Airstream fitted sheets

[adonh]

My 1976 31' Airstream has the 2 single beds on each side in the rear with curved mattress. I am the one that makes the beds when we go on trips and its like a wrestling match. So I have thought about the fitted sheets for the curved Airstream mattress for some time. I know the Airstream store have these and I also found these on E-Bay:

PAIR of 34x78 Sheet Sets for AIRSTREAM Single(bunk) bed | eBay

Any comments on either source or other suppliers.

Thanks

Don
1976 31' Sovereign

[Wayward]

We bought curved fitted twin sheets and padded mattress covers from them. Easy to deal with and knew Airstreams. Fit perfectly. If I recall it was significantly cheaper than Airstream site. You may just want to call or email them directly if not sure about fit..
adixon@allysonbrookeinc.com
1-800-825-4533

[RedDogBullet]

We also bought our sheets for our curved mattress from ABLifestyles. They were fantastic with great customer support. The sheets fit like a dream. Now, if only making the bed could be like a dream instead of a nightmare!

[adonh]

Originally Posted by RedDogBullet

We also bought our sheets for our curved mattress from ABLifestyles. They were fantastic with great customer support. The sheets fit like a dream. Now, if only making the bed could be like a dream instead of a nightmare!

I was hoping that making the bed would be easier with the fitted sheets. Is that not the case?

Don

[Foiled Again]

If you can't find a pattern or color you'd like, or you have more time than money, it shouldn't be a huge deal to make your own fitted twin sheets. I'd remove a mattress, set it on a picnic table and use it as the master pattern.

First, study regular fitted sheets.

You'll notice that there are four darts, one on each corner, which take out the blousing at the corners and cause the sheets to fall straight down at the sides. The sides should be at least two times as deep as the mattress to prevent the sheet corners from popping loose at night (16 inches deep for a 8 inch mattress). The length of the sides must be even all the way around to make sheets that fit well. If you were making fitted sheets for a rectangular mattress, once the darts are made and finished, cut the corners that hang down to be even with sides. It's just a big arc. Next Sew ELASTIC to the bottom edge STRETCHING IT HEAVILY at the corners. (ZigZag stitch or use a serger - 3 or 4 thread serging with the cutter blade disengaged.) You can run the elastic all around the sheet, or just on the top and bottom ends and down the sides for about a foot. In this case make a rolled hem for the edges that you don't sew elastic on.

Now for The CURVED twin - Make 3 normal darted corners, on the curved one make 3 smaller darts about 5 to 6 inches apart around the arc... Doh, simple eh.?

Assuming you're using a patterned sheets - put it on the mattress face down, Pin your darts facing out - NOT too snugly - you should be able to slide your hands between the side of the mattress and the sheet. (The elastic is what makes it snug.) The corner and curve darts take a lot of stress so they need to have heavy duty seams. Once you've pinned in the darts - and optionally marked them with tailor's chalk, pull the sheet off the mattress and sew a single seam on each dart with the dart facing out, then reinforce it by sewing over it adding bias tape OR make a flat felled seam. Flat Felled Seam: Trim one side of the dart back to about 1/4 inch, and the other to 1/2 or 5/8 inch. Fold the wide side over the narrow side and press it. Sewing slowly, sew the folded seam down to the sheet starting at the outside edge and moving to the point of the dart (you can get real fancy and curve this a little if you want but it's a SHEET not a prom dress!). When you reach the end, turn the sheet with the needle down in the machine, sew across the 1/4 inch seam almost to the original dart, turn again and sew outward to the edge of the sheet just about 1/16 inch from the original seam. That seam won't split easily!. Again, there are several ways to finish these darts for strength though I favor the flat felled or the bias taped seams. You can keep both sides of the seam together, cut the excess to 1/2 inch and add a zigzag near the raw edge, or serge a reinforcement. Make it strong and prevent raveling and you're good to go.

Now sew on elastic. I'd use 3/8 inch to 1/2 inch "pajama" elastic. If you don't have a serger, you can zigzag it, to the raw edge but just make sure it's a pretty long zigzag stitch (8-10 stitches per inch)... Also if you use a stretchier thread that will help (polyester as opposed to cotton).

