Crib bumpers!

Why, yes, I did cut up a shower curtain, a tablecloth, and a brand-new fleece blanket to make bumpers for Caleb's crib. (That first cut was so scary! Me being me, a recovering perfectionist, I was doubtful they would turn out well, simply because I was winging it in a big way. Sean, of course, was very optimistic and certain they would turn out great.) I just finished sewing the last little edges TODAY, after starting the project a few months ago. This was a fun project, though it ended up being "The Project That Will Not Die." I called it that because of my own fluctuating motivation, really. That, and finding time when Caleb was asleep or awake, depending on what I needed to do (work with pins on the living room floor: asleep; measure crib and mark tie locations: awake). The pieces sat, pinned and partly cut out, for weeks at a time.

First, I measured the crib and figured out what size to make my pattern pieces (taped-together printer paper), and pinned the pieces to my shower curtain (a lovely Target find from my apartment days that we were not using, AND it coordinates with the blue-green color scheme of Caleb's room).

My chicken-scratch calculations

The cutting has begun!! After cutting out the floral, I pinned the two fabrics right-side together, using the floral fabric now as the pattern and tossing the paper patterns.

 

 Here are the ties (i.e. cut-up hems): I made thirty-six 10" strips to be sewn into the seams of my bumpers.

 And here the ties are tucked into the right sides of the fabric, ready to be sewn up.

 Partially sewn! I am so thankful for this sewing machine, passed down from our neighbor/friend Angela, after she passed away. 

 Short sides done (except for slip-stitching the side I used to turn it right-side out!

I had to try them on for size! The ties aren't perfectly placed, since I measured only once, and that very unofficially (holding up the fabric to the slats with my fingers and not using a tape measure).

Short sides tied on! You can see the middle of the left side is still open, not sewn shut yet.

Here's a close-up of one of the ties: some of them are half sage, half floral because of the yardage of the pieces I had. I cut off the seams of both curtain and tablecloth, and ended up using them for the ties! It was a very economical idea, there was just enough to go around, and the ties coordinate perfectly. I don't mind the frayed edges; it adds to the charm, I think.

 I just had to include a photo of my bright-eyed, bushy-tailed boy! 

 Finished product! I am soooo excited to have them finally done! Since there is only one layer of fleece to soften them, instead of a foam pad, Caleb can easily pull them down. But at least they look pretty and will cushion his noggin from the rails, as long as I keep pulling them back up into place!

Total out-of-pocket cost: ZERO!!!! I was really excited about that.  :)