Well I got quite a few people asking if the crib sheets were easy to make, & yes they are! The longest part is the elastic, the rest only takes a few minutes. Anyways I have made this for a while & used a few different patterns, but none of them have good pictures!!! So I decided once again that I would make my own tutorial to share with everyone! Here ya go…
CRIB/ TODDLER BED SHEET TUTORIAL…
They are SUPER easy to make & a HUGE money saver, you can even make them out of old sheets from the thrift store! Some patterns call for a little less fabric, but I like this sizing because it fits over the mattress VERY well with the extra on the back, & I have never had any of them come off my sons bed. The standard US crib mattress is approx. (they all vary a little bit) 51 5/8″ X 27 1/4″ and range from 4″-6.5″ thick. Because of the way this pattern is designed it will fit mattresses that are a little bigger/thicker or a little smaller/thinner. If the sheet is a little loose on your mattress you can fix this on the next one you make by using the same length of elastic but making it stretch a few inches farther when you sew it on… this should tighten it nicely.
You need 2 yards of woven (no stretch) PRE-WASHED fabric. knits stretch all over, but not in the seams so they require different measurements
4 12″ pieces of 1/4″ or 3/8″ elastic
Scissors or Rotary cutter
Sewing Machine
Matching thread…
First you want to cut your fabric to be 45″ X 69″ (45″ X 70″ if you want to hem the ends) piece of Fabric. This MUST be pre-washed, otherwise the first time it is washed it will never fit the mattress as well again!
Next if you want to just serge or zig zag the raw edges then you just do that.
This is what you end up with…
If you want to hem the raw edges then cut it 70″ instead & on each end fold it under 1/4″ & then again another 1/4″ to hide the raw edge & sew it down!
Then you take your big rectangle that you now have & you cut 8″x8″ squares out of each of the 4 corners. I have found the easiest way to do this is to fold the fabric in half so your newly finished edges meet. Then take the edge that we haven’t done anything to & fold it over to the matching edge… this quarters it & puts all 4 corners in the same place. Here are the pics…
Lay your 8″ by 8″ template down & cut it out of a.. 4 layers. You can also do it one corner at a time.
This is what you’ve got…
Then with the WRONG side of your fabric facing up you want to match to two side that are now left from where you cut the square out together & sew (I use 3/8″ seams, its up to you!) Do this to all 4 corners.
When you look at the right side of the fabric it should look like this…
Next is the elastic! Fold the elastic in half & mark the center… now line this up with the edge of the seam you just made (again on the out side of the fabric) & pin in place. Then you want to mark out 12″ from both sides of that point & pin the lose ends of the elastic to the sheet.
When you have the middle & both ends pinned in place it should look something like this…
Now with your machine set to zigzag… I found the width 5-7 works best depending on the with of your elastic. I also set my stitch length to 4, or the longest or ‘basting’ stitch that your machine has. Now place your starting end under the needle & lower the pressure foot, you want to make a few stitches & back stitch or two to make sure it is secured & stop with the needle in the down position. Now you want to grab the next pin & stretch it so the fabric is tight… holding both the back & front of the fabric, pull it through as sew… once you needle gets to the next pin, grab the last pin & repeat, just make sure to back stitch it to secure the end. Again this is done to all 4 corners & then you are done!
This is what the corners should look like when your done…
And when on the mattress!!!
UPDATE: I have had a lot of interest from mamas in other countries & wanted to list the metric measurements to help answer some of your questions! The standard US crib mattress (what this is made for) is approx. 130cm X 69cm & can range from 10-16cm deep. Even if yours is a little bigger or smaller in either direction these should still fit! If the sheet is a little loose to your liking then stretch your elastic a little farther next time to tighten it.
Here are the metric conversions…
You will want to purchase 1 3/4 meters of fabric You will want your fabric to be 114cm X 175cm
You will want 4 pieces of 31cm long 6-10mm wide elastic.
The squares you cut out of the 4 corners will be 20cm x 20cm.
196 Responses
Nicole
Awesome! Thanks for the tute with the pictures! Can’t wait to try these~
Kerri
WOW! I haven’t sewn since grade 8, which was a while ago (haha) I followed your directions and success! My son now has a brand spank’n new CARS fitted sheet!!! I will be making many more, thank you for your wonderful directions w/ pictures they made a world of difference.
