Just because I like to buy sheets and I do love the look of the beds the way my grandmother made them (of course, I take a short cut), I like to have a fitted sheet and then put a flat sheet over it, tuck it into place and get that crisp look, especially on the bed with the duvet, because duvet looks neat folded back and with the double-sheet method, it just adds a great look. I am sure flat sheets would do for your application because it was done for hundreds of years before someone "invented" fitted sheets which are difficult to fold and keep their shape.

I saw "Martha" doing that exact thing, Cameron!

I don't, but my mother has always insisted on using flat sheets as bottoms. So did my grandmother. My mother does it because it makes her linen closet look better since flat sheets fold neater. Yeah I know, I know.........

If you do the *hospital fitted fold* they should hold and not come undone.

I often use flat sheets as bottom sheets. I buy flat sheets at thrift shops, because frequently people discard incredibly nice, expensive ones when they find they don't use them when they've got a down quilt with a cotton quilt cover. I do buy new sets occasionally, usually plain white, so if I go to my linen closet and I'm in the mood for something other than my usual plain white, I use the flat sheets.

I suggest you wait until you can get a king size sheet very cheaply on sale, and give it a try. Even if you decide you don't like it, a spare kingsize flat sheet or two isn't a bad thing to own, for everything from using as a painting drop sheet to making a mockup of some drapes you want to try out.

bud wi;
What is the *hospital fitted fold* - how do you do it?

Here ya go Goldeneye:

Here is a link that might be useful: making a bed with hospital corners illustrated

that's the way I remember it! Cute link (and good tutorial). Thanks!

I've never found it hard to buy fitted sheets for our beds (both queen) and they are deep mattresses. I don't spend a lot either ie) $40 or so. I get them from Sears clearance or Home Outfitters and haven't had any issues yet. I do notice that the fitted ones with the elastics that are opposite from the old way, top to bottom vs across the top/bottom are the way they are made and they are very simple to put on. I remember struggling to get them to fit my bed as a teenager LOL.
OMG......hospital corners!!! That is the reason I only use fitted, I did so many of those and hated it. My first job was a chambermaid and later I went to nursing school. Funny the nurses don't do sheets anyway, the cleaning staff do but we had to do those over and over with NO wrinkles and TIGHT! LOL : ) And I'm not over 40, I can't imagine how many sheets nurses did for practice years ago

I was in the Army Reserve - we were only given flat sheets to make our beds...and yes, mine could bounce a quarter on any given day! lol

No way I'd used them now. The dog and/or DH would keep them untucked. DH bought our last sets of sheets at Costco. They have very deep fitted sheets - fit over large mattress and the two inch foam top. Plenty of room still, easy to put on the mattress for a change.

I also have arthritis so there is little strength in the hands. LOL I found a mixed blend sheet at J.C. Penney that does not shrink afer washing and continues to fit my 18" mattress. It's actually a little big which is fine with me. I wash it in very hot water with bleach and they come out looking great with no shrinkage.

25 years ago we bought a queen pillow top with the pillow top on both sides so we could flip the mattress both directions. I found the same thing queen sheets do not fit it. I do not think "California" queen sheets were a thing back then. I bought King sheets. I used the fitted sheet and it is not a clean crisp look. I think purists have stuck to only flat sheets, all along. You would not be alone. Windypoint my DD#1 refuses to use a top sheet. I find this gross, but she doesn't live at my house anymore!!

wow, 12 year old thread revived. That might be a record.

Just a spammer at work. Be sure to flag obvious spam with links.

Cheap trick: So, it turns out that it's trendy to use just a fitted sheet and no top sheet. I read that somewhere and the sale at Pottery Barn reflects that--their clearance sheets mostly are flat, no fitted to match. So, I was thinking what the original poster asked about: Since the corners on fitted--what with pillow top and extra feather mattress--are brutal, why not try a king flat as the fitted sheet on my queen bed? The bonus was that the flat queen and flat king together set me back just around $20 (clearance). Not bad for high quality sheets!