I have used sheets for the backing of many quilts with a lot of success. This past week I was approached by a mother and daughter team (soon to be grandmother and mother team!) who had a great question: can you take cute fitted crib sheets and turn them into the main design element for a baby quilt? With so many really cute designer crib sheet options available, this could be a great way to match the quilt to the bedding chosen for a baby’s room. I thought I would share what I learned in a quick tutorial on how to use fitted crib sheets to make a baby quilt.
Fitted Crib Sheet Quilt Tutorial
Before I had the fitted crib sheets in hand, I did a bit of quick research. The “standard” fitted crib sheet size is 51 5/8 inches long by 27 1/4 inches wide by 5 1/2 inches thick. This sounded like it might make an awkward size panel to work with once the elastic were removed, but I knew that the only way to find out was to get a crib sheet in hand and try! I received two different crib sheets made by two different companies. I will refer to one sheet as the World Map sheet and the other as the World Cities sheet.
World Map Fitted Crib Sheet
World Cities Fitted Crib Sheet
Step 1
To begin, I used my trusty seam ripper to deconstruct a small portion of the pocket that holds the elastic around the edge of the fitted sheet.
Step 1: Expose Elastic Using Seam Ripper
Step 2
Next, cut the elastic in half and gently pulled the elastic out of the opening I had created in Step 1. Note that I had to ease the elastic around the fitted sheet on occasion as a lot of fabric would build up.
Step 2: Cut Elastic and Pull Out of Opening Created in Step 1
Step 3
Using my seam ripper, I completely opened up the rest of the pocket that the elastic was encased in. I also used the seam ripper to disconnect the seam at the four corners. As a short cut, you could choose to cut the seam away instead of ripping it open, but it will reduce the width of the sheet you have available to trim to final size. Laying the sheet flat at this stage it will look something like this:
Step 3: Flattened Fitted Crib Sheet
Step 4
Press the sheet flat.
Step 4: Pressed Sheet
Step 5
Fold the sheet in half down the long length of the sheet and trim off the tabs of fabric at the top and bottom of the pressed, flattened sheet. Fold the sheet in half again and square the sheet. I was able to trim the two different brand sheets down to just over 40-inches wide by 50-inches long, which was much larger than I had originally thought I would be able to achieve based on the “standard” size information.
Step 5: Squared and Trimmed Sheet
Step 6
At this point the sheets are large enough to quilt together as-is, or you may wish to add a border to the sheets before quilting. I am choosing to add a coordinating light blue solid as a border to the World Map sheet and a coordinating yellow solid as a border to the World Cities sheet. I will then finish out the quilt with a light gray solid border. The concept for the two sides of the quilt are shown side by side below.
Fitted Crib Sheet Quilt Design
I realize that this process would be a lot simpler if using a flat sheet instead of a fitted sheet. 🙂 However, I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of material available to use from the fitted sheet and thought it might come in handy for someone else to know in the future!
Tips and Tutorials Tuesdays
Linking up to Tips and Tutorials Tuesdays @Late Night Quilter.
Goodmorning to you!
Thanks for this little tutorial. I have bought sheets and fitted sheets for quilt backs, but haven’t yet used them. I heared that most longarmers do not want us to use sheet fabric. I will be quilting on my DMS so I don’t need to keep to that request/rule. Do you know why longarmers prefer us not to use sheets?
Esther
What a great idea! Simple and easy, and to end up with a coordinating quilt is awesome!
This is such a unique and utilitarian idea (which happen to be my favorite kinds of ideas)! I know lots of people who would love this. How clever! Thanks Yvonne and thanks for linking up with my Tips and Tutorials Tuesday.
Interesting, so using the whole cloth and adding a border? What a simple way to up-cycle. I usually take the hard way doing things so this is not the first place my brain goes but it’s elegant & quick which I love!
I went the opposite direction and used quilting cotton to make fitted sheets to match the quilts I made for the kiddos! 🙂
Such a great idea. Is this for two quilts, or a front and back?
I am a long arm quilter and do not have a problem with using sheeting. My machine is an APQS Freddie (aka best workhorse in the world!!!) so it could have something to do with the machine they are using. If you are set on specific quilter, best to check with them before constructing!
I also quilt using a long arm (APQS Millennium) and I don’t have a problem with sheets, either. 🙂
Yvonne, this is such a great idea!! Flat sheets would be easier but I don’t think flat sheets are made for cribs? Simple and so cool that it matches the sheets!
That is quite a bit more fabric than I’d have expected. They do look very cute too.
This is a great tip. Sometimes I buy sheet sets for quilt backings and never know how to treat the fitted sheets to get the most out of them.
I was really surprised how much material was there!
I like the idea of geography taught in the cradle by these prints! 🙂
Oh, me too! 🙂
Yvonne, look at you go! This is great! Never would have thought of that as of course most of us would be saying “use the flat sheet” but if that is what you are left with… as sometimes the flat one isn’t exactly like the fitted… and yet it is turning out to be so lovely! I saw your post on Instagram and I love it already! Whoop whoop! Those sheets are perfect for baby.
Thanks, Megan! Someone earlier mentioned that cribs don’t have flat sheet for entanglement reasons. Shows what I know about little ones (nothing)! 😉 I was totally impressed with how much fabric was in the fitted sheet, and I love how it came together.
Very cool…
what a great idea! Thank you so much for sharing this useful idea, as it had never crossed my mind.
Great tutorial. I will have to revisit this idea when my girls are done with their crib sheets. They would be great to use in future projects.
Great idea! Thanks for taking the time to put this together!