The winner is Robin! She said, “I love Going Coastal!”
Send an email to kelseyatvanillajoydotcom to claim your prize and congrats!
THE PRIZE
One reader will win a selection of the Lagoon/Guitar Michael Miller quilting fabric prints used in this project!
CRIB BUMPER TUTORIAL
I finally finished the crib bumper and am one step closer to having this room ready for a baby!
Again, I used all Michael Miller quilting fabrics (in the lagoon color story) for the bedding. (photo from trueup.net)
I love how Michael Miller separates their fabrics into color stories rather than just separate collections. The mixing/matching possibilities are endless, and I love how they do all the coordinating work for you. I LOVE all the new fabrics in the Citron Gray color story, don’t you?!?
Anyway, I learned some things with this bumper and made some improvements over my last crib bumper tutorial – I liked the bound edges but it was quite a bit more work.
The biggest difference between the two patterns is that I used actual crib bumper pads this time, which I absolutely recommend. They’re thicker and will hold up better over time. Piecing together thickish batting works, but it’s not as nice as the bumper pads.
***SUGGESTION: Before you purchase fabric or begin sewing, read the instructions all the way through. I give two different methods for cutting the interior and exterior panels, one of which will save you 1 1/3 yards of fabric but is a little more complicated. Honestly, just a little…
MATERIALS
- crib bumper pads ($15 with a 50% off coupon at JoAnn)
- 1 1/3 yards fabric for exterior panels
- 1 1/3 yards fabric for interior panels
- 1/3 yard for ties (or you should have enough scraps leftover)
CUTTING INSTRUCTIONS
- For interior panels
- cut 4, 11 3/4″ strips (across the width of the fabric. pieces will be 11 3/4″ x width of fabric)
- sew 4 panels together along the short ends to get one big long piece
- from that big long piece, cut 6 pieces 27 1/2″ long each
- sew 6 interior panels (27 1/2″ x 11 3/4″) together at the short ends using a 1/2″ seam
- press seams open
- Repeat above for exterior panels
- For ties
- Cut 12 strips, 2″ x 22″
- Cut 2 small strips, 2″ x 2 1/2″
***ALTERNATIVE CUTTING INSTRUCTIONS
This method requires the same materials except you’ll need 2 yards interior fabric and 2 yards exterior fabric.
- For exterior & interior panels
- cut 6 panels, 11 3/4″ x 27 1/2″
- For ties
- Cut 12 strips, 2″ x 22″
- Cut 2 short strips, 2″ x 2 1/2″
You’ll end up with the same thing, you’ll just use 1 1/3 yards more fabric with the second method.
At this point you should have 2 long panels of fabric that are exactly the same size.
Make the ties
To make the ties, press the short ends of all 14 strips (12 long and 2 short) each in 1/2″. Press in half lengthwise. Open strips and press the outer edges in half to the center line. Press in half again so that there are 4 layers of fabric.
OR use a bias taper maker for the first step and press the strip in half, again so that there are 4 layers of fabric and the unfinished edges are tucked in the inside.
Top stitch along the very edge of the ties to finish. Sew along one short end, the long end, and the opposite short end.
Put it all together:
1. Fold the short strips in half matching the short ends and baste about 1″ from the top and bottom edges of one interior panel.
2. Pin interior and exterior panels together matching seams and raw edges. (With the first cutting method you’ll end up with more seams, just make sure you match up the ones you create when sewing the 27 1/2″ panels together.)
3. Measure 8″ in either direction from each seam and mark. (You’ll have 5 seams to mark.)
4. Beginning 8″ in from the bottom edge of one corner (see photo 1) begin sewing toward the short edge with a 1/2″ seam. Sew to the corner, up the short edge (#2), back along the top long edge (#3) until you come to the next corner (#4). Turn the corner and go down the opposite short side (#5), turn the corner again and sew until you reach your 8″ mark (#6).
5. Along the bottom edge (I’ve turned it around so it looks like the top edge in the picture…sorry), begin sewing at each mark 8″ from the seam. Sew toward the seam until you reach your next mark, leaving 10″ between seams open. This is where you’ll insert the bumper pad.
6. Before turning right sides out, clip the corners by cutting off the tip of the corner about 1/8″ – 1/4″ from the stitching line. Blend the clip in from both sides to make turning the points easier and cleaner.
7. Turn right side out.
8. Press the edges flat. I also like to fold down the seam along the open portion and press to make hand sewing at the end much easier. Fold each edge in 1/2″ so it matches the rest of the bumper and press.
9. Match up the seams on the interior and exterior panels and stitch in the ditch to keep the bumper pads separated in their own little compartments.
