Turn The Sheets?

[barry1010]

Just reminiscing and remember sleeping on sheets with a seam up the middle because my mother would turn them when they were wearing thin in the middle. This meant cutting them in half lengthways and sewing the original edges together, hemming the new edges.

Now, it is years since we bought new sheets and they are laundered every week. They are nowhere near thinning in the middle. I can't believe they are better quality or better made and can only conclude that today's washing machines are kinder to the laundry than the dolly and tub I remember my mother using, later a twin tub. I do wash them at 75 or 90 degrees.

Do your sheets thin in the middle? Would you turn them to save money if they did?

[ummmm]

No they don't and if they did I'd just buy new ones.

[Ken4155]

When any of my sheets begin to 'thin', I just throw them in with the rest of my dust covers for work. Then I go and buy new sheets.

[Tilly2]

I always buy fitted sheets and they would not be easy to turn, so I buy new ones, if need be.

[ummmm]

I have fitted sheets too.

We also have plenty of bed sets. I have a sheet per set.

[Maydup]

I can remember putting my foot through a threadbare sheet when I was a kid! Not these days, we've had our sheets for years and would buy new rather than mend them.

[barry1010]

Do you think today's are better quality, Maydup? Mine weren't at all expensive but are as good as new

[ladybirder]

Lots are made with synthetic materials mixed with cotton.

[tiggerblue10]

I don't remember that but I do remember having light coloured stripy sheets which seemed to be popular in the 70s and 80s. My mum still has them.

[alavahalf]

Flanelette ?

[tiggerblue10]

These things.

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=flannelette+sheets&;safe=strict&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi9ubCov7jpAhX0rnEKHTk8AUwQ_AUoAnoECBAQBA&biw=1440&bih=757#imgrc=kAo2ii9YiyMD-M

Come to thin of it they were stitched down the middle so probably were cut and edging sewn in.

[Bobbisox1]

Perhaps it was way back then, sheets were ‘ boiled’ or they were here as most men worked in the pits and constant boiling would maybe fray them?

[Bobbisox1]

The worst ones of all were the Bri- nylon ones , your toe nails used to click on them ( Brentford Nylons) and you could buy a quilted bedspread with a frill around it

[Apc2604]

As Ladybirder says most sheets now have polyester added which strengthens. I have fitted ones now. I also ndvef iron sheets or duvet covers.

I remember turned sheets, turned collars on shirtsand darned socks. I was taught to darn as a child. I was also taught how to do hospital corners on sheets.

[roopower]

I remember my mum doing this. We just had flat sheets and she would take the bottom one off to wash, bring the top one down and put a clean one as top sheet. Always white. Im not sure my mum was a great sewer, the bottom sheet, with the seam down the middle, were rather uncomfortable.

[Apc2604]

Oh Bobbie, those horrid nylon sheets. My mum wouldn't buy them, but when I went into lodgings I was provided with nylon ones! Horrid.I hate nylon anything.

[Bobbisox1]

And me APC , awful but at the time,must haves haha

[alavahalf]

There was a time when people would 'make do and mend'. During that time there were probably more people around with those sort of basic sewing skills than there are today. Almost every household had a Singer Sewing Machine. Most families would need to make something last as long as possible. When you think about your mother doing the washing, did she use a mangle to wring it out. Those things were not designed to be gentle on material. They actualy did a lot of damage.
These days it is much cheaper to buy clothes and sheets etc. Than it would be to get a seamstress to start making alterations.
My other half is more than capable of doing any alterations on clothing. She did have one customer who had all his clothes made in Bond Street after the war.
They were of such a quality that she could unpick the cuffs and the collars, turn them and refit them and give the shirts a new lease of life. These days it would cost more to alter it than it would to buy a new one!

[woofgang]

it used to be called "sides to middling" Yes sheets were treated much more roughly then, boiled and mangled and then line dried. Strong winds and frost will both weaken cotton or linen.

[ladybirder]

So do I Apc. I would crackle if I wore nylon. Funny thing is my father was instrumental in inventing it. He collaborated with the DuPont company in America.

[Apc2604]

I made all my own clothes during my teens and twenties. I wanted lots of clothes and wanted things that were a bit 'way out' so I made them. You could get some great material back then.