When a new baby is on the way, most moms-to-be spend their time carefully planning a cozy nursery. See how to keep baby comfortable when you're away from home too, by learning to make the bedding for this portable newborn basket.
Materials:
sewing machine
measuring tape
yardstick
pencil and notepad
two pieces of 45" x 12" craft paper (for mattress pad)
extra coordinating fabric
piping
folded bias tape
zipper foot for sewing machine
high loft batting
two -inch thick piece of foam
Steps:
1. Measure halfway around the basket along the top edge, from the midpoint of the head of the basket to the midpoint of the foot of the basket (the basket used on air measured approximately 43 inches). Measure the same distance again, but this time measure around the basket along the base edge (the basket used on air measured approximately 33 inches). Write these measurements down.
2. Measure the height of the bumper pad. Taper it slightly to fit a curved basket. To get the appropriate taper, the bumper should be higher (10 inches) at the head of the basket and slightly lower (nine inches) at the foot of the basket.
3. Just above the lower edge of the craft paper, draw a line that is the same length measured for the base of the basket (in this case, 33 inches). Center this line on the paper.
4. To get the proper "taper" on the pattern, take the difference from the top of the basket's measurement and the bottom measurement. Divide this number in half.
Example for the basket used on air:
1. 43" - 33" = 10"
2. 10"/2 = 5"
5. At one end of the line drawn on the paper, measure over the distance calculated when subtracting the basket bottom measurement from the top measurement and dividing in half (in this case five inches). Measure up 10 inches and draw a dot. At the other end of the line, measure over the distance calculated when subtracting the basket 's bottom measurement from the top measurement and dividing in half (in this case five inches). Measure up nine inches and put a dot. With a yardstick, connect those dots with a horizontal line (figure A). Connect the horizontal lines with a diagonal line on each end.
6. Cut four of these horizontal pieces out of fabric. Mark the handle placement on the pattern. Transfer the mark to the fabric when cutting it (figure B).
7. For the ruffle, cut four, 36" x 5" strips.
8. For the ties, you will need eight, 17" x 4" strips.
9. For the bumper, use 1/2- to 3/4-inch thick quilt batting. Using the bumper pattern, cut two panels of the batting.
10. Sew the strips for the ruffle together. Connect the end of this long strip with a seam to make a circle.
11. Sew a couple of rows of gathering stitches onto the ruffle strip.
12. Add piping to the ruffled, top edge of the bumper pad and also to the center seams where the bumper panels join (figure C). Cut the piping to fit these areas. Join the panels at the sides (figure D).
13. Pin the piping in place on one end. Start pinning the piping to the right side of one panel on one end. Place the piping in, with the flange just slightly inside the raw edge.
14. Using the zipper foot on the sewing machine, run a row of stitches along the piping flange (not next to the piping) to secure the piping in place.
15. Attach the piping to the other side seam in the same manner.
16. Lay another side panel on top of the panel with piping (right sides together ) and pin the wider center seams together.
17. Stitch these panels together using the zipper foot. Run the stitches next to the piping to firmly secure it in place.
18. Pin the long piping strip along the top edge of the sewn bumper panel. Run a row of stitches slightly away from the piping to secure it. Leave about two inches of extra piping at both ends of this seam.
19. Join the side seam at the foot of the bed.
20. Pin the ruffle to the inside of the bumper, placing it on top of the piping and handles (figure E).
21. Machine baste the ruffle in place, just outside of the seam line just to stabilize it. Set this aside.
22. Pin the batting to the wrong side of the last two bumper panels. Seam these panels together on both ends with the right sides of the fabric together. Catch the batting in the seams to prevent it from sagging inside the bumper pad.
23. Press and sew the handles and pin them to one side of the bumper. Pin each handle to the right and left of each handle mark.
24. Sew the other side seam.
25. Fold the panel in half (right sides together) and pin the side seam.
26. Join the piping.
27. Carefully pin this lining panel to the bumper panel that has the piping and handles (right sides together).
28. Sew the panels together, running the seam directly up against the piping ( figure F).
29. Enclose the bottom edge of the bumper pad with folded bias tape that matches the piping. Sandwich the pressed edges between the bias tape and pin it. Run a row of topstitching around the edge.
30. Using a two-inch piece of foam for the mattress, trace the bottom of the basket and cut it slightly narrower than the base of the basket so that it fits nicely inside the basket. Cut out a craft paper pattern, which is the same shape as the foam, but cut it one inch wider all the way around.
31. Cut out one panel for the top of the cover.
32. To make the back panels, fold the pattern in half and lay it on the fabric . Cut the piece out but along the folded edge of the pattern, add three inches to that edge. You will need two of these pieces.
33. Create an overlap and opening to slide the foam into.
34. Press the flat edges on each piece under 1/2 inch.
35. Fold the pressed edge of each back panel under 1/2 inch and topstitch.
36. Lay the front cover piece face down, then lay the two back panels face up (wrong sides together) and place a pin or two in the panels to keep them from slipping.
37. Carefully sandwich the cover pieces between it some folded bias tape. Pin in place.
38. Topstitch along the bias tape.
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
