During my lengthy absence from this blog, I did get some sewing done. This cot sheet is a fun little project. It can be plain or fancy, utilitarian or heavily embroidered as is this one.
First, I have to be up front with you all–my name is Janice and I am a textile snob. My linen closet has nothing but pima cotton sheets. My master, guest and children’s beds have always been made up with silky pima cotton.
Many years ago, there was a brief and almost sleepless few days when my 8 yo son slept on stiff and scratchy Garfield sheets. They were a gift for which he had begged his grandmother. After a week, he wanted his old sheets back. “They just don’t feel good, Mama.” From the mouths of babes–raised on pima.
Before she even moved into her freshman dorm at University of Florida, my daughter begged me to custom make two sets of pima cotton sheets for the odd sized mattress. She was like the Princess and the Pea. “Mama, I won’t be able to sleep on anything else!”
So what does this have to do with Disney’s Jungle Book themed cot sheet shown above? Well, it’s not pima cotton, but the 100% cotton is several grades above the faux fabric, standard-issue preschool cot sheets which my daughter found unacceptable for her first preschooler.
Even on those nasty but serviceable sheets, some children drift off, blissfully replenishing their energy banks for another go-round at the playground. Others squirm and fidget, hoping this dreadful quiet time will soon be over.
When my grandson’s cot sheet was sent home to be laundered for the first time, his mother (of the Princess and Pea ilk) was aghast. Her baby boy could NOT sleep on that! So the first of many preschool cot sheets was made and sent off priority mail. It was made of a soft cotton twill and a Cars quilting cotton. Â
Alastair with his Cars cot sheet. Two Cars fabrics were used.
At his request, I made a second sheet for his BFF who was into guitars.
An interesting sheet can make rest time pass more quickly for the squirmers. The first week of preschool, my daughter received a note from her son’s teacher that at rest time 3 yo Alastair was not lying perfectly still, as required.
Eager to be cooperative parents, she and her husband held practice rests for the little guy. He was assured that he was not required to sleep, but just to lie still and quiet enough so as not to disturb his napping classmates. Shortly thereafter, he was transferred to another school which was more tolerant of wiggly 3 year olds.
But I digress–back to the Jungle Book sheet. All the instructions are detailed in my tutorial post on Brother’s new blog, Stitching Sewcial.  This site has so many great projects, tips and tutorials on topics including machine embroidery, quilting, garment construction, Scan ‘n Cut and more. There is so much to learn, even if you don’t have a Brother machine.  Check it out. You’ll be glad you did. And if you leave a comment on this or any of my other posts (Mickey and Friends Halloween Wallhanging, Finding Dory Dress,  Alice in Wonderland Tea Linens, Tsum Tsum Toddler Shorts Outfit,   Ariel {AG} Doll Sleeping Bag, Zootopia Knapsack) so I know you visited, I’d really appreciate it.
For a cot sheet, any combination of fabrics can be joined to make a 24 x 47″ sheet. Add elastic at the corners and it’s done. It’s a great way to use up scraps so you can justify buying more fabric. Yeah!!!! These really are simple to make and can be as plain or fancy as you like. I never got around to it, but always intended to make seasonal sheets for the grands. That would have been fun.
The Jungle Book designs from Brother’s site, ibroidery.com are really adorable and very nicely digitized. Eager to include every character and fixed on the quilting cotton sky/cloud fabric, I used 3 layers of tearaway stabilizer expecting it would suffice. WRONG!!! There is significant puckering.
At a recent class the instructor said that no amount or kind of stabilizer will compensate for stitch intensive designs embroidered on lightweight fabric. Lesson learned and proven by the cot sheet puckers.
One of my favorite features of this sheet is the simple picture pocket at the name end of the sheet. FYI, the sheet resides in Brother’s sample closet, so the name Jamie was chosen because it is gender neutral.
This photo can be changed each week when the sheet is brought home for laundering. NOTE: By using a different novelty fabric or embroidery design at each end of the sheet, the child can get a different view to contemplate as he tries to rest.
And there’s more! Personalized sheets are quick, easy, and popular fundraisers. The two shown below were made in advance of a school auction with a label indicating that their child’s name would be embroidered. They were very hot items.
Logan’s mother snatched up this cherry sheet, made of pink twill and leftovers from a bubble I made for Vivian Rose when she was a baby.
Scott’s mother liked the Michael Miller fabric for her little camper. Can you see the fishing pole has been included with the name?
If you have a special preschooler or need a bazaar or auction item, make a cot sheet.
