COLOR]
monster • Nov 2, 2007 8:10 am
Hoof Hearted;402712 wrote:
monster under the bed.
:eyebrow:

This is exactly the sort of stereotyped image and unfounded rumour about me that really REALLY makes my blood boil! :mad: Why, I ought to come over there while you'rre sleeping and check out that rumour about you having 6 toes...
Hoof Hearted • Nov 2, 2007 2:13 pm
monster;402788 wrote:
:mad: Why, I ought to come over there while you'rre sleeping and check out that rumour about you having 6 toes...

Who've you been talking to? :eek:
Shawnee123 • Nov 2, 2007 2:50 pm
Hooves don't have toes, do they? ;)
monster • Nov 2, 2007 9:07 pm
Shawnee123;402917 wrote:
Hooves don't have toes, do they? ;)


She's hoof-hearted, silly. Hoof-hearted and weird-footed. It's seven toes on one foot, actually. And she snores like a fart in a trumpet.

*crawls back under the bed to wait for more feet*
lumberjim • Nov 2, 2007 9:15 pm
this fucking thread is out of control.
Aliantha • Nov 2, 2007 9:16 pm
Jealousy is a curse. :)
Hoof Hearted • Nov 2, 2007 11:19 pm
monster;403051 wrote:
And she snores like a fart in a trumpet.

Nope. That's Hubby. I don't snore. And I don't fart, either. Well, maybe I do, but they don't stink. And I'm NOT gonna fluff the covers to find out for sure.


*I'll wave my seven toes at you tonight, from under the safety of my blankets.