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The featherbed, pillowtop etc thread was getting long and looked like it had died and I had several questions.

Gosh, I just reread the thread title and can imagine the double entendres that might be surfacing!!!

My questions:

First, just found out that DS's dorm bed measures 36x80x6 which is an odd size. Regular sheets are 39x75 and extra long are 39x80. Will extra longs work with this extra narrow (3 inches)configuration ? Do the fitted sheets stay on the bed if so narrow or will we need to get clips and bands to make them stay on?

Second, this 80" length seems to have narrowed choices in the coordinate groupings from people like Nautica who don't appear to make XL fitted sheets to go with all their groupings? Any suggestions other than solid color fitted sheets?

We had been told by housing rep on campus visit that they were regular beds not XL and were about to buy his bedding. I am really glad I went to the Housing website before purchasing. I just called them and they verified the website dimensions to be correct.

Thanks in advance for your input and collective wisdom.

By Kwtortoise (Kwtortoise) on Thursday, July 01, 2004 - 05:11 pm: Edit

I would suggest getting the long sheets, but getting something stretchy like a jersey so you can tuck the extra width in and under. It is better to go up in size, than have them too small. There are bands or clips, but they can be a hassle.

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/stylepage.asp?order_num=-1&RN=404&RNT=8&IPP=8&

That is a really strange size. Some bedding manufacturers make odd-sized sheets, for cots and such, but I haven't found that size. BTW, I've been looking online at sheets for awhile and found that Domestications has a great selection at reasonable prices, except for the shipping.

http://www.domestications.com

By Aparent4 (Aparent4) on Thursday, July 01, 2004 - 05:27 pm: Edit

http://www1.jcpenney.com/jcp/ProductList.aspx?deptid=7107&catid=18031&cattyp=LFS&refpage=StyleHom&PCat=campus+shop&SCat=sleep-xl+twin+bed&dep=for+the+home&PCatID=17518


http://www.pbteen.com (Pottery Barn Teen, has sections for guys' rooms and girls' rooms).

Also check Ebay for brand-new XL sets.

The online free shipping codes for Domestications ran out a few days ago, but new ones are bound to appear. Just google "Domestications free shipping code."

By Sokkermom (Sokkermom) on Thursday, July 01, 2004 - 08:10 pm: Edit

We just ordered through this company which provides delivery service directly to campus. (One less thing to pack and transport). My sister used the same service for both her kids, at two different campuses. The packages seem easy to figure out and somewhat reasonable. Has anyone else used them?

www.uparents.com/linens.aspx

By Kwtortoise (Kwtortoise) on Thursday, July 01, 2004 - 08:15 pm: Edit

I looked at those and thought they were a bit pricey. What did your sister think of the quality? Thanks.

By Sokkermom (Sokkermom) on Thursday, July 01, 2004 - 08:26 pm: Edit

I think she said they were ok. She used them for her daughter (Northwestern), and also for her son 3 years later (Boston College). (Her son will be a sophomore in the fall). When I asked her advice about bedding, etc. she suggested them. We received an order form directly from my son's housing department at his college. It seemed easy to me, and one less thing to worry about. Fortunately my son is not too particular. I'm not sure he can even find his bed at home under all the clutter!! His excitement about picking dorm bedding was clearly expressed with a resounding: "yeah, whatever."

By Aparent4 (Aparent4) on Thursday, July 01, 2004 - 10:02 pm: Edit

I ordered that stuff from uparents. It pilled so badly I ended up replacing it after a few months. Although it was very handy to have it delivered straight to the dorm, the price and quality was much worse than at J.C. Penney, Linens 'n Things, Overstock.com, or Domestications.

By Sokkermom (Sokkermom) on Friday, July 02, 2004 - 08:51 am: Edit

Aparent4:

Did you complain to the company? I thought I read somewhere that they guaranteed the stuff for four years.

By Rhonda63 (Rhonda63) on Friday, July 02, 2004 - 08:56 am: Edit

I don't understand all this angst over xl fitted sheets. You can get them at so many places now (and yes, they'll work on x-narrow beds, there will just be a little extra to tuck under on the sides).

I bought D a few XL fitted sheets on sale at LLBean last summer. Used extra pillowcases from home, as well as a flat sheet or two (which of course don't need to be XL, if your kid even uses them).

Target, JCPenney, LLBean, Lands End catalog, the Company Store catalog ... all these places have XL sheets (and websites) at a variety of prices and quality. I would recommend 100% cotton, which shouldn't pill.

By Eadad (Eadad) on Friday, July 02, 2004 - 09:28 am: Edit

Rhonda

No angst just wondered if anyone like Nautica etc made more than just basics (solids)in xl sheets since we like some of their groupings and haven't seen xl sheets in any of them, and also was unsure if fit problems existed because of the narrower bed.

I wonder why I even am concerned since son would probably never notice until the sheets fell off!

By Sokkermom (Sokkermom) on Friday, July 02, 2004 - 09:30 am: Edit

Eadad:

I agree. Doesn't pilling only occur with frequent washing? Probably won't be an issue..... ha ha

By Alwaysamom (Alwaysamom) on Friday, July 02, 2004 - 09:31 am: Edit

I also would not recommend those companies that send their flyers through the different colleges and delivers them to the dorms. Everyone I know who's ordered through them has been disappointed. They're more expensive than getting the bedding yourself and the quality is terrible. There are so many places you can get good inexpensive bedding nowadays, it's just not worth it.

