Directions for Making a Crib Sheet

Preparation

• 1

  Choose fabric. You can select fabric based on your nursery color scheme or motif. Lightweight cotton is perfect for summer, and soft flannel provides comfort during colder months. Consider organic cotton or jersey material for an eco-friendly option.

• 2

  Wash the fabric to prevent irritating and unwanted fabric shrinkage after you make the custom sheet. Wash and dry on hot to fully shrink the fabric before sewing.

• 3

  Measure and cut the fabric to the required dimensions. For standard crib mattresses, 45 inches by 67 inches is usually a good size. You can also measure your crib mattress for custom-fit sheets. For the width, add the width of the mattress, the height of the sides, plus the desired pocket depth and 2 inches to 4 inches for the seam allowance. For the length, add the mattress length, the side height, plus the desired pocket depth and 2 inches to 4 inches for the seam allowance.

Sewing

• 4

  Cut an 8-inch square out of each corner. The squares can be discarded or reserved to make a matching quilt or other nursery accessories.

• 5

  At each corner, align the straight edges from where the squares were removed, right sides of the fabric together. Stitch a straight seam with a half-inch seam allowance from corner to edge. The project should now resemble a crib sheet, with the bottom unfinished.

• 6

  Stitch a 1/4- inch hem all the way around the edge of the sheet, or serge or finish the edge with a zigzag stitch.

• 7

  Iron a 1-inch fold all the way around the edge of the hemmed sheet. This will be both the final hem and the elastic casing. Stitch, leaving a 2-inch gap so that the elastic can be inserted into the casing.

• 8

  Attach a safety pin to both ends of an 80-inch length of half-inch wide elastic. Pin one end to the fabric at the gap left in the casing. Use the other closed safety pin to guide the elastic all the way through the casing. Stitch the two ends of elastic together.

• 9

  Hand-stitch the gap shut.