Elisha
Finally understandable directions! Thanks a bunch
Amber
Thanks for the picture tutorial. Mine turned out not as tight as Id like but I still love it. Thanks so much now I know how to make these. My daughter loves her new Dora fitted bed sheet.
Kymy
I’m am glad everyone is so happy with them :). Amber, crib mattresses are all a little different in size, some brands are up to 2″ thicker then others! Also if they have gone through a few kiddos, bigger kiddos or just a few years of use they will thin out a bit. If you email me the measurements of your crib mattress width, length & height I can get you measurements that will work better for your mattress!
kate easton
Hi there, am hanging out to make Baby Hugo some fitted sheets for his cot. Have found your wonderful website, Our mattress is 1300mm x 690mm and 100mm deep, are you able to please recommend the measurements that would work best with this mattress. Many thanks Kate (Brisbane-Australia)
Kymy
Kate I am glad you found my site & here are the answers you were looking for! Your mattress is the same size as a standard US crib mattress! That means the measurements that I posted should work. Here are the metric conversions…
You will want to purchase 1 3/4 meters of fabric You will want your fabric to be 114cm X 175cm
You will want 4 pieces of 31cm long 6-10mm wide elastic.
The squares you cut out of the 4 corners will be 20cm x 20cm.
I hope this helps & would love to see pictures when your done 🙂
Anna
What a great site! I think I am going to make a top sheet for my babies cradle and just purchase a solid color fitted sheet. I am just a little bit nervous about making a fitted sheet when I am just now learning to sew. Do you think I would still need two yards of fabric? I may end up trying the fitted but we shall see how brave I am feeling! thank you for sharing.
Kymy
Yes, the top sheet is about 8-10″ shorter since it doesn’t have to tuck under the pillow end of the bed, BUT the way I do the top edge is a 13″ piece folded in half & attached so it still uses almost the exact same amount.
melanie
Thank you for these simple, easy to follow directions with great photos!!! These sheets came out perfect and I had so much fun making a Cars sheet for my son I whipped up a princess one for my daughter in no time!!!
Sarah
Hi! Thank you SO MUCH for the Picture Tutorial. It was really clear and straight forward.
I would also love to know how to make crib bumpers and box pleat crib skirts (all of the store patterns Ive seen have ruffles – YUCK). This would really finish off the crib set. Hope you’ll have time one of these days to tackle bumpers and skirts!
Sonja Djipalo
dear kymy I have just finished my red gingham cot sheet for my daughter Kitty(18 months) and I LOVE IT and it only cost me $7,amazing.thanks for yoer website its great it was the first time I have made something like this off the internet. And all the way to sydney Australia how cool is that .Thanks again for taking the time to offer this to everybody.I appreciate it love from down under sonja (mother of 3) xxx
Elisa
This looks great! I have not sewn in a while but I think I can do this. Any thoughts on a top sheet and/or “bigger” size quilt for older “toddler” age kids? I just converted my daughter’s crib into a daybed and I would love to give her a top sheet and bigger quilt to accommodate her larger than a baby size. This is a great place to start and I love the site! Thanks!!
Elaine
I’ve purchased stretchy fabric for the sheet. It’s a pretty tight stretch in a polyester fabric. Do I have to make any special accommodations to your design?
Shane Bracewell
Thank you so much. I take care of my grandson, and I have him nap in a play yard. I had a hard time finding sheets to fit. So now, I can make them, with your wonderful help. Thank you, Shane Catherine
Melanie
These are very interesting, but is there a pattern on how to make sheets for a daybed or twin bed?
Kate
Hey,
Thanks for posting these instructions. I have just one clarifying question… once I sew the elastic down, do I need to turn over the fabric to hide the elastic or does the elastic just go against the mattress? If that’s the case, how is the elastic affected in the washing machine? Thanks again! ~ Kate
Vatsi
Hey,
Thanks for the pictures of the project. Please tell me if I want to do this for my queen size bed, Should I still cut 8×8 or the size varies?
Thanks
Donna Dodd
THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! I’ve been looking for a guide to making crib sheets for a few months now. I made a fleece crib sheet a couple months ago. It turned out ok, but I didn’t trust myself while making it. i just made another sheet and your tutorial was so easy to follow! This time I used flannel. I wish I could add a picture on here of my little guy’s brand new sheet. Once again, THANK YOU!!!!
