Creases in Sheet Hems Dilemma (2023 Update)

Phae,

I am assuming you've tried ironing these hems, but have you tried sponging the hems with vinegar and then ironing? Regular white vinegar can take out creases, I've used it in the past when I let down hems that had creases showing from the old hem. Just sponge

Judie

Phaedr> Before I returned to the practice of line-drying my bedding, some of my

Are we speaking of the large hem (top) or the small (bottom)?

Have found this problem mainly on new sheets, though the first few washes of my vintage Wamsutta percales gave similar problems. However since I line damp-dry all my linens, then iron, pulling the hems straight isn't that much of a problem.

Try using warm water instead of very hot or hot for laundering. Also spin for as short time as possible, then allow sheets to line dry if possible. What is probably going on is some contraction of stitching, especially if hems have cording or some such decoration. Find pulling the hems taut before sheets are totally dry helps. Back in the old days two people, one on each end would pull sheets taut, especially the hems to smooth things out, even if they were not going to be ironed.

Hope this helps.

Candide

Oh yes. I've tried pressing and with vinegar too. It did not work. They are creased almost like permanent pleats.

Thanks for responding (and to Judie too!). Like I said in my post, it is the 4 inch wide hem.

I have to use hot water since I have a pretty terrible dust mite allergy. I spin the sheets at a low setting. But, like I said, this happened before I started hanging out my laundry again. Unless this is just an inherent problem with some new sheets, I think I can prevent it with line-drying. What I'm looking for is a fix for the already affected sheets.

It's interesting that you mention old sheets though. This has not happened with *any* of my vintage sheets (still in use), either percale or muslin, despite the exact same treatment. These particular sheets are 350 thread count pima cotton from The Company Store. I wonder if newer factory fabric treatments are causing this problem.

Thanks.

Phae

However

stitching,

pulling

Take the freshly laundered sheets that have creases, and rewash in warm water allowing them to soak for abit. Rinse in cold water and spin for a short time, then allow to drip dry. When damp start pulling and smoothing out the hems until they are straight. I would iron them or use some sort of press to smooth them furhter and help reset the fabric "memory". Stay away from using straight vinegar on cotton and linen, as both are weakened by acids.

It is also possible that the heat and tumble drying are causing the hems to distort, and heat will also "set" these creases. Find all but sateen sheets are dried best outside of dryer. Indeed only really dry sateen sheets in the dryer when circumstances prohibit line drying outdoors, or in the airing cupboard.

percale

Am thinking again, there is something in how the hems were constructed, perhaps the tension was a bit tight and one is getting lots of constriction. Find so many variations in new linens these days, that am grateful one mainly uses vintage Pequot,Wamsutta, Cannon for cotton linens, and pure Irish or French linens for pure bed linen. Don't care whose name is on the label, most everything is made in China these days, and quality varies from good to down right horrible.

Phae,

Maybe you could cut off the hem and make a new hem. *And* add some fabric at the bottom of the sheet so you would still have the length you need. I know it sounds like a lot of work but you would be able to use the sheets and you wouldn't have to worry about trying to have an exact match for the hem. You could even piece it so you would have the width you need and not be annoyed by having the seam in the hem.

Judie

Phaedrine Stonebridge wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@sn-indi.vsrv-sjc.supernews.net :

i've had similar issues with sheets that weren't hemmed on the straight grain. lee

contrasting

If one's sewing machine does a decent hemstitch, simply cut off the offending hem, fold down a new one and hemstitch away. Drawn threads optional of course.

Candide

Amazing. I ran to check as soon as I saw your post. The hems on my sheets are on grain. But it's just awful how badly some things are made these days, though, even when you pay a lot of money. The last time I purchased sheets at a department store (2 different brands), the stitching had huge holes and was very widely spaced. The fabric turned out to be not so good either on one set. They were always uncomfortable and rough. So I've been getting mine at the Company Store ever since.

Phae

I also have a front loader and it's taken me some time to get used to it. Because of excessive wrinkling problems, I spin very few things at the highest speed (1200 rpm). Most things I spin at 800 rpm or lower to prevent my clothing from being ruined. So much for that part of the alleged front-loader efficiency. What kind of savings is it if your clothes are ruined from excess creasing or you have to iron a whole lot more? I also never had this problem with my top loaders.

I have Penny's sheets that are over 35 years old. They are only now just starting to seem a bit thin. And they do not have wrinkled hems.

Phae

I've been line-drying almost all our laundry for over a year now and I'll never willingly go back to using a dryer for everything. I even line-dry my towels and then air-fluff them in the dryer w/no heat. I do make an exception for cotton knits shirts, however. I dry them on the lower heat setting for 15 to 25 minutes, depending how many, and then finish drying them on hangers. That way they do not wrinkle and need no pressing.

My husband installed a retractable clothesline thingy in the basement for me for the winter and bad weather. It has 6 lines and spans up to

30 feet, IIRC, for a total of about 150 lineal feet of line. Best thing since sliced bread.

Phae

uncomfortable

Have said it before, and shall go on saying it, vintage is the best way to go. Way I see things have enough Pequot and Wamsutta to last the duration. Not to mention a 70 some odd bolt of Pequot muslin fabric (not sure of the width, know it is sheeting) just waiting to be run up into sheets. Does anyone remember when one could purchase sheeting by the yard and run up one's own? Pillow slips came in tubular lengths as well.

Candide

I will definitely give that a try. I've done that... sort of... with a spray bottle. But maybe it would work better if the hems were really soaked before pulling and smoothing. One set is far worse than the other so that might only work for the other set. I wonder if the high thread count contributes to the problem.

Indeed. Like I said in another post, I'll never willingly go back to using a dryer. All my laundry, especially the linens, are just so much nicer being line-dried. I never would have believed it could make such a difference.

I agree. These all-cotton sheets were made in Portugal, however. Nowadays, I ask where things are made, in an attempt to avoid China and getting poisoned with God knows what. Even then, it is still hard to know for sure.

Phae

Great idea, Judie. Thanks :)

Phae

Yes, exactly. My experience mirrors yours: higher thread count, not the cases. The other end of the sheet has a very narrow hem, no bigger than 1/2 inch. Needless to say, there's no creasing there at all. Maybe these higher thread count sheets just cannot take anything but a very narrow hem.

Phae

Does anyone remember when one could purchase sheeting by the

You still can. Go to your local quilt shop and buy muslin by the yard. It comes in various widths up to 108" and several different qualities. (You gets what you pays for). It does shrink quite a bit, you have to buy extra to allow for that.

Olwyn Mary in New Orleans.

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