Sew a Fitted Crib Sheet
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A crib sheet is a baby nursery essential that is quick and easy to make! Elastic added around the entire perimeter of this sheet design helps this sheet fits most depths of mattresses snuggly and securely. Make at least a couple of each fabric – you’ll want to wash them often!
Materials:
- 2 yards of cotton fabric (45″ wide)
- 2 yards of 1/4″ elastic
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1. Cut a rectangular piece out of your fabric that measures 45″ wide and 69″ long. Cut out 8″ x 8″ squares from each corner of the rectangle. |
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2. To create the mitered corners, bring one edge of one corner square to the other edge of the same square (right sides together!) and sew a seam. Use a serger or a straight stitch, then a zigzag to finish the seam (since this seam will be exposed on the inside of the sheet). |
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3. If you have a serger, serge around the entire edge of the sheet. If not, fold the edge of the sheet over 1/4″ and iron. Fold the entire edge just over 1/4″ inch (for a second time, if using a regular machine) to make a casing for the elastic. Sew 1/4″ away from the folded edge. Leave a hole of about 1/2″ to thread the elastic. |
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4. Thread the entire length of 1/4″ elastic through the casing. (Put a safety pin on one end for threading and a stick pin on the other so you don’t lose the elastic.) Sew both ends of the elastic together using a strong zig-zag stitch. |
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5. Optional: sew a second line of stitching directly over the elastic (stretching the elastic tightly as you go and smoothing the fabric) to secure the elastic so that it does not flip inside the casing. You’re all done! |
Christina Dennis is the creator and designer behind Golly Gee Baby, a collection of unique and colourful baby clothing and accessories that are ethically manufactured.
It seems a lot easier said then done. I always have trouble pushing elastic through a casing. It’s such a pain in the butt. This is a great tutorial though. I would really like to try it some day. I would like to make my son a whole bed set. 🙂
i just sewed the elastic directly onto the fabric! no pushing elastic through a casing! use a zigzag stitch and pull the elastic taut as you geaux!
That’s a great method too! Thanks for sharing!
A handy little tool for threading elastic is called a bodin. You can find them in most sewing centers
oops…I meant BODKIN
Nice project! I think sewing is so therapeutic
More baby sewing!
I just googled “How to make a fitted crib sheet”…and found your site! Our baby girl is due in May, now that the morning sickness has gone, I’m starting to plan her nursery. I ordered some Night Fairies fabric online, and wanted to make the crib sheets to match the blanket, curtains, etc.
I’m a novice sewer and I made this easily enough in an afternoon. My MIL made cute yellow monkey bumpers for our son, but I could not find any yellow crib sheets. So I turned a yellow queen size top/flat sheet into two crib sheets and a changing pad cover! One Queen flat on clearance: $8 & two lengths of 1/4in elastic ($3) vs. Two crib sheets at $9 each, and a bonus changing pad cover($13) out of the ‘scraps’, what a steal! Thanks for the tutorial & inspiration!
That’s so perfect, sfilly255! I love the idea of repurposing larger sheets. Thanks for sharing!
Hi,
Love your site! Could you please tell me how much fabric I would need for a crib mattress that is 51 5/8″L x 27 1/4″W x 6″D ?
And how much elastic
Also how much fabric for 2 different size bassinet pads
and how much elastic
1. 26″L x 12.5″ W x 2.75″D
2. 30″L x 15″ W x 2.75″D
Thank you, Sheryl