Pajama elastic is super stretchy, and pretty soft unlike elastic you'd use in a pants waistline. Stretching elastic for the corners or curve - you can make this as simple or as complicated as you like - SIMPLE would be about 4 to 1 in the corners and 2 to 1 everywhere else. You want the elastic to draw the corners under and hold the sheet firmly to the mattress. If you've never sewn elastic before, you'll probably want (no NEED) to hand baste it to the sheet to see that you're making even gathers, then sew by machine.

OH, and there is one other option, that I really don't want to mention because it's a pain in the podex and you'll have to learn a new word "Bodkin". The only thing that's good about this method is that you can't foul up the elastic. Look at a pair of elastic waisted pants. On most, the fabric is folded over to make a pocket , and sewn to itself, leaving a narrow opening. The elastic is then threaded through this pocket around the waistline pulled to the correct length, and the ends are sewn together. The gizmo that lets you thread the elastic (or the string in a hoodie) is called a "bodkin". You can buy one, or take a large safety pin, stick it through one end of the elastic and push it along by feel through the whole tunnel! If you don't want to circumnavigate the sheet, you can do just the head and foot of the sheet going down each side about 1 foot. In this case, sew the elastic to each end of the tunnel (extract the bodkin/safety pin FIRST).

Last - if you DID use patterned sheeting on the first one - flip the mattress to make the second one with the arc on the other side. !!!

Happy trails.

[RedDogBullet]

Originally Posted by adonh

I was hoping that making the bed would be easier with the fitted sheets. Is that not the case?

It's not the sheets that are the problem with our bed, it's where the bed is positioned. It's a front bedroom and one whole side of the bed is up against the trailer wall. I literally have to crawl under the mattress to get the inside fitted sheet on and to tuck in the rest. It's pretty comical to watch but I told my husband, "Next airstream we get, it's going to have a bed we can walk around!" I do think the custom sheets for the mattress we have help the sheets stay on tight and not crumple up when you're sleeping, so they're worth it.

[BAAMbi7]

I made my own sheets.. With a 16', the mattress has only about 2 -3 feet of exposure on one side - meaning all 4 corners are up against the exterior walls.

Taking a sheet (flat or fitted)- I used a fitted king ( it's what I had as an extra set in the house), make two new corners to narrow the sheet. The length of the sheet should be enough to have at least 6 inches to be in the area under the mattress. (I can give details if you like the idea). You're just narrowing the sheet.

Big difference with mine as opposed to the above: No elastic. I made a 1 inch casing at the bottom of the whole sheet.

One more interruption. I sewed a top sheet ( flat and narrower than king) to the bottom of the "fitted" sheet so it's essentially an "all in one deal". It's like a big flap. the bottom gets made with the bottom and it never gets "untucked".

Ok, so after I made the casing and leaving an opening , I threaded 1/2 inch twill tape through with about 12 inches on each side left hanging.

Putting the sheet on: I lay the sheet on the mattress , tuck as much as i can down the sides with out reaching under the mattress which is practically impossible for me. Then lift the mattress up on it's side so the top of the mattress is up against the back of the trailer.

Then I pull the sheet sides around and under to the underside of the mattress so the casing is at the underside of the mattress which is facing me. Then I PULL the twill tape/string! pull hard so that the sheet is now tight and "fitted". Tie a bow. Turn the mattress back to normal position. BTW the casing opening is at the outside exposed area in the trailer where we get in and where I am standing, obviously.

Then a little tucking for the top sheet part and ..done.

we just got back from a trip, so the clean sheet is here in the house. I can take pictures next time I go and make the bed up!

our mattress is 48x78 - so king length is just fine. width needed the adjustment.

If i ever use the dinette, it's going to get a simple flat sheet shoved in or better idea - a sleeping bag! It's only a guest room!

[spenfolder]

Originally Posted by adonh

I was hoping that making the bed would be easier with the fitted sheets. Is that not the case?