Kymy
You can email it too me via my ‘About Kymy’ page & I will put it on the gallery I am working on 🙂
Elizabeth
Thanks so much for your tutorial! I’ve never made crib sheets before, and they turned out great!
Brianna
Thank you so much for this tutorial it is so helpful, I even made a flat sheet for my son’s bed too, using the same method just with two corners instead of 4 and it turned out great! your pics are wonderful for us mothers who can’t read patterns worth a crap, and can’t afford 100 or 200 dollar bed sets for our children. thanks again!!
katrina
do you have a easy to follow twin size fitted sheet pattern?
Martha
I’ve made crib sheets in the past for my own children. BUT, thanks for doing the measuring and calculating (all the yucky math stuff) and posting this marvelous info.
Jessica
Thanks so much! The tutorial was easy to follow and my crib sheets turned out great!
Rosemary
wow! i can’t wait to do this for my babies to come! saves money and i can get exactly what i want and nobody else will have it! THANK YOU!
Annie
Thanks for this tutorial.. seems so simple- but sometimes we just need reassurance. 🙂
I am going to use this to make a toddler bed sheet and a partial top sheet by just doing the elastic on the two botom corners and finishing the top- like a top sheet 🙂
Very cool!!
Susie
Thanks for the instructions! I made a pack-n-play sheet using your Crafster tutorial.
Laura
Great easy to follow instructions…plan on making my daughter quite a few for her nursery…this is her first pregnancy…thank you for posting this information.
Laura from Texas.
regina woodson
I can’t wait to make my son some Star Wars sheets, do you know the measurements for the top sheet and pillowcase? I haven’t sewn in a LONG time and this will be my first attempt and I would appreciate any hints or tips you have! Thank you!
Donna Dodd
Ok. I’ve made 2 crib sheets (1 fleece, 1 flannel) perfectly with this tutorial. I started again yesterday to make a 3rd (fleece) and I totally screwed it up. I measured just as before and the sheet was about 3 – 4 inches too long and 3 – 4 inches too wide. I have fixed the corners but now I have extra material that I’m scared to cut in case I screw it up more. It wouldn’t be that big a deal but the material cost me $24 and it’s going to be a gift for a baby shower! Please help me or tell me to “just cut it!”
(15 minutes later) So I’ve been playing with the extra material on the corners & I’ve folded it to where I don’t have to cut, just sew it up. I pray that it works but I’m so scared to take the sheet off the bed. I’ll probably forget what I’m supposed to do. I’ll let you know how it turns out.
(2 hours & lunch later) I’ve got 2 corners complete & 1 left to do! Since the whole thing was messed up, I left 1 corner intact and worked on the other 3. Taking a break and will finish it later!
Kymy
I am sorry you had such a hard time this time! When using knits or any stretchy fabric such as a lot of fleece it can really scew the sizing, because different knits have a different stretch & recovery. I am sorry that you had such problem especially when it worked find in the past. If you run into this again in the future or someone using stretchy fabric does… if you get the corners fixed so they fit don’t be afraid to cut some off! You want it to go over the bottom side of the mattress by at least 3-4″ more won’t hurt. You just want to stretch you elastic out as much as possible when sewing it on to bring it in tight, or you can put elastic all the way around stretching as tight as you can as you sew. I hope the rest goes smoothly & the recipient enjoys it!
QT Pie Bows
I hust made my daughters toddler bed sheets and matching pillowcase! AWESOME! Thank you so much for this tutorial!!
Annie
Hi- Have you tried doing two fitted bottom corners and a top sheet top? Should I follow the same measurements?
Kymy
I have! I make it 8″ shorter the long way when cutting it (the length not width). Then I only cut the corners on one end, and I use a 2″ hem for the ‘top’ edge instead of repeating the corners if that makes sense! I have only made one, I am making some for the girls soon, so I will take pics 🙂
Angie
Thank you so much for the tutorial. Its’ great!
Karen
I have my first grandchild on the way and a family wooden crib. The crib mattress in 33 in by 15 in by 2 in. Can you please help me out with how to change the measurements? Thanks so.
Kymy
Cut a piece of fabric 37″ X 19″ instead & use 4 inch corners. Then use smaller pieces of elastic (7″?) instead, you may have to play around with it a hair.
karen
trying to make these sheets. The fabric I bought was only 44 inches wide. After pre-washing, only 43 inches. Do I still cut 8 inch template? Or should I make it smaller?
