# Is there an a priori method for determining the alignment of a fitted sheet? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 9, 2011, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-a-priori-method-for-determining-the-alignment-of-a-fitted-sheet/577806 "2011-04-09T22:48:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-a-priori-method-for-determining-the-alignment-of-a-fitted-sheet/577806/1 "2011-04-09T22:48:35Z")
It’s idiotically simple in theory, of course—one axis is longer and one shorter, corresponding to the rectangular shape of the mattress. But in practice, I admit I’m baffled. So is my partner. No matter how I try to figure out how to place it, I always get it wrong on the first try. I have to fix one corner in place and then stretch it out the length of the mattress to discover if it’s on right or not. Somehow I always guess wrong. Weird. We have a couple of fitted sheets with longitudinal stripes, and then there’s no question which way it goes on. I like it when those come up in the laundry rotation. The solid colors are the ones that baffle me. I’ve tried stretching it out to see which way is longer, but it’s incredibly hard to tell any difference. The elastic around the edges contracts it all together in such a way as to disguise the dimensions, and my arms aren’t long enough to stretch it out far enough to tell anything. I’ve tried holding it up and seeing which way hangs down lower. Bizarrely, it hangs to the same level either way. The elastic again. I thought, logically, since my guesses are always wrong, I’ll make my best guess and then rotate it 90 degrees. But the inherent deviltry of the thing makes even that fail. No matter how I try it, it’s always wrong on the first try. But I still hope there exists some reliable method that someone out there has discovered. Anyone know the solution? ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-a-priori-method-for-determining-the-alignment-of-a-fitted-sheet/577806/2 "2011-04-09T22:52:39Z")
yes do your best to figure it out and then rotate it 90 degrees. ---
**Author:** ![wei\_ji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9a140/32.png) [@wei\_ji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wei_ji)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-a-priori-method-for-determining-the-alignment-of-a-fitted-sheet/577806/3 "2011-04-09T23:31:31Z")
I played this game with tent poles in wind and rain storms until I learned to mark them. Fit your sheets one at a time as you like them, then mark with, say, a small piece of colored material sewn to the bottom right corner. Work from that corner from then on using the marking. You can even tell which side goes “up.” ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-a-priori-method-for-determining-the-alignment-of-a-fitted-sheet/577806/4 "2011-04-09T23:36:51Z")
This is so funny, because I’ve had this drive me absolutely crazy. Finally, I figured out that one corner has a tag on the inside, and that goes on the right side of the foot of the bed. Of course, you still have to remember that, and it’s not intuitively obvious that the tag would go there. I also don’t know if this is standard on all fitted sheets, but they should only have a tag in one corner. ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-a-priori-method-for-determining-the-alignment-of-a-fitted-sheet/577806/5 "2011-04-09T23:42:52Z")
If you figure it out, see if you can generalize it for me. In my case no matter what the situation, if I have a 50/50 choice to make, I am wrong 100% of the time. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-a-priori-method-for-determining-the-alignment-of-a-fitted-sheet/577806/6 "2011-04-09T23:47:04Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > This is so funny, because I’ve had this drive me absolutely crazy. > > Finally, I figured out that one corner has a tag on the inside, and that goes on the right side of the foot of the bed. Of course, you still have to remember that, and it’s not intuitively obvious that the tag would go there. I also don’t know if this is standard on all fitted sheets, but they should only have a tag in one corner. Yep, I figured this out a while back, although at first it was with the bedspread, not the fitted sheet. Tag goes at the bottom right. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-a-priori-method-for-determining-the-alignment-of-a-fitted-sheet/577806/7 "2011-04-09T23:47:28Z")
I figured out using the tag as a guide, except that from different manufacturers I think the tag is placed differently. Perhaps a solution would be to memorize the tag position for each individual sheet. Which is the same as w **ei ji** ’s idea, which is an improvement, because then you wouldn’t need to remember this. I am so doing that, thanks! (Even though it’s technically an _a posteriori_ solution, but never mind that, as long as it works.) ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-a-priori-method-for-determining-the-alignment-of-a-fitted-sheet/577806/8 "2011-04-09T23:49:28Z")
Pick up the sheet and stick your hand into a corner pocket. Try to reach the other corner on that side. Rotate 90 degrees, repeat. You now know which side is shorter. Place sheet on mattress accordingly. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2011, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-a-priori-method-for-determining-the-alignment-of-a-fitted-sheet/577806/9 "2011-04-10T00:08:28Z")
I don’t know whether it’s a rule or a coincidence that all my fitted sheets are the same, but the seam on each corner goes along the long dimension. If yours are different, then I guess you’ll have to remember that. ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2011, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-a-priori-method-for-determining-the-alignment-of-a-fitted-sheet/577806/10 "2011-04-10T00:20:54Z")
