DIY sensory compression sheet

It kept popping up in my Facebook newsfeed: a video of a kid pinned to bed via a very tight, stretchy sheet. It was strange, but of course I knew immediately my son would be ALL. OVER. IT.

They’re called “compression sheets” or “sensory sheets,” and basically they’re designed to a person into their bed so they feel cozy and secure — hence calming them down, making it easier to sleep, etc.

I knew I wasn’t going to buy one, though.

I was going to make one! (Of course I was!)

I started by changing my son’s fitted sheet with a fresh one — I mean, why not, right? — and wrapping a large piece of stretchy jersey fabric (from my fabric stash) over it.

Then I flipped the whole thing over.

I pulled the sides together to meet, and realized it was going to be way too loose. This thing needed to be tight, or there was really no point.

I trimmed the fabric until I could barely yank the two sides together in the middle.

(Then I added a couple of wonder clips to each side, only so I’d know which ends to sew together once I’d dragged the giant piece of fabric down to the basement.)

I ran a quick seam straight down the middle with my serger. (You could use a regular sewing machine for this — just pick a stretch stitch, or a zigzag.)

It didn’t matter which sides were facing each other because the seam would end up hidden under the mattress.

I brought the “sheet” back upstairs — it was really just a giant grey tube — and wrestled it over the mattress.

(Our son decided he wanted the stripes showing, but I could have easily flipped it right-side-out if he wanted the plain grey backing to show. It’s reversible with zero effort — woohoo!)

It fit the bed perfectly!

I kind of wanted to crawl under it myself at this point. So soft.

Our son wriggled himself under it right away (but refused to be in any photos) and then our daughter squirmed her way under, too. They loved it!

Our son eagerly snuggled under his new compression sheet that night and declared it a winner.

SEWING NERD MUSING: Because the fabric I picked out of my stash was a REALLY soft, extra-stretchy jersey, the sheet is tight but not *as* tight as it could be. If I was actually buying new fabric for this, I’d pick something with less stretchy — like a thick ponte, maybe?

Let me know if you end up making your own compression sheet!

(I actually want to make one for myself. I think it would be really comfy.)

xo