Attach the ties
Find the center of each tie and match it with the seam separating the compartments for the bumper pads. Sew the ties to the interior side, backstitching at each end.
Insert bumper pads and slip stitch the 6 openings closed.
WHEW! Hopefully that all makes sense – it’s really pretty easy once you get all the pieces cut.
Please let me know if you have questions!
GIVEAWAY RULES
- Visit Michael Miller Fabrics
- Make a comment on this post telling me your favorite quilting fabric collection before midnight Sunday, July 24.
- A winner will be selected and announced in a new post on Monday.
- Only one comment per person unless you earn extra entries.
- Giveaway open only to residents of the continental United States…sorry.
- Winners must email me to claim their prize within 5 days.
EARN EXTRA ENTRIES
You may earn 1 extra entry each for doing the following (make a separate comment for each thing you do):
- Like Michael Miller Fabrics on Facebook
- Subscribe to the Michael Miller Fabrics Blog
- Subscribe to Vanilla Joy on YouTube
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- Facebook about the contest with a link back here
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- Add my button to your sidebar
- Comment on any non-contest post (must contribute to the conversation)
GOOD LUCK and THANKS!
{These products were provided to Vanilla Joy for review purposes.}
{ 99 comments… read them below or add one }
I like the sorbet. it’s on the main page and when i saw it I didn’t even look any farther. it would look GREAT in my daughters yellow bedroom!
I like Michael Miller fabrics on FB!!
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Love the citron gray – gray is so popular now.
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I love Going Coastal!
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I like the “Kids Other” Collection bc it has a lot of prints for boys and girls. I love that bc I have one of each and buying different fabric from both gets a little much.
I get your news letter
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I am a fan of MM fabric on facebook.
I scribe to MM blog. They have great projects for free! :D
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I follow you on Youtube. Quick question though, Who won last week? I looked and couldn’t find it.
I love the plain jane collection.
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I love the It’s A Girl Thing and Citron & Gray color stories.
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I really like the Lagoon too! I am really into the turquoise and green combo right now, plus all my family (but me) play the guitar! Another great one it Grand Bazaar Painted Palace.
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My favorite of his lines is Sarah Jane’s “Children at Play”.
I follow Making It Fun, the Michael Miller blog.
I commented on “NonFiction Favorites”. (Great topic!)
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I like the Aqua Red Color Collection & Sorbet – SO CUTE!
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LOVE the crib bumper tutorial btw, thank you!
the contemporary floral line speaks to me
I love the Cocoa: Silvia….I have a new grandbaby on the way! Would be nice to make new bumper pads with some gorgeous fabric!
I love the sea zoology! the sorbet set is adorable as well! thanks.
i also get your emails! thanks!
I like the Sorbet collection!
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Gyspy Bandana for the best mama))
Citron gray is gorgeous, but I also love the secret garden line also, if I need to be unique. I love those red/coral colors.
Hello,
Just found your site while looking for a new bag pattern to make. I love the site and all its fun. I am new to the computer crafting world and having so much fun discovering new people, places and things to see…..lol….thank you for turning us on to Michael Moore fabrics….going there right now. craft on….Mindy
I’m making the crib bumper. In your pictures it appears that the black material is what connects the bumper pads together. (view #5) Do I need to cut additional material? I don’t see that listed in the directions.
No, I only used the black because I didn’t have enough of the other. It was a pain…but I like how it turned out. The instructions assume you have enough fabric.
What are the small ties used for?
Thank you so much for your tutorial! I do have a question though. It seems that your bumper is one long continuous piece. However, in the tutorial, it says to cut out the individual pieces. I am wanting to make a bumper exactly like this, but just a little confused. PLEASE help!! Thank you so much!
Jennifer
You cut the pieces separate and then sew them together. You use 6 bumper pads and there will be a seam in between each one so each pad is in its own little pocket. Let me know if you need more help!
I was wondering what the small ties are used for? I’ve read thru the instructions several times, and can’t seem to figure out what exactly they are used for?!?
Thanks for your tutorial! I’m just a little confused about the small ties…you say where to attach them, but don’t ever say again how they are used, or how they connect to the other end…and for that matter, what do you do with the other end of the bumper? Do you sew two ties–one on top and one on bottom–to the short side of the last panel? A little clarification would be great!
You sew the little loops on one end and regular ties to the other end and then hook the ties through the loops to pull the ends together really tight so there’s not a big gap. Hope that helps!
