Crib Sheet Tutorial

One of my favorite things I loved when setting up my daughter's nursery was making her crib sheets. Every day I see the special fabric that I picked out just for her and know that I worked to make her bed the way that it is. It's been a couple of years now, and we're in a different climate that is turning cooler by the minute, so a new sheet is in order. This time I decided to go with flannel, but these instructions work for any fabric. (although I've never tried it with knit and I hear that it stretches a little differently).


The sheet that I make has elastic around the entire perimeter and french seams in the corners for a polished finished sheet.



Materials:

• 2 yards of 45" width cotton fabric - prewashed (tip: there is a little give in the length but not really in the width...you may even want to keep the selvage on for extra width)

• 2 yards of 1/4" elastic

• thread to match



Instructions:
*these instructions are for an average US crib size. If your mattress varies significantly, you will want to adjust your measurements accordingly.*

Fold fabric in half lengthwise and then crosswise. You should have one corner where all four edges are raw.

Next, cut an 8" square from all four corners. With the fabric folded this way, you can cut all four layers at once. Measure in 8" from each side of the corner of all raw edges (no folds) and cut.

Put aside your 8" square scraps for another project.

Open the fabric and work with each corner separately. Take the two perpendicular cut edges at the corner and place them together, WRONG sides together. Pin in place.

Sew a 1/4" seam.

To create a finished french seam (we like things all pretty!), turn the corner seam inside out and press. Now the right sides of the fabric should be together.

Sew a 1/2" seam.

Admire your beautiful french seam!

Now turn under the whole edge of the sheet a 1/4" and press. Then turn the edge again a 1/2" and pin in place. Stitch along the edge, leaving a small opening for your elastic.

Insert the elastic through the casing and work it through the entire perimeter of the sheet. I'm not going to lie...this is the longest part of making this sheet. But I like having the continuous elastic around the sheet and having it concealed in the casing. So, I sit myself down in front of the tv and watch a show while I work that elastic through the casing. Then stitch together the elastic by overlapping the edges and sewing around edge.

Stitch your opening closed and evenly distribute the elastic around the sheet. When you are happy with how the elastic is spaced, stitch a small stay stitch in each corner to help hold the elastic in place and prevent it from twisting.

Put the sheet on your crib mattress and admire your handi work! A custom crib sheet in your favorite fabric.

One of the original sheets from two years ago!  The bumper looked a little better two years ago. lol

I'd love to see any sheets you make or any suggestions you all have!  Please add any pictures to my group on Flickr, Cut to Pieces.

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