How to Sew a Baby Bed Skirt

Crib bed skirts are an important part of a crib ensemble. The bed skirt typically matches or compliments the rest of the bedding in the crib. This includes the crib quilt, the bumpers, and any other light blankets and decor.
Making your own bed skirt is an easy task. Even a novice seamstress can finish a crib bed skirt in a short time. The nice thing about making your own bed skirt is that you can choose exactly the fabric that will look perfect with your baby's crib ensemble.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Crib mattress Tape measure 3 yards of fabric for skirt ruffle 1 1/2 yards of muslin for the base of the skirt Sewing machine Sewing notions

1. Measure the crib mattress. A standard crib mattress measures 28 by 52 inches.

2. Cut a muslin piece that measures 27 1/2 by 51 1/2 inches. This rectangle should be just shy of the crib mattress measurements.

3. Cut two rectangles for the width of the bed skirt. Each piece should measure 60 by 11 inches. Cut two rectangles for the length of the bed skirt. Each piece should measure 110 by 11 inches.

4. Hem both width pieces and both length pieces of fabric. Hem by folding each raw edge under 1/4 inch. Fold under again 1/4 inch to hide the raw edge. Press this hem well and pin to hold. Stitch along the hemmed edge with the sewing machine.

5. Prepare to gather the hemmed skirt pieces. Set your sewing machine to a long basting stitch. Sew two rows of basting across each raw edge of each of the four pieces of skirting. Carefully pull the ends of the basting thread to gather the fabric. If you don't pull carefully, you may break the basting stitch and then you will have to restitch the basting and start over.

6. Spread out the gathers so the entire length of the skirting is gathered evenly. While working with the gathers to make them even, also work to make two skirting pieces match the length and two skirting pieces match the width of the muslin rectangle.

7. Place right sides of the fabrics together and pin the raw, gathered edges of the skirting pieces to each matching side of the muslin rectangle. Sew the skirting pieces to the muslin rectangle. Remove the pins and clip stray threads.

8. Place the crib skirt on the crib by placing the crib skirt underneath the mattress on top of the mattress support of the crib. Arrange the muslin so that it is smooth and arrange the ruffles so that they hang evenly. Place the crib mattress over the crib skirt and arrange the rest of the crib bedding.