Kymy
You should be fine using the 8″ template. I never actually measure the width, I just buy fabric that says 44″/45″ on the bolt because it varies so much.
Laura
I’ll be a grandmother next Tuesday and I wanted to make something special and practical for my new grandson. I’m off to the fabric store today!
Thank you so much for such easy instructions!
Kendra
Awesome instructions!! Like a few others that posted on here..would love to know the measurements/proper amount of fabric to buy for twin mattress.
Jill
Thank you for the fantastic tute. It was so easy to follow!
eileen
Thankyou just what i need have been asked to make some cot sheets for twins due soon.have got yards and yards of sheeting from millshop and only cost £5 so thankyou so much.
Karen/Oklahoma
What a big favor you have done for many. As I read your tutorial, I was thinking how nice you must be to do this for us. Can’t wait to try these sheets!
Thanks again and blessing to you!
KDB
Great pictures and directions! Very easy to follow and understand. Thank you so much for posting this!
Jeewanthi
I’ll be a mom next March and before two weeks I visited your site and learned how to make a crib sheet. I did 3 sets so far and it is very neat. Thanks to you “It is just FANTASTIC” no words to explain.
Since the pictures are there no one will miss it. Thanks a million. God Bless you….
Barb
Just wanted to say thanks for such a great tutorial. Made my first (of many, I’m sure) this weekend.
Posted a link to the tutorial on my blog. Hope that was okay!
Kymy
I’m glad that you liked it so much!!! And that’s perfectly fine! I encourage people to share links, just not use my actual pictures without permission.
Diana
I have some really cute knit that I’d like to make a sheet out of. Do you have a pattern for knits or any tips on how to adjust this one?
Kymy
If it’s nice & stretchy I would make it 2″ shorter & 2″ skinnier and use 7.5″ squares instead of 8″! Hope that helps!
erin, maker of chimes
This is just what I was needing–thank you! Just found out that we’ve got a boy on the way, so it’ll be John Deere fabric for me too 🙂
Sharon
Wow, thanks for the tips. Been looking for a DIY like this.
San
Hi, I wonder if I could put a link to this tut on my fav tut’s section of my blog? Do I need to formalize a request? Thanks for posting this!
Kymy
no need to ask to share links 🙂 You can use the picture/button if you want to link to my blog tutes list or if you just want to do the tutorial you may use 1 picture of the finished product, just make sure it is linked back. I just ask people don’t copy any of the stuff off my blog. Linking is A-OK!
Lynnet
Great directions and pictures! I needed a refresher since it’s been 11 years since I last made some and I’m making cradle and crib sheets for a friend. Great job!
Emily
Love the tutorial. We recently bought a camper that has bunks for the kids that are enclosed 1/2 way. It is a pain to make the beds. I thought about adding elastic to the top sheet and comforter to hold them in a bit better after I make the bed. Do you have any suggestions for that?
Jackie
I came across your tutorial and think you make it sound so easy! I am currently trying to make the sheets for the first time for a friends baby shower, and wanted to know if I am supposed to finish all four sides, or just the two cut ends. Please (anyone) let me know ASAP.
Kymy
you can do it either way! The sides you don’t cut won’t show as they are under the mattress & they won’t fray so they can be left alone. I normally don’t finish them because I’m not going to see them anyways! But if you want a more polished look you can finish them as well!
Lenetta @ Nettacow
I found your awesome tutorial via a search for crib sheets – had I know how stinkin’ easy it was, I’d NEVER have bought any! I’ll be making a Care Bear sheet for the toddler bed in the hopes of luring my 3 year old out of the crib… wish me luck! :>)
Emily
I was wondering where you get your fabric? Do you find it inexpensively? I live in a very rural area and I will have to drive at least an hour to a chain fabric store so I was wondering if you know of any great online places for cotton to make sheets.
Kymy
I also live in a rural area & have to drive 45 minutes to the closest Wal-mart that has a small selection or take a $15-$20 30 minute ferry ride (only if no lines) & another 15-20 minute drive to get to JoAnns… so I know where you are coming from! Honestly the best thing to do is to stock up once a month when you go to town. You can also find cheap fabric at the thrift store as well.
I do have local quilt shop I buy from, it isn’t cheap, but the quality isn’t either! You can also find some stuff on line, but if you looking for stuff for less then $5 a yard it’s generally not worth it after shipping. Good luck!