Saturday, December 4, 2010

Layered Crib Skirt

After searching for a crib set for a little girl, I found one I wanted but it was ridculously priced. I decided making one would be the way to go. Then I found a bumper on ebay that I loved and decided that would be less labor intensive than making my own. For the crib skirt, I combined the styles from both of my inspiration crib sets and decided to make a layered ruffled crib skirt using vintage fabrics.


For the base of the crib skirt, I just used an old sheet. For the ruffles, you'll need about a yard each of three different fabrics. I only did three sides, so if you would like to do all four sides in ruffles, you'll need 1.5 yards of each fabric.


Measure your crib on the inside and cut a large square out of your sheet adding 1/4 inch extra for hemming for the base of the skirt. Then cut your three (or four) sides from the sheet. I used a 14 inch drop for my crib skirt, but you can customize yours to fit your crib. Hem the sides of your side pieces leaving the top unhemmed. I also hemmed the back of my base layer at this time.


For the fabric ruffles, I cut the fabric almost three times the width of my crib (I had to sew a few pieces together) and six inches long. I think cutting it 2 times the length would be sufficient. Hem the sides of the ruffles, leaving the top edge unhemmed.


To gather the ruffles, I learned an awesome trick from my cousin Alicia. I had tried and tried gathering fabric with my machine with no luck when I made my curtains. I finally ended up doing a basting stich by hand to make the ruffles. It was a nightmare. She told me to use fishing line and do a zigzag stich over it. Then you can just pull it tight. Instant ruffles and no breakage! Awesome! First, I tied the fishing line to a spool of thread so it wouldn't slip out of the zigzags. Then I simply went over the thread and pulled it tight. At first I had to go slow, but as I got used to it soon I was zooming along. I found that holding the thread up and in the center of the presser foot kept it within the zigzags without a lot of hassle.



Then I arranged, pinned and sewed the ruffle to the side pieces.I did this three times. To keep the ruffles straight, I jus measured from the bottom up every couple of inches or so and pinned it in place. Here's what each side should look like.Then pin the top of your ruffled side to their corresponsding base layer side, right sides together. Do this with all three sides.Ta da! Your ruffled crib skirt is now finished!

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12 comments:

  1. This is so cute! I'm amazed at all the sewing skills you have.

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  2. Wonderful project...You should have included the measurements.

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  3. Not to get overdramatic, but the fishing line tip just changed my life. :)

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  4. That is sooo adorable!! Thanks to you I will now have the trick to being able to gather ruffles like a pro!!
    Doni

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  5. I use elastic to make my ruffles. Instead of sewing a basting stitch, I just stretch elastic on the material as I sew and ruffles instantly appear!! It's extremely fast and simple.

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  6. I use elastic to make my ruffles. Just stretch elastic as you sew and ruffles instantly appear!!

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  7. That's adorable. I've been using your gathering trick for years, but I use dental floss.

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  8. I should be able to get this, really I should, but I just can't! :( If I understand correctly, you are zig zag stitching fishing line onto fabric...so at the finished hemmed edge, then pulling line to make the ruffles??? I can hardly picture it...I'm a visual learner. :) Am I confused? Can someone link me to a tutorial???

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  9. Hey Tashena...I'm in the same boat as you. I'm a visual learner as well. I think what she is saying is that you sew a zig zag stich (using regular thread) over fishing line that has been laid on top of the wrong side of the fabric that you want to make into a ruffle. The spool is used so the fishing line doesn't pull through as you stich. Once you've reached the end of the fabric, you just need to push the ruffle down on the fishing line to scrunch it up, then you attach it to whatever you want the ruffle on (cut the fishing line off the spool before you attach it & of course make sure the ruffle is evenly scrunched (-: ).

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  10. I will never avoid ruffles again!

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  11. I would nver have thought of using fishing to gather fabric ! What a brilliant idea ! Thanks for sharing. X

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  12. Thanks for this simple tutorial, I knew it was simple but I could not understand when I was reading a different tutorial!

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