Quickly Un-Hemming Sheets-- Without Wasting Fabric!

Today's tutorial is more of a quick tip. I love using Wal-Mart sheets for when I need quite a bit of yardage in a very small budget.

Remember these super hero capes? Yup, Wal-Mart twin sheet (still have a bunch left, too!) 

Although it's not finished, I also used a sheet for the backing of this scrap quilt. 

And the remainder of that sheet became this pillow case.

Normally, I'd just cut off the hem of a sheet, but this time I was running short of fabric. To have enough fabric for the pillow case, I had to cannibalize the wide hem of the sheet. 

And that's when I learned the best thing about using Wal-mart sheets. Not the price, but the hems! 

The hems are chain stitched on. One side of the hem will look like straight stitching:

 But the other side will look like a crochet chain-- teensy little loops.

Simply snip one of the loops and  pull out the thread! You'll be done in 30 seconds--no seam ripper and no wasted fabric!

The loops will only 'unzip' in one direction. I like to just snip in the middle of the seam to find out which direction to pull the thread. 

I know this seems like a simple thing-- but I was positively giddy when I realized that ripping out that seam would take 30 seconds instead of 30 minutes! Next time I was out shopping, I didn't hesitate to pick up a sky blue king sheet on sale (ahem, even though I don't have a plan for it!).  

Anyone else get uber-excited over small time saving tips? Less importantly, what would you do with a king sized flat sheet just waiting to be cut up?