How to Make Baby Crib Sheets
If you’ll be using regular cotton fabric, cut the material 68″ long. For flannel, cut two inches longer, since flannel will often shrink. If the material is pre-shrunk, cut to 68″. With flannel, however, after being washed once, it’s often very noticeable, so if the sheets are a gift you may consider cutting the flannel extra long rather than pre-shrinking.
Lay the fabric out flat on a table and cut an 8″ square off of each corner. The easiest way to do this is to cut a piece of cardboard to 8″x8″, then use it as a pattern to cut around. Lay the cardboard on one corner and cut around it, then move on to the next corner. After cutting the block out of each corner you are ready to stitch.
On each corner, fold the cut portion, right sides together, and angles aligning. Serge or stitch across to form a pocket. Do this for each of the four corners. Use quarter-inch elastic and stitch it to the entire perimeter of the sheet. Pull the elastic slightly, while sewing around the corners, then just stitch the sides without tugging. When you get to the second corner, again pull the elastic slightly, all the way around the corner.
If you’re using a serger, the elastic can be sewn in while stitching, but be sure not to get the elastic too close to the knife. If the elastic hits the knife just once, you’ll have to reinstall the elastic. To prevent this, especially if you are a beginner, serge around the perimeter, then use a single-needle machine to attach the elastic.
If you’re using a single-needle machine for the entire job, you can do the elastic a couple of different ways. One way is to sew the elastic into the sheet with a zig-zag stitch, then call it finished. Another way is to fold the edge of the sheet over the elastic, hiding it as you stitch. A third way is to stitch the elastic all the way in, then go back and fold it over, stitching it again. That technique will hide the elastic and is easier for some beginners.
It’s not entirely necessary to place the elastic all the way around the sheet. Many people simply sew elastic into the corners. To do this, cut four pieces of elastic, each 9″ long. Find the center of the elastic and place it at the corner seam. Stitch half of the elastic on, pulling it slightly as you sew. Now go back to the center and sew in the opposite direction, tugging the elastic slightly as you sew the second half. After putting in all four pieces of elastic you can then go back and turn the elastic under, if desired, and stitch.
If you’re wanting to make sheets for a toddler bed instead of a crib, use the same method but measure the mattress of the toddler bed, from the underside of one end to the underside of the other end, and use that measurement instead of the crib sheet measurement. You’ll find it very easy to make the sheets and the little baby will enjoy them tremendously, even if he can’t tell you personally.
