How to Make a Crib Set

A homemade crib set can better fit your nursery theme.

Shopping for the right crib set for your baby's nursery can be frustrating for parents. The cost of the sets is often high and, depending on the theme you want for the nursery, may be difficult to find. Instead of spending the extra money on a set that doesn't exactly match what you want, make your own crib set out of fabric from a craft store. If you have a sewing machine, you don't even need to be an experienced sewer.

Things You'll Need

• Primary fabric, 2 1/2 yards
• Secondary fabric, 2 1/2 yards
• Batting
• Measuring tape
• Scissors
• Rotary cutter
• Cutting board
• Straight pins
• Masking tape
• Sewing machine
• Edging fabric, 1 yard
• Dias tape, 10 yards
• Fabric for the sheet, 2 yards
• Paper
• 1/4-inch elastic, 48 inches long

Instructions

Baby Quilt

1. Cut 1 1/4 yards of your primary fabric in a square using a scissors or the rotary tool to create the baby quilt. Cut a section of batting slightly larger than the primary fabric and 1 1/4 yards of the secondary fabric.

2. Sandwich the three pieces together with the batting between the two fabrics and the wrong side of the fabric on the inside toward the batting.

3. Section off the quilt by pinning safety pins through all three layers at regular intervals. Keep the three layers perfectly flat against each other so the quilt isn't wrinkled when you sew it.

4. Place a piece of masking tape down the center of the quilt, from one corner to another at a diagonal. The edge of the tape should be at the center of the quilt.

5. Sew a line of stitches along the edge of the tape on both sides.

6. Move the tape so its edge is along the last line of stitches and make another line of stitches along the outside edge of the tape. Repeat until you have rows of diagonal stitches across the entire quilt. Remove the straight pins as you sew.

7. Cut strips of edging fabric about 3 3/4 inches wide and long enough to fit each side of the quilt.

8. Fold the edging fabric in half lengthwise and crease it. Line up the crease with the edge of the quilt and pin it in place.

9. Fold each end of the edging strip into a "V" shape to create mitered corners.

10. Sew along the raw edge of the edging strip from the top of the quilt using a decorative stitch through the three layers of the quilt. Line up each edging strip with the next one so the edges meet. Once you sew all the strips in place, sew along the mitered edges to hold them in place.

Crib Bumper

1. Cut 1 1/4 yards of the primary fabric into a strip measuring 10 inches wide and 160 inches long so it fits around the perimeter of the crib. Measure the crib first to ensure that the length works for your crib.

2. Cut the batting and secondary fabric to match the size of the primary fabric. Layer them together the same way you did with the quilt.

3. Pin the layers in place along the edges with straight pins through all three layers so they don't move.

4. Sew lines across the width of the bumper to create natural places for the bumper to bend around the perimeter of the crib. The first line should be 25 1/2 inches from the end of the bumper; the next is another 25 1/2 inches in; the third line is 27 1/2 inches from the second; the next two lines are 25-1/2 inches from their previous lines; the final line should be placed 27 1/2 inches from its previous line. These lines give the bumper flexibility.

5. Cut two pieces of bias tape to fit along the long edges of the bumper and two pieces for the shorter ends. The pieces for the shorter ends should extend 10 inches beyond each edge of the bumper -- making each short piece measure 30 inches.

6. Fold the bias tape in half lengthwise and crease it so you can easily find the center.

7. Line up the bias tape along the long sides of the crib bumper edge with half of the tape on each side of the bumper. Pin it in place.

8. Sew the bias tape in place with the sewing machine. Remove the pins as you sew.

9. Line up the shorter pieces of bias tape along the shorter edges of the crib bumper, ensuring that 10 inches of the tape extends on each side.

10. Sew the bias tape in place with the sewing machine. Sew the folded pieces of bias tape that extend beyond the bumper together to create ties to hold the bumper in place.

11. Cut 10 pieces of bias tape measuring 18 inches long.

12. Fold the pieces of bias tape in half from one end to the other and crease the fold well.

13. Sew the creased edge to the edge of the bumper where you previously sewed the lines across the bumper. Each line needs a tie at the top and one at the bottom.

Crib Sheet

1. Cut a piece of the fabric you want to use for the sheet to the dimensions of 45 inches by 69 inches.

2. Create an 8-inch by 8-inch template with paper.

3. Use the template to cut 8-inch squares out of each corner of the sheet fabric.

4. Sew a zig-zag or serge stitch around the edges of the fabric to keep the raw edges from fraying.

5. Turn the sheet fabric wrong side up. Pull together the cut edges at one corner.

6. Sew the two edges at the corner together to start the corner for the sheet. Repeat for all four corners.

7. Cut 12-inch pieces of the 1/4-inch elastic -- one for each corner.

8. Fold a piece of elastic in half from one end to the other and crease it to locate the center.

9. Line up the center of the elastic piece with the line sewn into one corner of the sheet. Pin it in place at the center.

10. Measure 12 inches from the sewn line on the fabric along the edge of the fabric in each direction. Pin the end of the elastic at the 12-inch mark in each direction. The fabric will bunch up in between the pins.

11. Sew a few stitches at the center mark of the elastic to secure it to the sheet fabric. Stop with the needle down into the fabric.

12. Grab hold of the elastic on one side and pull it outward so the fabric beneath it is taut.

13. Sew along the stretched elastic, securing it to the fabric beneath it. When you get to the end and remove the sheet from the machine, the elastic will snap back, creating the bunched corner.

14. Return to the center and add a couple more stitches in the direction of the elastic that is still loose. Stop with the needle still in the fabric.

15. Stretch out the other side of the elastic until the fabric is taut beneath the elastic.

16. Sew the elastic to the fabric below. Release it from the machine to create your finished sheet corner.

17. Repeat Steps 8 through 16 for the remaining three corners.

Tips & Warnings

• You can make ties for the crib bumper with pieces of the fabric instead. You will need to hem the edges of the fabric so it doesn't fray.

• Use any extra fabric from the quilt, bumper and sheet to create a mobile, stuffed animals, toys or other decorations for the nursery.