By Rhonda63 (Rhonda63) on Friday, July 02, 2004 - 09:42 am: Edit

Pilling does not occur with 100% cotton sheets, just the blends.

Eadad -- I know what you mean about not noticing the sheets ... my D could care less whether her sheets matched the pillowcase, etc ... made it much easier to buy sheets because I could pick up the sale ones w/o worrying whether she would approve of them.

While the narrower bed shouldn't be a fit problem, your son may complain if he's used to even a regular width twin bed! My D did, and she's about as small as an 18 year old gets (5' tall and 88 lbs!)

By Eadad (Eadad) on Friday, July 02, 2004 - 11:11 am: Edit

Rhonda

He has a full size bed now. The way his room is laid out and with all his stuff, guitars, amps, bookshelves, videogames, a queen size wouldn't fit. However, he sleeps in such a way and SO deeply that after leaving a freshly made bed there is little evidence of him having been there, just the spot where he slept!

His sister is going to be the one with BIG problems adjusting. Her bed looks like a tornado hit it nightly. She sometimes moves 90 degrees at nite and we often find her sideways or with her head at the bottom of the bed! She's in for a rude awakening in two years.

By Pres (Pres) on Friday, July 02, 2004 - 03:57 pm: Edit

Kohl's has a decent selection on sale on XL's for $16.99 a set.

By Sybbie719 (Sybbie719) on Friday, July 02, 2004 - 11:28 pm: Edit

Hi Gang,

For those of you who live in the NYC area, Century 21, downtown manhattan has 200 thread count cotton sheets (Dan River and Waumsetta)on sale for $5.99 in XL, (As of this evening0

in addition they have nautica bed in the bag (flatted, fitted, pillowcase and comforter) 200 thread count on sale for $59.99

There are Tommy Hilfiger Xl sheet sets on sale for $25- 200 thread count

there are also some 180 thread count cotton sheets sets (fieldstone) on sale for 12.99

In addition they have XL matress pads and the egg crate pads on sale for $9.99

Egyptian cotton bath sheets for $19.99

Martex bath towels, thick and thirsty on sale for $7.99

They will be open sunday and monday @ 11:a.m.

hope this helps

By Aparent4 (Aparent4) on Saturday, July 03, 2004 - 05:03 pm: Edit

Sokkermom
No, I didn't know they guaranteed them. It was the comforter that pilled. Btw, although we do get XL sheets, there is no need for an XL comforter or duvet; the regular twin works fine and gives you a much bigger selection.

By Jamimom (Jamimom) on Saturday, July 03, 2004 - 07:31 pm: Edit

Sybbie, you are terrific. We are going into the city this weekend, and I am going to take a look there. Not at the bedding stuff, but just to go take a look at the new store. Haven't been since 9/11. And that store is no more.

By Marianne (Marianne) on Sunday, July 04, 2004 - 04:29 pm: Edit

Ikea sells 100% cotton fitted sheets for $2.99! They are 39"x79". Does anyone know if you can squeeze them onto a 36"x80'"mattress?

By Marite (Marite) on Sunday, July 04, 2004 - 10:03 pm: Edit

Just delivered S to his BU dorm for the summer. Found out that the mattress is covered in plastic, which is horrible to sleep on even under a cotton bedsheet. Lucky that we brought a mattress pad (though no eggcrate or other fancy stuff). The mattress is 80 inches long.

By Alwaysamom (Alwaysamom) on Sunday, July 04, 2004 - 10:45 pm: Edit

Jamimom, does Century 21 have a new store? I wasn't aware of that although D probably knows. Last time I was there it was still on Cortlandt St. and that was after 9/11 because we viewed the site from the viewing platform then went shopping. Where have they moved to?

By Sybbie719 (Sybbie719) on Monday, July 05, 2004 - 11:25 am: Edit

Century 21 was still intact following 9/11 and it is still in the same location. However, it has expanded its store that there is a full shoe store on the broadway side instead of having to go upstairs.

By Lizschup (Lizschup) on Monday, July 05, 2004 - 09:33 pm: Edit

Eadad, Yes, Nautica makes XL sheets in patterns. At least they did last year. We found several plaids in XL at Bed, Bath and Beyond. If you can't find it in the store,try the website.

By Jamimom (Jamimom) on Monday, July 05, 2004 - 09:44 pm: Edit

I stand corrected. Went to Century 21. Have not been there since pre 9/11. Had a great look see.

By Katwkittens (Katwkittens) on Tuesday, July 06, 2004 - 09:08 am: Edit

We bought the Nautica sheets/duvet cover/comforter at TJ Maxx. The sheets were 280 thread count though, all cotton. They had the same stuff at Linens and Things for 89.99 comforter, 14.99 duvet, 33.99 sheets. I paid 4.99 for the sheets, and 14.99 for the duvet, 9.99 for 2 pillowcases and 7.99 for sham to use as sofa bolsters. Bought the blackwatch plaid pattern in the duvets, pillowcases, shams, but bought solid for the fitted sheet it had a higher thread count. TJ Maxx and Marshalls are owned by the same parent corp so they often carry the same exact items. Ross also had the sheets for 4.99.

On a side note Marshall's had Speedo and Nike swim suits (for all those club divers and swimmers out there) for 14.99 and 16.99. Also came across several fast skins for 14.99!!! (DD swims and dives)