A large number of young parents are interested in the question: how to sew children's bed linen. Or maybe the best option is to buy linen for a child in a store? To determine what is better, it is necessary to compare the pros and cons of each side. Of course, the price of a complete set of linen is higher than the sheets bought separately. However, sewing takes a lot of effort and time, which is not always enough.
The advantage of sewing yourself is also that the mother herself will choose the appropriate material of good quality and color, and the process, although it will take some time, is not difficult even for beginners. Today we will consider: how to sew a set for a crib for a newborn with your own hands.
Choosing the right fabric
If you make your choice yourself, you should consider only high-quality fabric, preferably of natural origin. You should choose only those types of materials that have the following qualities:
- Hypoallergenic;
- Ecological cleanliness;
- Increased comfort;
- Breathability;
- Easy to wash and care for.
The best option is 100% cotton fabric. Bedding made from it is suitable for any season: summer and winter. The following classes of cotton fabrics are distinguished, differing from each other in the type of thread weaving:
- Calico. It is hypoallergenic, allows air to pass through in both directions and is highly wear-resistant, but it is rougher to the touch than other types and requires proper washing or it will start to fade;
- Chintz. The material is natural and pleasant to the touch. It is also very breathable, but unlike calico, it does not require special care. Its disadvantage is rapid wear and loss of brightness (color) over time. It is ideal for children immediately after discharge from the maternity hospital;
- Satin. It has excellent wear resistance, does not electrify and does not wrinkle. In addition, satin retains its appearance after multiple washings and transmits heat well. It has no distinctive disadvantages;
- Poplin. It is breathable and evaporates moisture well, easy to wash and does not accumulate static electricity. It has virtually no negative qualities, but it can shrink when washed in hot water;
- Bamboo. It has high strength and antimicrobial properties. It absorbs moisture and odors perfectly. The downside is the high cost;
- Flannel. Soft to the touch, and becomes even softer after washing. Quickly retains heat and does not cause allergic reactions. Minus: formation of pellets over time, as well as strong wrinkling.
Sizes and measurements
With linen measurements everything is simple, as for adults, for children there is a classification of linen into single, one and a half and double. It is sewn in two standards: European and Russian. Children's bedding should be sewn based on height and personal preferences. In general, the standard defines the following sizes for children:
- Duvet cover - 110-120 centimeters by 140-150 centimeters;
- Sheet - 100-120 centimeters by 138-160 centimeters;
- Pillowcases - 40 by 60 centimeters.
Important! The children's set differs from the adult set not only in size, but also sometimes in its configuration. One of the features is the presence of elastic bands that attach the sheet to the mattress. This prevents the sheet from getting crumpled in the morning and ensures better sleep for the baby, who often tosses and turns at night.
Fabric consumption when sewing
To purchase exactly the amount of fabric needed for sewing and not make a mistake in the sizes, you need to measure each attribute:
- Pillow;
- Blanket;
- Mattress;
- Bed.
You can measure the underwear you already have to save even more. You can calculate by standard sizes without running around the house with a ruler and using the size numbers indicated in the previous section. You should also take into account that the fabric should be purchased 10 or 15 cm longer than required. The fabric often "shrinks" and when sewing, it may be necessary to make the product a couple of centimeters longer.
How to sew bed linen for a baby crib with your own hands
Before you start sewing, you need to prepare all the necessary tools:
- The fabric, the width of which will be from one and a half meters and the length from four meters;
- Dense material for sides;
- Threads and needle;
- Sewing machine;
- Scissors and pins;
- Tape and ruler;
- Crayons or soap remnants;
- Foam rubber and iron.
Besides, you need a good mood and free time. Work done in a hurry will have the corresponding quality.
Pillowcases
Sewing a pillowcase is easy, but you need to be precise. To do this, you need to fold the pattern and follow the instructions:
- Measure a piece of fabric measuring 70 x 50 cm from the canvas and fold it with the right side inward;
- The 30 cm corner that remains from cutting should be folded upward to create a flap that prevents the pillow from falling out of the pillowcase;
- Fold the sides and stitch them first along the front side, and then along the back side;
- It is advisable to steam and iron the finished product.
Sheet
The sheet is made in several ways: with an elastic band and in the usual way. For the first method, the step-by-step instructions are as follows:
- Cut a piece of fabric and allow a couple of centimeters on each side. The resulting piece will be 145 in length and 115 in width;
- Turn the fabric over on each side once or twice and start sewing it. The finished edges don't look very nice, so you can hem them too;
- The product should also be ironed, especially the edges.
The second type of sheets is suitable for active babies. It is more difficult to sew, but following the instructions, everything will work out:
- Cut the fabric 120 x 150 cm;
- Fold it in four and measure out a 20 x 20 square in the upper right corner;
- Cut it with scissors, then sew the corners and overcast them;
- Hem all sides, taking into account space for the elastic band, which will be inserted later;
- Insert the elastic into the sheet and pull it along all its sides, then hem it.
Important! The fitted sheet should fit snugly, but not too tightly, onto the mattress so that it cannot be brushed off by simply turning the body. If it does not fit, then the elastic band should be replaced with a longer one or, conversely, sewn on if the sheet falls off.
Duvet cover
To make it, you need a piece measuring 210 x 290 cm. You should immediately try it on the blanket and make sure it fits. The next steps are as follows:
- Fold the fabric in half and process the top and bottom;
- On the sides, 40–50 cm of fabric are left for a hole to insert the blanket;
- Cover the hole with tape or treat it as desired;
- Iron the product and straighten all corners and seams.
Bumpers for a crib
Bumpers are a useful thing that can protect children from hitting the bed rails. To make them, you need a thicker fabric, which you need to buy separately. You can make it as follows:
- Make a pattern for the rectangular sides. Cut fabrics 40 by 60 along the length of the bed and 40 by 120 along the width;
- Finish the edges by sewing tape or ribbons to them to tie them to the bed;
- Turn the sides inside out and fill them with foam rubber for softness;
- Sew a zipper into each item to remove the foam when washing;
- Place and secure the sides along the bed.
How to Decorate a Kids Bedding Set
The finished set can also be decorated. In this case, everyone should show imagination and care. It should also be taken into account that a child is lying in the bed, and he can put the decorative element in his mouth, which can be dangerous.
The set can be decorated with embroidered lace, frills, ruffles, wide ribbons. It is strictly not recommended to use buttons, zippers, rhinestones and beads. They can fall off or be torn off and the child will swallow them out of curiosity.
Helpful tips for finishing work
When the set is ready, you need to wash it thoroughly again, dry it and iron it, check if the linen has shrunk. After that, you can safely tuck the pillows into the pillowcases, and the blanket into the duvet cover. If you liked the process, you can make several sets for the baby crib and change them one by one. Each of them can be decorated with your own elements.
Important! Before using, you should carefully check again whether there are any needles or pins left in the fabric. This is quite possible and sooner or later the child will get hurt or even cause irreparable harm to his health.
Beautiful Kids Bedding Sets for Inspiration
Here is a selection of beautiful children's bed linen that will help you catch inspiration and understand what exactly you want to make, from what fabric and how to decorate it later.
Thus, sewing baby bedding is easy and fun even for beginner seamstresses, not to mention masters of their craft. By choosing the material and sewing yourself, you can not only save money, but also bring pleasure to yourself and your baby.
