How to Make a Baby Crib Bumper

Materials:

2 3/8 yd. of desired fabric (with or without nap) 45” wide

1 5/8 yd. high loft batting (padding) 45” wide
3 packages of ½” wide double fold bias tape (OR 7 yards of 1 to 1 ½” wide ribbon)
Thread
Pattern/Tracing/Tissue paper

Seam allowances are 1/2” unless otherwise noted.

(NOTE: I have chosen to serge most of the seams rather than sew them, so my
images may differ slightly from yours.)

Instructions:

1. Begin by making a pattern piece out of tissue paper that is 27” long by 10”
wide. Label this pattern piece “1-SIDE”. (This piece will be placed on the
fold to create a fabric piece that is twice as long as the pattern piece.)

2. Create a second pattern piece using the same dimensions but label this one
“2-END”. (NOTE: If you do not wish to make pattern pieces, you may
simply measure out the dimensions on your fabric using a yard stick.)

3. You will need 4 pieces of pattern “1-SIDE”, placed on the fold of the fabric,
as well as 2 copies placed on the fold of the batting. (see image below)

4. You will need 4 pieces of pattern “2-END” cut from fabric, as well as 2
copies cut from batting. (see image below)
5. Begin making front of bumper: Pin together (right sides facing OUT) each
side batting to a side fabric. Stitch around all four sides. (Put aside extra
side fabric pieces; they will be used to make the back of the bumper later.)
Repeat with end pieces.
6. Once you have 2 side and 2 end pieces sewn to batting, pin them together
side-end-side-end, so that you have a long train. Make sure you have pinned
right sides together with the batting facing out. Sew along the seam.

7. Repeat step 7 with the remaining pieces of fabric which will be the back of
the bumper, disregarding batting.
8. Pin front and back of bumper together, with right sides together with batting
facing out. Make sure to match seams.
9. Cut nine pieces of ribbon or bias tape each 16” long. (You may want to
make them longer if you plan on tying them in a bow. I chose to make mine
25” long since my ribbon was so thick.)
10. If using bias tape, turn ½” on each end to inside. Stitch the length of the
bias tape closed, stitching close to opening.
11. Fold ties in half. Pin ties on the INSIDE (between the two layers of fabric)
of the bumper so that just the fold peeks out. (See image for locations)

(Be sure to pin the ties to the inside of the bumper so that the ends are not
accidentally sewn into a seam)
12.Sew three sides of the bumper together leaving one of the short ends open in
order to turn it inside out.
13. Turn bumper inside out. This can be done pretty easily just by reaching
your arm all the way in, grabbing the end, and pulling it out.
14. Stitch over seams between the long and short pieces in order to keep the
bumper flat.
15. Stitch the final end closed by folding the raw edge in and hand stitching it
with a drawing stitch.
16.If using ribbon as ties, you may want to take a lighter and slightly singe the
edges in order to keep in from raveling. (Be careful not to catch it on fire!
Flame does not need to touch the ribbon; the heat from holding it close will
melt it. You may want to do this near a sink just in case…)