from my specially commissioned Smooth White Linen
TWIN 72" wide x 118" long • $125
QUEEN 96" wide x 118" long • $140KING 118" wide x 125" long • $160
CALKING 118" wide x 135" long • $175
The incomparable comfort and quality of cool, strong, smooth pure linen.
I make these sheets the old way: flat, and large enough to tuck around a mattress.
I am incensed whenever I have to make a bed with a mean spirited, stingily proportioned fitted sheet – straining to get the last corner down, seeing the sides roll up again like window shades if the elastic isn’t hooked under the bottom.
Once on, the sides too often ride up to expose an unappetising inch or two of mattress or mattress protector.
Part of the problem is that mattresses seem to get deeper all the time: who wants to have to think of these things? Fitted sheets use far less fabric than a traditional flat sheet, and ‘sheet sets’ not only have a fitted bottom sheet, but the top sheet is usually short.
Modern fitted sheets and short flat top sheets may seem like a convenience, but the impetus behind them was to save on fabric. This is a cost benefit for the manufacturer, as he is quite literally cutting corners.
The traditional way, usurped by this twentieth century penny-pinching, was to have flat sheets large enough to be securely tucked in all the way round. Hospital corners provide a time-honored neat finish but if you don’t care, you don’t have to do them!
However this skill is still very much a feather in the domestic cap, right up there with hollandaise sauce.
As you can see from the video, not only is it faster with two people, it is almost fun. Try it with a friend, flat-mate or dear one. You will learn a lot about each other.
Smooth White Linen sheets and pillowslips in Daniel Hale's house at St. Helena, CA.
The only ones I have even found that I like are Italian hotel sheets. Congratulations to Tricia and Rough Linen for figuring out one of the most gaping holes in contemporary retail bedding. I just ordered a set and am sending this link to all my friends. Wow!
Congratulations and best wishes. And THANK YOU! And thank you Remodelista for the tip. You made my day.
• posted by Maria Nation on 02/26/2011 at 06:31 am
I too have looked for years for linen sheets. Seeing your post, I immediately ordered everything--duvet, sheets, shams. They arrived last week and are beyond gorgeous. I could not be more pleased. In addition, Tricia went out of her way to make a item that she doesn't normally make, just because. Amazing.
• posted by Joy Phillips on 03/24/2011 at 08:35 am
Contest Winner, Bridget McDowall, took this great photo of her Smooth White Linen sheets in the Canadian Rockies.