A coworker is expecting a baby in May and there is to be a surprise baby shower this week. A card was passed around and a designated individual was accepting donations toward a gift card. While I know the gift card will be appreciated, I like to make something that is a little different - a flannel crib sheet.
I purchased a Simplicity pattern/booklet when Grandson #1 was expected that had not only instructions for a crib sheet but other nursery items such as a diaper stacker (do they still use these?), crib bumper pads, etc.
Since then, if there is time, I usually make a flannel crib sheet for a baby gift.
This particular coworker knows she is having a girl so I was surprised when, as I was sitting next to her at a meeting recently, I asked if she had a "theme" for the baby's room and she said... "not really, but absolutely no pink!".
I made a trip to Joanne Fabrics yesterday and decided on this green and white striped flannel. (The pictures don't really reflect the green well but it's an overcast day with snow predicted to begin tonight so the lighting was sketchy.)
Here is a quick tutorial that anyone with some sewing skills can use to make up a sheet which requires the following:
- 2 yards of 45" wide fabric (I use flannel since most people will buy regular cotton or polyester sheets)
- 1 package 1/4" elastic
- coordinating thread
Straighten one edge (selvedge together). Then measure 67 inches which will leave you about 4-5 inches to cut off on the other end. Make sure this cut is also straightened.
You now have an approximately 67 by 45 inch rectangle of fabric.
Trim off your selvedge edges.
Now with right sides together, fold each corner together over onto itself as shown below.
Measure from the tip (on the right) in 9 inches and from that point measure up 9 inches.
Mark a line on your fabric with a marker (pencil, chalk, etc). This is the seam line where you will stitch to make the corners.
The picture below shows you one of the corners after it has been pinned but not yet stitched.
I mark and pin all corners at the same time and then stitch along the line marked on all four corners.
Using a ruler and a rotary cutter, allow for a 1/2 inch seam allowance and cut the corner off using your rotary cutter.
This is how it should look after you take the corner off and the corner piece you are left with is next to it on the cutting mat. You will end up with four squares of fabric that you can use for something else. In the past, I have joined different combinations of these squares to make a foam filled baby block.
Press these seams open. Now stitch all the way around the rectangle 1/4 inch from the edge to help prevent any fraying. You could use a zigzag stitch but I prefer a plain running stitch.
Using your iron, press this 1/4 edge toward the wrong side of the fabric to make a finished edge.
Then using your iron again, turn up and press another 1/2 inch of fabric toward the wrong side which will be your sleeve for your elastic (the edge you previously ironed up will make a nice finished edge on the inside of your sheet).
Stitch close to the finished edge around the perimeter of the rectangle to make this sleeve, leaving about a 1 to 1 1/2 inch opening for threading the elastic through.
Using a safety pin in a size that will move freely through the sleeve, "thread" the elastic from the start of the opening to the end of the opening. I have never used all of the entire 3 yard package of elastic and usually have at least a foot left when finished.
Smooth along the sleeve as you thread the elastic using the safety pin until the gathering around the edge of the sheet is neither too loose or too tight. If you need to, pin the tail end of the elastic to the sheet near the opening so that you don't pull it completely through and have to start the process all over again.
Sew the ends of your elastic together and then sew the opening closed using your sewing machine for both of these processes.
Below are the squares of fabric that you will have left (along with short piece of fabric from the one end.
I took the finished sheet (before a final pressing) outside to try and show the gathering and to try and give you a better idea of the green color. I think you can see the stripping of the green and white in some of the other photos better.
An easy baby gift if you have two hours and two yards of fabric.
The weather forecast is calling for snow to start falling sometime tonight. The snowfall is to be plowable which could make the drive in to work tomorrow morning interesting.
Hope you have had a good weekend wherever you are.
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