.diy: crib sheet tutorial.

Remember my impossibly long 'baby to-do list' that everyone figured would make me want to pull all my hair out? Well, things are progressing nicely on it and with the husband's help, I have managed  to check a few more items off the list [yeah me!].

Most importantly, and what I want to show you today, is what I worked on this weekend.

DIY: Crib Sheets.

I am first going to admit that I have spent way too much time searching all over the mighty internet for modern crib sheets, with very limited luck. And although yes, there are certainly a lot of options if you look hard enough, most of the cute ones [and all the ones i gravitate too] come with a hefty price tag. Ouch.

So after realizing that I can probably just make them myself, I busted out my old sewing machine [a gift from my sweet father that is not used nearly enough] and attempted to create my little babe's new sheets.

And I am happy to report, that they actually turned out pretty darn cute. Even if I did choose a christmas-ish fabric in the middle of August :)

*fabric found at fabricland

With the help of a mis-mash of tutorials, via youtube & pinterest, here's how this beginner sewer [moi!] made her very own crib sheets. I hope you give it a try.....you might just surprise yourself. I know I did!
DIY:
[step one] Collect your supplies.
Note: Make sure you pre-wash your fabric before cutting. It may shrink a little and I'd be so upset if you did all the work, just for it not to fit once washed!

[step two] Cut your fabric into a rectangle that's 45 x 67 inches [114.5 x 171 cm].

[step three] Cut an 8 x 8 inch [20.5 x 20.5 cm] square out of each corner.

[step four] Pull the two sides of one corner together, with the good side of the pattern on the inside. Pin together to make a 'pocket'. Do this for each of the four corners. Then sew each pinned side together.

[step five] Now iron the edge of your fabric over 1/4 inch going all the way around. This is creating a  casing which you will string your elastic through.

[step six] Sew down the casing, going the entire way around your fabric.
Note: Make sure you put a pin at the start and stop point so that you leave an opening to get the elastic in and out. Start sewing at the start point, and stop sewing at the stop point. Easy enough, right?

[step seven] Attach a safety pin [just large enough that it'll fit in between your casing] on one end of your 1/4 inch wide elastic and pin down the other end to your sheet [this is so that it doesn't get pulled all the way through]. Start stringing the elastic through the casing, all the way till it reaches the other side.

[step eight] Sew the two ends of the elastic together, using a zigzag stitch to secure it snugly. Then sew up the open hole of the casing for a clean finish. And your DONE!

Now go make a bunch more! It's what I did! Here's a few others that I quickly crafted....

Next up? A crib skirt, which is very needed to hide all that extra storage under the crib and hide that wood bar. And maybe some burp cloths with all the extra fabric pieces?
I think I'll hunt down a cooler fabric store this time around though....now that I'm an expert and all ;)

So, what do you think?