In case you missed Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3 and Chapter 4.
This is Chapter 5… titled CRIB BEDDING
This is the camera phone edition… my apologies.
Disclaimer: I do not sew. I send everything out to a seamstress. If you are looking for a seamstress in your area – try the phone book or google, and as strange as this may sound – I would check references. A good seamstress is hard to come by. I do spend hours estimating yardage and drawing up the details of the items that are being sewn up… but I'd hate to lead you astray and make you think I did this handiwork pictured below. I did design it, but I did not sew it.
The cribskirt:
Normal bedskirts are made with a deck (the part of the bedskirt that is sandwiched between your mattress and boxsprings)… and they are 4 sided (foot of bed, two sides (the length of the bed), and a deck). However, a usual bedskirt is not on a bed that needs to be dropped/lowered every few months. A crib is a different story. I've done cribskirts a few different ways in the past, but decided that this system is the most logical.
Three individual sides that tie to the spring system. One of the long sides of my crib is against the wall, omitting the need for a 4th side (it'll be hidden against the wall anyway). I like a skirt to "kiss" the floor… not be dangling up in mid-air. Nothing against dangling up in mid-air, it's just not my look. SO… each side of the crib skirt is a separate panel, and as you lower the coil/spring system and mattress you can tie the skirt a little further up up the spring deck so your look will be consistent (your skirt can kiss the floor still, regardless of your mattress height). I had mine black-out lined… the weight of the lining makes it stay in place better, and just works better for the flat panel style of my skirt panels. Had the style been gathered or ruffled, I would not have used black-out lining, probably wouldn't have used any lining at all actually.
Here I am hunched over the crib tying the skirt panels to the spring system. Friend was watching and thought you readers would appreciate an action shot. I couldn't reach the side panels as my belly wouldn't allow me to get close enough.
See the ties? See the rust on the spring system? I wish it wasn't there. Remember it was my crib and has been in my grandmother's cellar for years. One Saturday afternoon I hooked a wire brush to Chance's drill and tried to get the rust off and gave up after nearly injuring myself. I don't think it will pose a threat as it is not accessible from anyplace the baby would ever be.
Another shot of how the skirt panel tied on.
The bumper pads:
I am aware that there is risk, danger, and warranted concern about bumper pads, will take them out of the crib when the little girl is of an age when they become a danger. There are mesh/breathable bumpers out there, and while they aren't as cute, they are safer. Thank you for being concerned about the well-being of my daughter, I would never want to do anything that might potentially harm her.
The ties, boxing, and welt cord are the stripe I mentioned I had installed on the diagonal. The ties are each 23" long before being looped into a bow. I wanted big bows, so I had to have long ties. I've never been into bows, but they seemed right. The cotton ivory fabric (bumper face) is just some extra that was in my "stash", I prewashed it and shrunk it… so when she vomits and poops on it I won't have a stroke. I will likely handwash them when necessary. The bumper covers are slipcovers (zipped on bottom), removable with cushions beneath.
In this photo below the end bumpers weren't set in place yet… they rest square between the long side bumpers.
I wasn't alone in this endeavor, I had a friend and my husband helping me. Friend tied the bows… said her grandmother taught her how, she nailed it. So much so that I untied the bows I made and had her re-tie them. I need a lesson in bow-tying.
Next chapter I will show you the draperies, they went up this very same night. It's coming together! The new chair should be here this week or next.
To answer some questions:
The paint on the crib is Ralph Lauren Regent Metallics, as I pointed out in Chapter 2. I had the crib stripped and primed and then painted (they sprayed it). The paint can is not in front of me, but I am guessing that it is latex paint… the website simply says "interior finish". There is not a clear top coat on it, the paint finish is very nice (remember, I told you I had great painters) and it wasn't necessary… plus I didn't want it to be a glossy finish, it's already gold for goodness sake.
"When she chews on the crib" comments/questions… I have the plastic rail protector that covers the side rails- they are just ugly and I will wait until this becomes an issue to put them on.
The Oscar de la Renta fabric: to my knowledge it is discontinued. I have searched endlessly since I bought it 3+ years ago and have not been able to find it again.
The stripe on the bumpers is Artmark Fabric – Jigsaw Stripe in color "Petal"… nothing fancy, just turned on diagonal (in my opinion) makes it so much more interesting!
by Erika
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