Toddler Flat-ish Sheet

We are preparing for Baby Angell and so have decided that it is time for our toddler to move to a toddler bed.  I'm a little sad about this.  My first born doesn't need a crib anymore.  I'm also a little bit happy - with my growing belly and my husband's bad back, not bending into a crib sounds wonderful.

 

I found a great tutorial for making crib/toddler fitted sheets: Cut to pieces (super easy).  I made 2 for the crib days and now 1 for the toddler transition.  The web is awash with tutorials for making a custom pillow case using the burrito method (very fast).  I love making my own baby bedding because I can make exactly what I want and it doesn't have to be pastel!!

I found the idea for a toddler flat sheet that is partially fitted online, but couldn't find a good tutorial.  So here is my version.  It is pretty fast. Now my guy can squirm all he wants and the sheet will stay in place.

Materials needed: 1 3/4 yards fabric - I used flannel because it's so soft, I always prewash
                              matching thread
                              2 pieces 12" long of 1/4" elastic

To begin, fold your fabric in half the longway and line up the bottom corners.  Cut out a 7inch square.  This creates the basis for your fitted corners.

 

Now take just one corner and fold the edges together - WRONG SIDES (back of the print) together.  Pin.  We're going to make a French seam so we don't have to worry about fraying in the wash. 

 

Sew a 1/4 inch seam.  Then turn your corner inside out so that your corner is RIGHT sides (print side) together.  My fabric is solid flannel so it is hard to tell front from back.

 

Sew a 1/2 inch seam.  Turn your corner out again and voila - French seam!  Repeat for the second corner.

 

To create our fitted corners, begin by folding under 1/4" fabric around the bottom of the sheet.  Press.  Then fold again, this time 1/2". Press and pin.  Be sure you are folding toward the inside of the sheet, not the outside.



 

Using a tape measure, mark 10 inches in each direction from each corner seam.  In my pic I marked 12" but 10" worked better.  I put a vertical pin at 10" to mark my place.

 

 

Find the halfway point of your elastic.  I folded it in half and stuck a pin the middle.

 

Beginning on one side of the first corner, unfold the top of your hem and sew down the edge of the elastic just under the crease left by the iron.

 

Repeat, sewing a line down the middle of the elastic alongside the corner seam and the final end of the elastic at the 10" mark on the other side of your corner. Be sure not to twist your elastic. It should look like this:

 

Now we sew the hem in place, 1 side of the corner at a time.  Remove your pins and tuck the elastic under the hem.  Pull the elastic taut so that the fabric lays flat.  Do not sew through the elastic.  You are simply sewing the hem in place below it.

 

Once you reach the corner seam, remove the pins from the second side, tuck your elastic under and sew the hem in place.  This is what you end up with:

 

The hard part is over!  Next add a hem along the remaining bottom of the sheet (between the corners) and both long sides of the sheet.  I folded under 1/4", pressed, folded under 1/2" pressed and sewed. At the top of the sheet, fold under 1/4" and press then fold under 4", press and pin.  Be sure your sides are lined up nicely.

 

Sew this down and your sheet is done.

 

My little guy could not wait to get between the sheets.  I had the crib/toddler mattress on the living room floor so that I could make sure the sheet was fitting well.  Fortunately, we have a lightweight mattress! 

 

 

Incidentally, my little one thought the novelty of his 'bed' on the floor was super fun and spent half the evening crawling on it and driving cars over it.  Who knew?

 

 

 

 

Cost: 2 sheets and pillow case $13

 

 

 

 

 



Numbered Bean Bags

Our little guy thoroughly enjoys throwing ... everything.  He's getting pretty good at understanding when it's okay to throw toys and which toys are acceptable.  I wanted to make him something he could toss around inside that wouldn't cause a racket.  Enter bean bags.  They're soft, easy to grab and wonderfully quiet.  I added some numbers on the bags to throw in an educational twist.  Maybe it will come in handy when he's learning to count.  Right now we are focused on PLAY.

This was my first attempt at applique.  I have always been intimidated by the very word.  Doesn't it just sound difficult and time consuming?  WRONG.  It was actually pretty straightforward and eventually I hit a quick stride so it didn't take long to whip these up.  Give it a try if you haven't before. 

Used: 10 different fabric pieces, 10"x5" of each pattern for the bags
           1 white piece for the numbers, approx 10"x10"

This project was a stash-buster.  I found my smallest pieces of leftover fabric and cut out two 5" squares from each pattern.  No reason for 5", that just worked with the fabric I had.  I think it's a good size though.

 

Next I printed off numbers in a font and size I liked (Tahoma, 240).  The numbers were about 2.5" tall.  You could just draw them yourself, but this seemed faster for me. Trim around the numbers.

 

 

Use double-stick fusible web to attach the numbers to the squares. To do this, put the web over the numbers, the black ink was very easy to see.  Trace. 

 

Flip the web over and trace the numbers from the other side. You want to end up with numbers that are backward.

 

 

Trim around each digit (no perfection needed!)  Peel off the side where the number is 'correct' and press it against the fabric you plan to use for the numbers.  You want to leave the side showing the backward number.

 

 

Flip the fabric over and briefly run an iron over it to adhere the web.  Cut out each number from the fabric.

 

Lay out your squares.  Peel off the paper backing and center one number over one of each pattern.  I used a ruler because I was being a first-born perfectionist, but eyeballing it would probably have worked just fine. LOL.

 

 

When you are satisfied with the placement, iron it in place for about 15 seconds.  Don't they already look fun?!

 

 

To the sewing machine!  I used a zigzag stitch on its smallest setting.  Slowly stitch around the edge of each number. Be sure your stitches connect the pattern and the number.  You don't want to be fully inside or outside the number. Keep the needle down and pivot around corners. 

 

 

Bravo!  Now the number will stay firmly in place and be able to withstand toddler-induced trauma.

 

 

Pin the front of this square to the front of its mate.  Mark a 2 inch gap to leave open for turning.

 

 

Sew a half inch seam.  Be sure to leave a gap for turning.  Sew a second time just outside of the first line.  You want these to be firmly sealed.

 

 

Turn the bag right side out using a skewer, knitting needle or even a pencil to push out the corners.  Iron if needed/desired.

 

 

I filled mine with about 3/4 cup or so of lentils.  I liked the feel and size of them.  Any bean or rice will work.  Make them as full as you like.  I wanted some heft to mine, but I wanted them to be squishy too.  Use a funnel (or make one by rolling up a piece of paper) to fill the bags.

 

 

Pin the open edge closed, flush with the sewn edge.  Use a needle and thread to sew it closed. 2 strands of thread worked great. Slip stitch the sides together for a nice invisible look. I went over it twice to give a solid seal.

 



 

Time for a game!  We toss them into buckets, pool noodle rings, etc.  My little man has fun with them, inventing his own little games that I don't even understand.  What a cutie.

You'll want to check the seams periodically, but after several weeks and even traveling, they are holding up well.

Craft time: few hours
Cost: fabric scraps and $4 for lentils
Age: 18 months +