sheets

See also cribs.

Fitted sheets

Fitted sheets are sized by the name of the size of mattress they are intended to fit (USA mattress sizes are used below). In recent years mattresses have become increasingly deeper, and more people are using thick mattress pads of sheepskin, down, and so on. Many fitted sheets are not deep enough to fit these newer styles.

The “height” of a fitted sheet is determined by the depth of what makers call the “pocket.” Pockets are usually shallower on fitted sheets for twin beds (say, 8½ inches) than for the larger sizes (say 10½ inches). Fitted sheets are available with pockets as deep as 12 or even 14 inches.

Mattress size Width
in inches
Length
in inches
twin 39 75 or 76
long twin 39 80
full or double 54 75 or 76
queen 60 80
king 78 or 79 80
California king 72 84

Flat sheets

Dimensions below are after hemming; some packages are marked with the size before hemming. The table below shows for each size, column 2) the dimensions of a typical sheet of that size, and in column 3) the dimensions of the largest marketed sheet we know of.

Mattress size Typical
in inches
Largest
in inches
twin 70 × 100 76 × 106
long twin 70 × 106 76 × 114
full or double 80 × 100 85 × 106
queen 90 × 100 94 × 114
king 100 × 104 110 × 114

sources

The finer grades [of linen] are expensive, but to select fine linen sheeting is a mistake. After one night's use, it rolls and wrinkles, so as to look as if it had been worn a week. A thicker, medium grade, no matter what make it may be, is more serviceable and pleasanter than the finer. That may be reserved for pillow-case linen.

Good grades, though rather coarse, may be procured at sixty cents the yard, while one dollar the yard buys an excellent quality. The twilled or satine linen is probably the most durable, as it is the most expensive sheeting of the kind. It comes in various widths, to be used for sheets, bolster and pillow cases.

Linen sheets ought to be at least two yards seven eighths in length (though three yards are better) after they are hemmed. This allows that tucking under at the bottom and turning over at the top, which are needful for the comfort of the sleeper. The upper hem will depend, for its width, on the fancy of the housekeeper. A three-inch hem, with a two-inch at the bottom, to my eye look better than a narrower finish. If there is hemstitching below the former, all the better.

Hester M. Poole, in Household News, vol II, Jan. 1894, page 701.

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