You can make the crib skirt match other colors or patterns in the room, or make it from fabric that contrasts with the sheets. You can also choose to make the skirt plain and straight for a clean, contemporary look, or make the skirt ruffled for a more decorative style or a girl’s room.
This crib skirt fits a standard 28 by 52 inch crib mattress, but you can adjust the measurements to suit your needs.
To make a straight crib skirt, you’ll need 1.5 yards of fabric. For a ruffled skirt, you’ll need 3 yards, or twice as much fabric, to have extra for gathering into ruffles. For both types of crib skirts, simple, lightweight fabrics such as cotton nursery prints or calicos work well.
In addition to the skirt material, you’ll need 1.5 yards of fabric for making the top of the skirt sheet, or the part that holds the overhanging skirt. Since this part goes under the crib mattress, it won’t really show. You can use the same fabric as the rest of the crib skirt to make the skirt sheet, or a less expensive one, such as muslin, clearance fabric, or even an old cut-up sheet.
Supplies:
- 1.5 to 3 yards of fabric for skirt or ruffle
- matching thread
- 1.5 yards fabric for skirt sheet
- measuring tape
- scissors
- sewing machine
Sew a Plain Crib Skirt
- Cut two pieces of skirt fabric, each 29 inches long and 10.5 inches tall for the short sides of the crib skirt.
- Cut two pieces of skirt fabric, each 53 inches long and 10.5 inches tall for the long sides of the crib skirt.
- Hem both short ends and one long side of each piece of fabric. To make the hems, fold each edge over 1/4 inch toward the wrong side, then fold it over another 1/4 inch so the edge is enclosed. Press the fold flat and pin it in place (optional) and stitch along the folded edge.
- Cut the skirt sheet fabric into a 27.5 by 51.5 inch rectangle, or slightly smaller than the crib mattress.
- Pin the unhemmed edges of the skirt fabric to each side of the skirt sheet, with the fabrics right sides together.
- Stitch the skirt fabric to the skirt sheet.
Sew a Ruffled Crib Skirt
- Cut the pieces of skirt fabric twice as long and 1/2 inch taller than for a plain crib skirt. (You may need to sew several pieces together to make them long enough.)
- Hem both short ends and one long side of each piece as directed above.
- Set the sewing machine to the longest stitch length.
- Stitch two rows of basting across each unhemmed edge of each piece of fabric.
- Pull the ends of the basting thread to gently gather the fabric.
- Smooth out the gathers so they’re evenly distributed. Continue gathering until each piece is the correct length for the crib skirt.
- Complete the crib skirt following the “Sew a Plain Crib Skirt” directions above.
To put the crib skirt on the crib, remove the mattress and place the crib skirt over the mattress support. Spread out the crib skirt so that the sheet part lies flat and the skirts or ruffles hang evenly over the edges, then replace the mattress. The crib skirt will cover up the mattress supports, and add a decorative touch to the crib.
Christy Jones - Christy’s how-to articles have been published in Sew Simple, Soft Dolls & Animals and The Cloth Doll magazines. She has been a ...
