Martha Stewart I am not, but I can sew a Fitted Crib Sheet

I am not an advanced sewer by any means. In all honesty I am probably only a beginner but I can make simple curtains, an apron or two, and childrens bedding. A few years ago as a way to cut our expenses I learned how to make fitted crib sheets.  I found that it cost me less than $3.00 to make as opposed to the crib sheets you find in the stores. Before I started making them I was buying the no name brands which still cost around $9.00 a sheet. Our girls are now 4 and still using their crib mattresses in their bunk beds. So over the course of four years I have saved quite a bit of money on sheets.  As our kids have gotten older I now make them matching flat sheets which only cost me $2.50 to make. So a full set of sheets is $5.50. Not bad, right? Of course if you do not purchase the supplies on sale you will be spending quite a bit more.

Not only do I save money, but my girls really enjoy going to JoAnns with mommy and choosing their own fabric.  I am always at JoAnns on Black Friday, which is when I get the best deals. Don't get me started on Black Friday, that is another post for another day. I prefer to make my kids sheets out of flannel, but that is just a personal thing. I can purchase flannel for under a dollar a yard (on Black Friday) and it takes two yards to make either sheet.

Here is a quick tutorial on how to make a fitted crib sheet.

Supplies Needed 

2 yards of 44-45" wide fabric

1 package of ¼" flat elastic

All purpose thread

See-through ruler

 Pins

Iron and ironing board

Scissors or rotary cutter and mat

Tape measure

 

 

1 - Pre-wash and iron the fabric. This allows for any shrinkage before you start cutting the fabric to sew the crib sheet.

2 - Cut a piece of fabric to measure 70 inches by 45 inches

3 - Cut a 8-inch square from each corner of the fabric.

4 - Fold the fabric over diagonally, with right sides facing each other, and pin the 8-inch  sides together to form the first corner of the crib sheet.

• Sew a narrow seam. Reinforce the seam by sewing a second seam over the first one. Repeat the process until all 4 corners have been sewn
  

5 - Fold and press under the edges all the way around the entire crib sheet. Sew the hem in place with a zig-zag stitch.

6 - You will need 4 feet of elastic, cut into 4 1-foot lengths, (Either 3/8" or 1/4" elastic). Fold one piece of elastic in half. Sew it to the center of the first corner seam.

• Use a zig-zag stitch to sew the elastic from the center of the corner, stretching the elastic while sewing the zig-zag seam. Sew the other half of the elastic in the same way.
  

7 - Sew the elastic to the remaining 3 corners of the crib sheet.

All done!!!

Give it a try! What is the worst that can happen? You end up donating two yards of fabric to the local thrift store!