How to Mend a Torn Bed Sheet

Have your sheets ripped near the side seam?  This tutorial shows how I mended a bed sheet with a tear by the side seam.  

These sheets also had a lot of wear along the edge so a new side seam was necessary to fix them.

If you need other mending tutorials, we have a whole collection on our page How to Mend Clothes and Household Objects.  This includes tutorials on how to mend ripped bed sheets with tears in the middle of the sheet.

Learn more about mending a bed sheet by watching our video through the link below or keep reading this post.

WHAT YOU NEED:

• Bed Sheet needing to be mended with a tear near the side seam
• Scissors
• Rotary Cutter, Mat and ruler (optional)
• Sewing Machine
• Thread

How to repair a ripped bed sheet

The problem: Tears in the bed sheet

I'm not sure why, but our bed sheet side seam has always folded over.  This has caused wearing along the folded edge and then a large hole developed in the side of the sheet. 

Amazingly, the rest of the sheet is fine and it would be such a waste to purchase a new sheet because of this hole.

As you can see in the photos below, there are a lot of little holes developing all along the side seam where the seam has folded over on itself.

Below you can see the little holes better.

Since the wear and the large hole is by the side seam, I decided to trim off the sides and create a new side seam.  This will make the sheet a bit smaller, but I'd rather repair it than purchase a new expensive sheet!

We also have a tutorial on how to convert a flat sheet to a fitted sheet.  Click the link for the tutorial!

STEP 2: Fold the sheet and trim off the side seam

The sheet is too long to fit on my large cutting mat, so I folded the sheet in half two times aligning the side seam as best as I could.

Fold the sheet bringing the top and bottom edges together.  Then fold it in half again in the same direction.  This will give you four layers of fabric.  

Align the side seams together as best as you can and place it on your cutting mat.

Use your ruler and rotary cutter to cut off the side seam inside the worn section.  This also cuts off the section where the hole developed.

The side seam fabric can be discarded.

If you do not have a rotary cutter, ruler and mat, use sharp scissors to cut off the side seam.  If using scissors, you may want to mark the line to be cut with a pencil or marking chalk so you cut a straight line.

STEP 3: Press a new side seam

Starting at either the top or bottom of the sheet, fold up the raw edge along the side of the sheet 1/2" and press.  

Continue pressing the side seam with a 1/2" fold.

Press up the side seam again another 1/2" and pin.

Pressing the seam twice with two 1/2" folds will encase the raw edge inside the seam so it won't fray.

STEP 4: Sew the side seam

Thread the sewing machine with thread and bobbin matching the sheet color.  Set to a normal stitch length.

Place the sheet side seam under the sewing machine foot.  Start sewing the seam along the inside folded edge about 1/8" from the folded edge.

Back tack at the beginning and end of the seam.

Continue with the same steps on the other side seam if needed.

Finished!

That was quick and easy and now I don't need to purchase a new sheet!

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial on how to fix a bed sheet by re-hemming it.

Some other mending tutorials are available below:

• How to Rehem Dress Pants - Did your pants hem come out?  Or the pants are just too long.  Rehem them!
• Replace Elastic in Pants - Don't you hate it when the elastic in your favorite pants gives out?  You can replace it!
• Holes in your Jeans or Pants?  You can patch them!