Fitted Sheets for Play Pen - Tutorial

Since the arrival of grandchildren, much of my sewing has shifted from quilting to making baby items. I have made insulated baby curtains, receiving blankets, burp clothes, bum wipes, bibs, quilts, fitted crib sheets and recently (yesterday) fitted play pen sheets.  I had a pattern for crib sheets but could not find one for a play pen anywhere.  Hence this tutorial.

Required materials for one fitted sheet:

• 1-1/3 yards of washed, dried and ironed flannel fabric
• two 18 inch pieces of 3/8" elastic
• thread

Tools:

• iron
• sewing machine
• serger (optional)
• two safety pins one small and one large

Directions:

• Fold the fabric in half and then quarters.
• Cut the fabric on the open edges to 23" by 16.5"  if using a sewing machine without a serger cut the fabric (23.5" by 17") half an inch bigger to fold under the raw edge when hemming. 
• Cut out a 3" by 3" square in the raw edge corner.  Unfold the fabric and pin the corners with right sides together.

Stitch all four corners together with 1/2" to 5/8" seam allowance. Serge the seam allowance or zig-zag the seam allowance after stitching it shut.

Knot the corner thread tale. 

Serge the entire raw edge of the sheet.  Or fold the edge over 1/2", iron into place, tuck the raw edge over 1/4" then hem entire sheet.

Mark with a straight pin 8" away from the corner seam on the long sides of the sheet.

 This will be the starting point of the casing for the elastic.

Fold over half an inch and stitch leaving about a 2" opening to insert the elastic.

 

Now comes the fun part.  Pin one end of the elastic with small safety pin and the other end with the large safety pin.

Insert the small pin into the casing and thread it around the short end of the sheet.

Pull the little safety pin out.  Gather the fabric tighter in the middle of the casing and pin the elastic in place at both casing openings with straight pins.  Remove the safety pins, stitch the elastic ends and then stitch the casing ends closed.  Repeat on other end of sheet and its finished.

Standard padded bottom that came with the play pen.

This sheet is big enough for a thicker mattress, which I made for my play pen using 2" of upholstery foam and outdoor waterproof patio fabric.

Dear readers, if you use this tutorial please let me know if it was user friendly.  Happy stitching all.