I bought my babies crib on Craigslist and these were included.
The bumpers I wanted to match his room were $65 and I just wasn't willing to pay that especially when I got some for free. That is when I decided to recreate these.
Let me just start out with, I DO NOT sew. I have no sewing machine and have only sewn little holes in a shirt, nothing big. So if you are like me, don't worry I will tell you how I did it. If you do sew or have a sewing matching then these picture are just ideas to get your brain going.
FYI: This project takes days. I did a little bit a day for like two weeks. I was 8 months pregnant and didn't have much else to do. I liked to work on these while I was watching a movie.
See if someone will give you bumpers or buy some used one for really cheap.
1. Measure bumpers to get an estimate of how much fabric you will need. Always add on an inch or two of fabric just to be safe.
2. Go to your local fabric store and purchase fabric. I had them cut 4 different pieces to make it easier on me. I went to Joanns with my 40% off coupon (if that link does not work just Google Joanns Coupons. I beleive I payed $12 - $15 for all of my fabric.
3. Make sure to purchase thread, needles, and pins if you do not have any.
Now, before starting this project keep in mind that no one is going to be up close and personal with your bumpers. They will be at a glance as they admire your adorable baby nursery. So no pressure to make your stitches or the fabric perfect.
4. Begin by pinning and cutting. You can either pin and then cut or cut and then pin. (I pinned and then cut to make sure I had enough fabric for overlapping. You will probably need to do a little bit of both as you go along either way. I pinned and cut and repined and recut more than once.)
Take the top of the fabric and start on the bottom of the bumper. Pin along the side on the edge of bumper. Now straiten out the fabric and put a couple of pins in the middle as displayed in the picture below. Try to get the middle pins where the fabric is sewn through the bumper.
Now pin the fabric to the top of the bumper in the crease as displayed by yellow lines in the picture below. As you are pinning you will notice the strings are in the way. Pull the strings up and pin under. After pinning you will need to cut slits in the fabric and pull the string through the slips.
(After pinning the creases you will not cut the fabric just yet.) Instead pull the fabric over
to the other side and start pinning the opposite side from top to bottom.
(Make sure to move the strings as described above).
 |
| Top has a little extra fabric bundle and the bottom is smooth and has nothing |
As you get to the bottom you can now cut the fabric. Try to cut as straight as possible.
Now slightly over lap the fabric on the bottom of the bumper and take out the pins underneath replacing pins on the top. You do not want any of the other bumper fabric showing.
Next, do the same things on the sides as you did on the bottom but cutting before pinning. Start with the corner, tucking fabric to make it round. (Remember again about the moving the strings and pinning underneath). Pin all the way down, rounding out the corner again. Repeat on opposite side.
5. Everything should be nice and tight now. Make sure there is no loose or hanging fabric. If fabric is not straight or needs some fixing now would be the time to fix and repin.
6. Time to sew. Start on the bottom. Sew down (into the bumper) and up along the bottom of the bumper. You can make your stitching's as wide or small as you want but try to stay consistent. Take pins out as you sew. Next, sew the top in and out through each side. Next, sew sides down into the bumpers and back out as you did the bottom. The corners will need a couple extra stitches to make sure it stays nice and round. Lastly, sew the middle of the bumblers as you pined them. You will sew a line, like so, "_____" in the middle 2 - 4 times depending on how many the original bumpers had. These you will sew in and out thought each side as you did the top of the bumper.
And VUALA!!
Place them in your crib and move onto your next baby project.
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