Crib Bumper Tutorial

I got all the measurements from THIS website. You can get your bumper tie measurements and crib skirt measurements from there as well. She did give incorrect measurements for how much foam to buy and just gives pictures of how to do the bumper ties and crib skirt. I recommend making the ties and bed skirt from the pictures she made, they are pretty self explanatory. She does not explain how to put the whole bumper together. So here is me giving it my best shot. I tried explaining things the best I could without physically being with you. Good Luck!

The pieces shown were cut out with the fabric doubled. So I am not crazy you should end up with 8 pieces.

#1. I am a HUGE fan of serger's so if you have one I recommend serging all the edges of your cut out fabric pieces.

#2. Next you will be attaching 4 pieces of fabric together, two of your 27 1/2" x 13 3/4" ( short pieces ) and 2 of your  55"x 13 3/4 " ( long pieces). Take one of your short pieces of fabric and attach its 13 3/4 inch side to one of your long piece of fabric's 13 3/4 inch side with patterned sides pinned together. You will attach the pieces so that they are long, short, long, short as one continuous piece. Sew the width of your sewing foot or 1/2 inch into your fabric. When you're done sewing your first 4 pieces together put to the side and repeat with the remainder 4 pieces of fabric.

#3. Take your now two giant pieces of fabric and iron flat all the seams you just made.

When you're done they should now be 2 continuous pieces of  fabric like this. Set one of them aside.

#4. Now take 1 ( you will NOT be doing this to the other long piece of fabric ) of the long strips of fabric you sewed together and lay it out with patterned side facing up.  With the patterned side up pin your piping, with the bulgy part facing down , along the top edge of your fabric. If you are using a patterned fabric that has a right and wrong direction, be sure your pattern is the correct direction and you are pinning along the top edge of the pattern.  Pin piping all the way to the end of your fabric.

#5. You should have 7 ties for the top of your bumper and 7 for the bottom of your bumper. Making a total of 14 ties. You will fold your tie's in a V shape before pinning to the edges of your fabric. They should look like the picture above when done pinning. When pinning, there should be one tie on both the top and bottom about every 27 inches starting with the first edge and continuing to the last edge. So 2 on each of the ends, 2 at each of the seams and 2 extra ones in the middle of each of the long seams.

#6. Once everything is pinned, with a zipper foot sew as close up to the bulged edge of piping as possible all the way down your fabric. This will also secure your top bumper ties. Then individually sew bottom ties.

This is what the top with piping and bumper ties should look like when you're done.

Your bottom ones should be directly underneath your top ones only sewn with no piping.

 This is where you add the zipper. It is kind of confusing, but bare with me! If you choose not to do a zipper just skip to step #13 and make sure to leave one end of your fabric open so you can put your foam in. You can also look at the picture at step #13 before doing the zipper to hopefully help you understand better.

#7. Take your 2 pieces of fabric (one with bumper ties and piping sewn to it and the other one we set aside at step #3)  and with patterned sides together (making sure your pattern is the correct direction) match up 2 of your short sides( two 13 3/4 inch sides) and sew the width of your sewing foot up 1 inch from the edge of your fabric. It should look like you are adding to the continuous strip of fabric to make one giant strip.

* Note: PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU HAVE MATCHED YOUR SEAMS FROM BOTH PIECES OF FABRIC BEFORE DOING THIS STEP.

#8. Then fold back about 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch of the fabric and iron back

#9.  Pin your zipper upside down on ironed seams.

#10. Flip fabric over when you're done pinning and it should look like this. Make sure the teeth on your zipper are not underneath any fabric. And everything is securely pinned.

#11 Put a pin at the end of the zipper where the sewn fabric starts. This way you know where to turn your fabric and sew back up the zipper.

#12. With a zipper foot sew as close to the edge of your fabric as you can.  Starting at the top of one side of your zipper, turning at the bottom to continue up the other side.

When you are done sewing around your zipper flip everything over and this is what it should look like. This also shows the inside bottom of the zipper.

Now all your fabric should be one super long piece that is connected by your zipper. If you do not understand, I recommend hand sewing the open end instead of putting your zipper in once your foam is in your finished bumper.

#13. After you have folded back your fabric at the zipper so patterned sides are together, make sure ALL seams match up and pin all of your fabric together. Also make sure all your bumper ties are inside with the patterned side of your fabric. *If you chose not to do a zipper, just lay fabric patterned sides together and match up all of your seams before pinning.

#14. On the top of one side of your fabric you should see the sewing line from adding your piping. So with a zipper foot sew on top of that line or as close as you can to it. * Do not go over the line otherwise you will not see your piping when you flip everything right side out. 

Then sew shut the rest of your open sides about a half inch in, unzip your zipper and flip right side out! If you did not add a zipper sew both long sides and one short side. With one end open flip everything right side out.

#15. Stuff your bumper with your foam, then zip closed or hand sew bumpers shut. I used 2 inch foam from Joann's and had them cut 2 long pieces that measure 50 1/2" x 12", and 2 short pieces that measure 23" x 12". I recommend buying the foam when you can get your hands on a 50% off coupon because otherwise it is $30 a yard. 

FINISHED PRODUCT!