Bamboo fitted sheets

Bamboo fitted sheets

A fitted sheet is the sheet that stays put. The elastic runs all the way round the hem, so the sheet pulls down over the mattress and stays taut all night, however much you turn. That is the difference from a flat sheet, which gathers into folds under your back, and it is why the fitted sheet has become the most used type in most homes.

Ours are sewn with a 35 cm skirt. That is deeper than standard, and it is deliberate. A modern mattress is thick, and with a topper on it you quickly reach 30 cm or more. With a 35 cm skirt the elastic has something to grip under the mattress instead of sitting and sliding on the side.

Why bamboo viscose in a sheet

The fibres in bamboo viscose are thin and round, and that gives a smooth surface the skin does not catch on. The fabric feels cool as you lie down, and it does not hold heat the way a more densely woven cotton sheet does. At the same time it takes up moisture faster than cotton and gives it back to the air. If you sleep warm, that is the difference you notice: the sheet does not turn damp underneath you during the night.

There is a practical side too. Bamboo viscose creases less than cotton, so a bed made in the morning still looks smooth in the evening.

The colours and what they do to the room

The fitted sheets come in eight colours: white, sand, light beige, taupe, khaki, dark grey, light blue and lavender. The sheet is the flat, unbroken surface in the bed, and that makes it the colour taking up the most space in the room, even though the duvet is what you look at. A light sheet under dark bedding opens the bed up. A dark sheet under light bedding does the opposite and pulls the bed together into one block.

What wears a fitted sheet out

The fabric itself lasts a long time. It is the elastic that gives up first, and it is worn down by heat more than by use. Wash at 40 rather than 60 degrees and keep the sheet out of high tumble dryer heat, and the tension lasts many times longer. A fitted sheet that goes loose at the corners after a couple of years is nearly always one that has been dried hot.

Sizes and how to measure

The fitted sheets come in 90x200, 90x210, 120x200, 140x200, 160x200, 180x200, 180x210 and 210x210 cm. Measure the width and length of the mattress and pick the size that matches. If you are caught between two, take the smaller one: the elastic has enough stretch, while a sheet that is too big never goes taut.

If you have two mattresses side by side in a double bed, you need two sheets in single width, not one wide one. Otherwise one sheet pulls the other mattress askew every time somebody sits on the edge of the bed.

Washing and care

Wash at 40 degrees without fabric softener. Softener lays a film around the fibres, and that film is exactly what takes away the smoothness and the ability to move moisture away from the skin. Take the sheet out of the machine as soon as the programme ends and shake it out. Then ironing is rarely needed.

Who makes them

The fitted sheets are from Nordic Weaving, which traces its history back to Nordisk Tekstil Væveri in 1874. The fabric is certified to OEKO TEX Standard 100 in product class I, the strictest of the classes and the one that applies to textiles for infants.

See the rest of the bed

If you need a different type, both envelope sheets and split sheets sit alongside the fitted sheets under bamboo sheets. The same colours are in bamboo bedding and in bamboo pillowcases, and the whole range for the home stands together under home and homewear in bamboo.

Frequently asked questions

Does a fitted sheet fit over a topper? Yes. The 35 cm skirt is calculated for mattress plus topper. If you are under 30 cm in total, the sheet simply sits with a little more fabric tucked underneath.

What is the difference between a fitted sheet and an envelope sheet? The fitted sheet has elastic all the way round and pulls on like a cap. The envelope sheet has closed corners at the ends and no elastic, which gives a completely flat surface.

Can I tumble dry it? Yes, on low heat. High heat wears on the fibres over time and makes the fabric less smooth.