How to Make Your Own Travel Sleep Sheet

A sleep sheet, or sleep sack, is a must have if you are going to be staying in hostels. Hostels require sleep sheets for sanitary reasons and often rent them to travelers who don't have one but if your anything like me, a frugal traveler, you don't want to spend anymore than you have to. Plus, renting one every night on a long backpacking adventure can be expensive.

Sleep sheets can run about $40 and when your on a budget it is sometimes 40 dollars too many. My first backpacking trip ever I made my own sleep sheet out of an old sheet and a pillow case. What I learned shortly after was that sheet quality is and isn't that important. You don't need a fancy high quality sheet. You do need a thin, light sheet and pillowcase. My sleep sheet turned out fairly heavy for travel that as comfy as it was I would have been better off buying my own sleep sack and losing the extra weight in my pack.

If you have a thin, light sheet in your cabinet that seems only good enough to use on those hot summer nights, that would be perfect. The lightest sheet you can find would be the best. Any sheet and pillowcase will work but for traveling your best benefit would be something light. Remember the purpose of the sleep sheet is not warmth. Its main purpose is to have something between you, the mattress and the blankets.

Don't be too intimidated if you don't really sew. Making a sleep sheet can be done with bare basic sewing skills and can be sew by hand or with a sewing machine, if you have one. Don't worry about it coming out pretty perfect, your sleep sheet wont be on display, it is just for basic need.

Supplies you will need:

Sheet (Queen size)
Pillowcase
Sewing thread
Sewing needle

Step 1: Lay your sheet flat on the floor (right side up.)

Step 2: Fold the sheet in half.

Step 3: Sew the bottom of the folded sheet.

Step 4: Sew a little more than half way up the open side of the sheet.

Step 5: Get your pillowcase and lay it flat above the top of the sleep sheet, just as your pillow would be at your head.

Step 6: Sew the pillowcase to the bottom sheet of the sheet opening.

Step 7: Fold the sewn sheet inside out so the stitches will now be unseen and inside the sack.

There you go! Now you have an inexpensive sleep sheet that will be with you for all your travels. It can also be used as a liner in your sleeping bag when camping.