You actually had the solution in the OP. Buy only sheets with stripes. ---
**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2011, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-a-priori-method-for-determining-the-alignment-of-a-fitted-sheet/577806/11 "2011-04-10T00:28:58Z")
> [@wei\_ji](#): > > I played this game with tent poles in wind and rain storms until I learned to mark them. Fit your sheets one at a time as you like them, then mark with, say, a small piece of colored material sewn to the bottom right corner. Work from that corner from then on using the marking. You can even tell which side goes “up.” Sewn? How hard is it to just mark the bottom right corner with a Sharpie? It’s not like anyone sees that part of the sheet. IME, Sharpie marks on fabric are permanent. If your sheets are black, use a silver one. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2011, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-a-priori-method-for-determining-the-alignment-of-a-fitted-sheet/577806/12 "2011-04-10T01:16:55Z")
> [@Johanna](#): > > I figured out using the tag as a guide, except that from different manufacturers I think the tag is placed differently. Perhaps a solution would be to memorize the tag position for each individual sheet. Which is the same as w **ei ji** ’s idea, which is an improvement, because then you wouldn’t need to remember this. I am so doing that, thanks! > > (Even though it’s technically an _a posteriori_ solution, but never mind that, as long as it works.) Just buy only one type of sheet. 🙂 You can mark the tag with a code so you don’t have to memorize. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2011, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-a-priori-method-for-determining-the-alignment-of-a-fitted-sheet/577806/13 "2011-04-10T02:28:53Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Finally, I figured out that one corner has a tag on the inside, and that goes on the right side of the foot of the bed. > [@Shoeless](#): > > Yep, I figured this out a while back, although at first it was with the bedspread, not the fitted sheet. Tag goes at the bottom right. Is that functionally different than top left? ---
**Author:** ![ENugent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/4af34b/32.png) [@ENugent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ENugent)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2011, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-a-priori-method-for-determining-the-alignment-of-a-fitted-sheet/577806/14 "2011-04-10T02:50:47Z")
I have knitted jersey sheets, so I squint at the knitting to see if the stitches are right side up or crossways. ---
**Author:** ![fumster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9c0ed/32.png) [@fumster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fumster)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2011, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-a-priori-method-for-determining-the-alignment-of-a-fitted-sheet/577806/15 "2011-04-10T06:03:54Z")
> [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](#): > > If your sheets are black, use a silver one. How _you_ doin? ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2011, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-a-priori-method-for-determining-the-alignment-of-a-fitted-sheet/577806/16 "2011-04-10T07:15:17Z")
> [@california\_jobcase](#): > > Pick up the sheet and stick your hand into a corner pocket. Try to reach the other corner on that side. Rotate 90 degrees, repeat. You now know which side is shorter. Place sheet on mattress accordingly. Works for me too because I have a Queen size bed and can reach the other corner on the short side. However on a King size you can’t reach either corner unless you are 6’ 6’’ or taller and the difference between the width and length is only 4 inches, so easy to misjudge. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2011, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-a-priori-method-for-determining-the-alignment-of-a-fitted-sheet/577806/17 "2011-04-10T12:01:17Z")
My solution is to get the sheets that are only elastic on two sides. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2011, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-a-priori-method-for-determining-the-alignment-of-a-fitted-sheet/577806/18 "2011-04-10T23:27:22Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > Yep, I figured this out a while back, although at first it was with the bedspread, not the fitted sheet. Tag goes at the bottom right. > [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Is that functionally different than top left? Actually, it is for our bedspread. It has a pattern that would obviously be upside down if the tag was at the upper left instead of lower right. On the fitted sheets, not so much since they’re plain sheets, but bottom right is usually about where I’m starting anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2011, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-a-priori-method-for-determining-the-alignment-of-a-fitted-sheet/577806/19 "2011-04-11T00:28:17Z")
Yep, trial and error followed by a Sharpie Marker. I can’t speak to the other sizes but kings are virtually impossible to tell apart until after one corner is on the bed… ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2011, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-a-priori-method-for-determining-the-alignment-of-a-fitted-sheet/577806/20 "2011-04-11T00:42:12Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Is that functionally different than top left? Yes, because now the tag is by your head. Unacceptable. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-a-priori-method-for-determining-the-alignment-of-a-fitted-sheet/577806.md?page=2)