You, yes you! Let’s get one thing straight, you can make your own crib sheet for your baby. I’m here to pump, you up (in my best German accent!) 😉
Here’s my list of criteria that I think you need in order to be confident enough:
If you can do those three things, you are more than qualified to do this easy peasy project.
Let’s get started!
You will need 2 yards of cotton fabric. Most fabrics are 44″ wide. You will want to keep the selvage ends on the fabric. I always think of the selvage ends as bread heels….if there’s no other choice, use ‘um! And, in this case, you’ll need it but they won’t show on the finished product, I promise!
Cut you 2 yards of fabric so that it’s 69″ long and leave your short side at 45″ (with bread heels included).
Now you’ll fold the fabric in half and then in half again so that it looks similar to this:
Now, let’s get ready to cut a square out of all 4 layers of your fabric. You’ll want to make sure you’re on the side that contains NO folds.
On the side with no folds, you’ll measure and mark an 8″x8″ square.
Cut through all 4 layers of your fabric to cut out your 8″x8″ square.
When you unfold your fabric, it will look like this:
Start with one of your corners, folding the fabric so that the printed sides of your fabric is touching and your L-shape is folded so that the ends are together.
Pin together. And sew a straight (or even just a semi-straight!) line, using about a 1/4″ seam allowance.
Then, in order to keep the seam from raveling you can sew a zig zag stitch.
Repeat this process until all four corners look like this:
Now, let’s make the casing for the elastic. You’ll want to iron down 1/4″ all the way around the crib sheet, then fold another 1/2″ of fabric and iron all the way around again.
Now you’re ready to sew your casing for your elastic. I always put a couple of pins to remind me to not sew 2″ of my casing.
See, no stitching between the pins so that I can insert my elastic.
You’ll want to grab your elastic. I used 3/8″ non-roll.
You’ll need 62″ of elastic. I always mark an X at 62″ but wait until I thread the elastic all the way through the casing before I cut it down to 62″. Attach a safety pin to make it easy to thread through your casing.
Thread your elastic through the casing until you reach the other end and you might have to tug and pull to get the X on the elastic to match up with your safety pin.
Take the safety pin off the elastic and line up the end with the X mark.
Sew the elastic together, using a zig zag stitch. I usually go over it several times back and forth on the elastic to make sure it’s nice and stitched together.
Cut the tail off of your elastic past where the X is and wiggle your elastic into the casing. Sew your 2″ opening shut.
And that’s it!
Place on the crib mattress and stand back and ooooh and ahhhh.
You did it! See how easy it is to make your own?!
Don’t stop at the crib sheet, though – try your hand at making any one of these 21 perfect pillows to match!
If you’ve got some fabric left over from your crib sheet, why not whip up one of these Hoop Hampers to match?
jenna says
are all crib mattresses generally the same size? will these measurements work for an ikea crib matress?
Kerri King says
Hi! Great question! Generally mattress are 28″X53″6″. I would measure to make sure but I betcha this will work for an ikea mattress. Hope that helps!
jenna says
thanks for the reply!!! i’ll comment to let you know how mine turns out 🙂
Ashley says
Do you wash the fabric first ?
Kerri King says
Hi Ashley! I didn’t wash my fabric first but it would probably be the best idea. 😉 I’ve washed that crib sheet probably 10 times now and haven’t had any trouble with it fitting back on the mattress.
Hope that helps!
Shannon says
Hi! Does the fabric have to be like a knit, stretchy fabric or can it just be plain ole fabric?
Elaine Evers says
Absolutely perfect fit for a standard crib mattress. Thank you. I was able to salvage the elastic from my son’s old and faded crib sheet which kept the cost very low.
Nicole says
Good idea!!
Maranda says
Hi there! Love the tutorial and was wondering where you purchased the fabric you used? I’ve been looking for something similar and this would be perfect.
Carol says
I need to make sheets for a hand made crib. Have made mattress. How do you measure for sheets? Allowing for all sides and hems & …I’m a new sewer…
Shannon Warren says
Just finished this and turned out so so perfect on our standard crib mattress. Made this while dinner was in the oven with some help from Hubs. Thank you so much for the tutorial! I’ll be officially addicted to making way too many now!
Vicki says
Do you think these directions would work for a changing pad cover? (With different measurements, of course)
Susie says
I just made a changing pad cover using the same method with 6” cut out corners and it worked out perfectly.
Linda says
What length did you cut the fabric for the changing pad cover? Surely not the same length as crib sheet.
Barb Ianni says
These directions are spot on! Thanks so much for sharing.
Sylvia says
How would you cut down a fitted king size sheet to fit a queen size? How do you calculate the cut out squares on each end to make a mitered fitted edge like you did on your sheet?
I have a fitted foot stool to recover as well and I would appreciate your instruction on how to do this. Thanks..
Bonnie says
Hi! I prewashed/dried the fabric before laying out to cut…now the width of my 3 fabrics is 41-42″. Would you adjust any measurements for cutting out the corners? Thanks!!
Nicole says
Thank you so much! Great directions. I am currently making Halloween sheets for my babe and a couple of other special babies in the family. This is so easy that I plan to make Christmas sheets as well!
Debi says
Are both of the folds made by using the length of the fabric , or the width?
Tricia says
Be made several of these now for my grandson. So easy. Thank you! I’ve used both stretch and non-stretch fabrics with no problems.