Love this tutorial and I am really hoping that I can make my own crib bumpers as I cant find a set that really goes with my nursery theme. But Im wondering what width of fabric you used? Other tutorials that Ive found require 45″ wide fabric and Im just having a hard time finding fabric that size that I like.
I typically plan on my fabric being 42″ wide. Sometimes it’s wider, but the width shouldn’t really matter. I sewed together panels and then cut them down to the right width for each bumper pad piece.
Love this tutorial but I have a quick question for you! Once you get the 4 panels sewn together could you just mark where your 27 1/2″ would be and skip the cutting it apart and then having to sew it back together?
Thank you for your tutorial. I loved the idea of the tabs for the corner. It’s a brilliant idea for closing that gap. I made this for a friend and will post pictures on my facebook later if you want to peek.
https://www.facebook.com/cutiebugdesigns
Thanks again.
You definitely could and that would be so smart!
Your bumper pad looks great! I have sewn a few sets of crib bedding before, but i’ve only done bumper pads once, and I ran into the problem of the batting bunching together when washed. So, my question is did you sew the batting to the fabric inside, or how do you keep the bumper pad insert from sliding around?
The pads are pretty tight inside the cover, I don’t think it will move around, but I haven’t tried washing it yet. On one of the sections I did a zipper closure with the idea that I would remove the batting when I wash it. Doing zippers instead of just sewing the pads in is a little more tedious, but it would make the fabric cover easy to change and wash. If the batting does move around, I would maybe try lightly quilting it or something. Good luck!
I like the tutorial but I am wondering what the 2 short straps on the inside of the bumper are for. Also your tutorial says to sew the other straps to the inside of the bumper but the pictures show them sewed to the outside panels. Thank you for the wonderful project.
Sorry, just saw the answer in a previous post. Thank you again.
I absolutely love Groovy Guitar-Lime. I saw it on Pinterest and knew instantly that’s what I wanted the nursery done in. My baby boy is due Aug. 3rd. I’m so excited to see how his room turns out :) Thanks.
LOVE your tutorials! Thanks so much! I’m finishing making sheets, bumper pads and crib skirts for my friend’s twins…so every think x 2!! You made it really easy! :)
great work! 1 question…if i attach the fabric and it has a print, will it match up? since you have the black fabric at the seams it looks like it doesn’t matter but if I don’t have that, I’m not sure it will match. please help:)
It completely depends on the size of the repeat in the pattern. You’ll just have to look and see…good luck!
I love the sorbet collection, spa flowers in particular!
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i’m going to attempt to make this for my little boys nursery. I’m going for just white and the michael miller groovy guitar (grey) fabric. Just one question though… I live in the UK so obviously the sizes of our cribs/cots are different. typically how should i measure out my squares to fit accordingly? x
sorry if this is a really dumb question *blush*
Can you please do a video tutorial!!!!!! I love your stuff. I don’t understand all the 8″ stuff. I got so lost and also why 2 different sizes in the exterior and interior material? It says cut 4 pieces and then 6 pieces… I don’t get it!!! Omg I am so sorry I am slow
I’m so stuck! I’ve sewn my 6 panels (interior and exterior) of 27.5 x 11.75 together, I’ve pinned the interior and exterior panels together, matched seams and raw edges. I’ve measured 8′ in either direction from each seam and now the steps of numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 have stumped me. It appears that I will be sewing a box of nothing together. If I “begin 8′ in from the bottom edge of one corner and I begin sewing .5′ seam, what corner am I sewing to? If I sew a box, how could I turn the right sides out? I think I’ve over analyzed this :( but its for my grandson and his shower is next week!! Thank you and your site is AWESOME TO THE MAX
You have to leave a little space open to turn through and you’ll hand sew it closed. Does that answer your question?? It’s so hard to talk about sewing with words…
Basically you sew all the way around but leave a space in each panel to turn it inside out. If you sew all the way around you won’t be able to turn it – you have to leave a hole to turn through. Hope that helps!
Agreed. This could use a video. Also why do you need 6 different openings? Can’t you stick in one piece of foam. Slide it down, top stitch and then slide the next one in? I think I’m envisioning this wrong.
Silly question here… can I use this to just recover one of the old bumper pads I already have?
I can’t figure out how to add the black panels or what size to cut the pieces. It doesn’t talk about that part in the tutorials. I’m at that point now and can’t finish. HELP!!!
You can totally use bumper pads you already have. Great idea.
I only added the black panels because I didn’t have enough of the other fabric. The tutorial says how long each panel should be, I had to make up the difference with the black fabric. You can use another contrasting fabric on the ends, just make sure the total length of each panel is the same as what is indicated in the tutorial.
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