Don

I bought sheets and a mattress pad from ABLifestyles for my 16' Bambi. They are a perfect fit. They do not make the bed easier to make. I still have to wrestle with the mattress. But once they are on, they stay put much better than my previous sheets.

Stan
Salt Lake City

[Pahaska]

I yank the whole mattress out into the aisle while putting on the bottom fitted sheet. For the foot of the top fitted sheet, I just swivel the foot of the mattress out into the aisle. Once I had it figured out, it isn't very difficult.

My only quibble with the ABLifestyle sheets is that the top sheet is too long. It folds down about 3 feet. I keep meaning to shorten the top a couple of feet.

[adonh]

That's what I do now, pull the mattress out in aisle. So I think I will stay with my regular twin bed fitted sheets and continue using the sheet holder straps to hold it in place and take out the slack. On the top sheet I just take the two corners at the foot and pull them together and tie a knot underneath the mattress. Everything stays in place.

Don

[Foiled Again]

Originally Posted by BAAMbi7

I made my own sheets..

Big difference with mine as opposed to the above: No elastic. I made a 1 inch casing at the bottom of the whole sheet.

I like the idea of twill tape... It's a really good way to keep the sheet wrinkle free and tight.

However for someone with arthritis, tying the bow tight enough to hold could be a problem. But even that could be easily solved. A friction buckle, or two metal hoops sewn to one end, then thread the other end through and back, and one good yank and it's tight. Nice thing - either way it stays tight until you change the sheets.

I like my tootsies free, but many might benefit from having the top sheet sewn in.

happy trails, paula

[BAAMbi7]

Instead of tying the twill tape, perhaps a cord lock where both ends are threaded through then the squeeze mechanism holds it in place? it could probably go through the wash , too.

[nvestysly]

Originally Posted by Wayward

We bought curved fitted twin sheets and padded mattress covers from them. Easy to deal with and knew Airstreams. Fit perfectly. If I recall it was significantly cheaper than Airstream site. You may just want to call or email them directly if not sure about fit..
adixon@allysonbrookeinc.com
1-800-825-4533

Am I overlooking something? I see the Airstream price is ~$125 for two complete sets of sheets (right and left fitted, right and left flat, 2 pillow cases) and the ABLifestyle is essentially the same price +/- a few dollars.

If Danielle or I was able to sew we'd modify a set ourselves but a regular set of twins works just fine for us - no problems in over 10 years of camping/travel.

~$120 is mucho money for two sets of sheets. However, I spent that much on parts/tools the other day so I suppose it's a matter of priorities.

Lucius

[Hoonanea]

I have sheets from Airstream and ABLifestyle. The sheets from ABLifestyle are much better, for me, than the set from Airstream. I have a 23' International with the 48" corner bed.

What I like about the ABLifestyle sheets -- the fitted sheet is made from one piece of fabric with elastic all the way around it and darts in the corners to take up the slack. The top sheet has the same elastic and darts at the bottom to keep it in place. And it has plenty of length to it. I'm all over the bed at night and these sheets stay put.

What I don't like about the Airstream sheets -- the fitted sheet is made from two pieces of fabric. One piece is sized and cut to fit the top of the mattress -- as if you traced the mattress on a piece of cardboard. Then, a second piece of fabric makes up the sides. So there is a seam all the way around the perimeter of the mattress. There is elastic and the head and foot but not all the way around. And what I found absolutely crazy, the top sheet was way too short. It also was not fitted at the foot to help it stay tucked in. To have enough fabric at the foot of the bed to tuck it under the mattress would only leave enough at the top to have the sheet cover me at the midsection of my chest. I solved the problem by having extra fabric sewn to the bottom to tuck under the mattress. But even with that, I'm still not crazy about how the fitted sheet works. It looks sloppy and should be tighter on the mattress in my opinion.

I have mattress covers from both vendors as well. In this area, Airstream gets better marks. The pattern used by ABLifestyle for my particular mattress had some flaws. The interior radius curve at the foot of the bed was off. The mattress cover worked and serves as a spare. But the one from Airstream is terrific.

