Make it: Changing pad cover

I initially set out to follow the tutorial over on Dana's blog, MADE, to make a crib sheet for the bambino's future crib. I went to Joann's and purchased some simple dark gray with white polka-dot fabric, since I have decided to do a predominantly gray and white nursery, with splashes of color here and there. I feel like this simplified color palette leaves me lots of options, and since I won't be setting up a permanent nursery until the boy's about 3 months old, it gives me a base to start from without being too committed to a theme. As of right now, I am totally LOVING this nursery, pictured from spearmint baby's website. My favorite thing about it?? The gray sheets & the polka dot changing pad cover. Seriously, I love gray. Oh, and the crib. Even better, the crib is from Walmart, baby!

Anyways, long story short, the pattern for the crib sheet requires 2 yards of fabric. After being pre-washed, the instructions call for a rectangle to be cut out measuring 45" x 67". My problem? After pre-washing, my fabric was only 43" wide. Time for plan B.

Plan B: Changing Pad cover. Tutorial used: Prudent Baby DIY changing pad cover.

Their tutorial states that this cover will fit a standard changing pad (32"L X 16"W X 3-4"H).

So, here's how my intended crib sheet ended up becoming a changing pad cover instead...

1)Cut out a rectangle measuring 48"x 32".

2) Fold fabric in 1/2 length wise, and again width wise, leaving you with a smaller rectangle with all four corners together in the left upper corner.

3) Using a ruler ( I like to use my trusty carpenter's square as pictured below), cut out an 8" square through all 4 layers.

Unfold fabric, and you're left with one large rectangle, with all 4 corners missing.

I then serged the straight edges of the fabric ( leaving out the cut out corners) because I like the finished look it provides, and it keeps the fabric from fraying , plus, I am really not that great at ironing, so the less I have to fold and press, the better my projects turn out.

Match up the cut out corners, and sew together. In my case, I serged them together. This creates the "pocket" to go over the corner of the changing pad.Turn the "pockets" under, and then it's time to create a casing for your elastic.

Get your iron out, and press a 3/4" casing around the entire sheet. Pin to keep in place.

Sew a 1/2" casing around the sheet, leaving an opening to thread your elastic through at one of the corners. I used blue thread to make it easier to see ( that's a lie--I was too lazy to change my thread out, and since it will be the underside of my sheet, who cares?) Thread 36" of 1/4" elastic through your casing. I like to use a safety pin on the end of my elastic to help ease it through. Once it's been threaded all the way around, sew a few stitches to keep the ends secured to one another. Once the elastic is in, you can finish straight stitching the casing closed.

And, there you have it, a fitted changing pad cover. I'd show it to you on our changing pad, but we don't have one yet!

If you want to see the "finished project" check out prudent baby's tutorial. They got fancy with theirs and made it two toned.