Homemade bassinet covers add a special decorative touch to the baby's room. With the large variety of fabrics and trims available, the design possibilities are almost endless. Homemade bassinet covers are special because they are stitched together with love. With some fabric and a little imagination, you can make a bassinet cover that adds the perfect complement to your baby's room, whether you use a commercial pattern or create your own.
Use a Commercial Pattern
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There are benefits to using a commercial pattern to make a bassinet cover. Commercial patterns come in sizes to fit specific bassinet types and include step-by-step instructions. Simplicity, Butterick, Vogue and Berda offer bassinet patterns. Check online sources for patterns or visit your local fabric store. If you are new to sewing, visit Sewing.org for sewing tips and guidelines.
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Make Your Own Pattern
If you know how to take measurements and use a ruler, you can make your own bassinet cover pattern. Measure your bassinet to determine how much material you will need. First, measure the height from the top of the bassinet to the floor. Next, measure the outside circumference of the bassinet and double the number; you double the number to add fullness to the skirt. Use these numbers to measure your material for cutting. For example, if the height measurement is 27 inches and the circumference measurement is 89 inches, you will cut your material in a length and width of 178 inches (89 x 2) x 27 inches. For a bassinet cover of this size, you will need 5 yards of material and 5 yards of fabric lining (36 inches in a yard). You will also need thread, 2 1/2 yards of 1-inch elastic, 5 yards of 1-inch lace and 5 yards of 5-inch lace.
Lay the fabric on a large surface. If you are using the same fabric for the lining, fold the material two width wise. Use a yardstick to measure the width of the material. Mark the width you need (the height measurement) with a seamstress pencil. Mark the material about every 3 inches. Use the yardstick to draw a line linking all of the marks together and then cut along the line. You will not need to alter the fabric length. Measure and cut the lining in the same way; if you doubled the material width, the lining is already cut.
With the right sides of the fabric together, make the cover by sewing the vertical seam on both the lining and the fabric. Use pinking shears to trim the seams and iron to press seams open. Next, sew the vertical seam of the 5-inch lace. Lay the lace on the skirt with both pieces right side up. Align the tops and pin. Stitch the two pieces together in a 1/4-inch seam. With right sides together, stitch the tops of the skirt and lining together in a 1/2-inch seam. Turn the skirt to right side and press. Lift the lace out of the way and sew a seam around the entire circumference through the lining and fabric 1/2-inch from the top edge. Sew another seam 1 1/2 inches from the first seam, this time leaving a 1-inch opening between start and end of seam. Attach a safety pen to the end of the elastic and tread through the opening between the two seams. Sew the ends of elastic together. Sew the opening in the bottom seam. To finish the skirt, sew the ends of the 1-inch lace together, and then sew it to the bottom of skirt with the right side of the lace against the right side of the skirt and edges aligned. Fold the lace down and stitch close to the fabric edge. Machine hem the lining in a 1/4-inch hem. To attach to bassinet, simply slide the skirt over the outside edges. The elastic in the skirt top will hold the cover in place.