[BAAMbi7]

Paula...love my tootsies free, too!

My top sheet comes up high to my chin - I like that as well.

I'm thinking...maybe I should make a pattern/instructions to convert sheets to airstream specific.....

stay tuned...

(i'm a sewist by trade - usually trying to solve issues like this.)

By the way, the best sheets are nice comfy old sheets...it makes up for a slightly less comfortable - NOT uncomfortable - sleep than at home. I'm not a fan of breaking in new ones.

ms b

[blkmagikca]

Lots of very useful info in this thread.

Our mattresses were acquired from a friend who decided to convert his twin beds to a double. His wife had taken the old original ones (which were in sad shape) to a mattress manufacturer and had two new ones made for the twin beds using the old one as a template. The new ones are much thicker (about 9 inches deep), and they fit very snugly against the night table. I had been contemplating either making new sheets or modifying a set of sheets. Thanks for sharing the how-to.

On a related vein, I did pick up a couple of sewing machines at an estate auction - one I plan on keeping, but I'd be willing to sell the other. It is an Elna Lotus - a very compact Swiss made sewing machine in excellent condition (has all the accessories and the original manual). I had sold one like this in 2005 - the description then was:

Elna manufactured the Lotus in Switzerland between 1968 and 1980. The Elna Lotus was a truly innovative concept. It was the first compact household sewing machine due to its reduced size and weight. The protection flaps replaced the carrying case of other portables and formed a sewing table when opened. The accessory case is built into the top of the machine. The Lotus was selected by the Museum of Modern Art in New York for its "Design Collection". The Lotus will do both straight stitching and zig-zag stitching, and can be used for quilting. It is truly an amazing little machine.

I plan on listing this on ebay in the next couple of days, but would entertain offers before (the one I sold in 2005 fetched $135).

[Pepthedog]

Not to take anything away from Foiled Again's way of doin' things, which seems more proper, but here's my easy way out.

I sewed some buttons on the sheets. On the bottom I used 6, one each at the ends and two on the sides, equidistant. On the top sheet I used 3, one on the bottom and one each on the side about where your knees would be.

On sheet day I cover the picnic table (every camp site has one) with a clean tarp. I put down the bottom sheet upside down then haul the whole darn thing outside and place it on top of the sheet. I then tie it on with cotton string. I use a large roll of cooking twine - it lasts forever. Then I repeat the process with the top sheet. Just don't tie that one too tight - you'll be sleeping like a mummy.

After the bed is brought back in just tuck in the corners and you're set. I did the same thing to the mattress pad and it stays put as well.

[masseyfarm]

You won't get much sleep in rain country!


Dave

Originally Posted by Pepthedog

On sheet day I cover the picnic table (every camp site has one) with a clean tarp. I put down the bottom sheet upside down then haul the whole darn thing outside and place it on top of the sheet. I then tie it on with cotton string. I use a large roll of cooking twine - it lasts forever. Then I repeat the process with the top sheet. Just don't tie that one too tight - you'll be sleeping like a mummy.
.

[BJo]

The problem I had with the sheets I ordered from ABLifestyles was with the fabric, not the fit. The fabric was so soft that it was like trying to put a large piece of gauze on the mattress - it was so limp that it wrinkled & wadded up something terrible. The mattress pad was wonderful, but the sheets were not good at all. I prefer a sheet with more body.

[pdozanne]

I thought the AS sheets were a bit pricey. We found a great solution that works for us:

Wal-Mart or Bed Bath and Beyond both sell sheet "suspenders" used to keep sheets in place, which are basically elastic pieces with a suspender clip at each end. I bought two packs of 4 and then connected two together to make them longer (alone they are too short to stretch across the bed), giving me 4 long ones in total. I turn the mattress on its side and then take a standard sized fitted sheet and use the suspenders to keep it in place. I don't bother doing this with the flat sheet, but I suppose you could if you wanted to sleep with snug sheets.

This solution really worked for us and we are able to choose from a wide selection of fabrics, colors, etc.... instead of the limited assortment from AS and the other companies.

Good luck!
A&D