Using the template as a pattern, make up side
panels twice in fabric with a 12 mm (1 in) seam allowance along the lower edge
and 20 cm (8 in) top turning. Make up the same shape in wadding, with no seam
allowance. Fit the wadding between the fabric side panels and tack along upper
and lower edges. Quilt the sides of the lining: this is particularly effective
if you make vertical rows of stitching, spaced 5-10 cm apart, using a narrow
zigzag stitch.
Make a line of stitching around the top of the side panels,
level with the top of the wadding. Press under a 12 mm (t in) turning around
both layers of fabric. Stitch together close to the edge, then again 2 cm (4
in) from the first line of stitching to make a casing. Add a top stitched frill besides
the casing. 3 Fit the base to the side panels. Insert elastic into the casing
to hold the lining in place. If the basket has handles, mark and cut a slot in
both layers of fabric for the handles to slip through. Make two diagonal snips
at each end of the slash, and press under a narrow turning all around the
opening, or bind with a bias strip of contrasting fabric. Slip stitch folded
edges together.
A FITTED COT SHEET
Not all cots are standard
sizes, so you may find it helpful to make your own fitted sheets for the nursery.
If you use stretch toweling, you can be sure of a tight fit. Measure up the cot
mattress. Cut out a single panel of stretch towel- ling, allowing the depth of
the mattress all around, plus an extra 15cm to wrap under the mattress and for
turning. With the right side of the fabric facing the mattress, pin the seam
lines at each corner. Tack the seams, then remove the cover from the mattress
and stitch the seams. Trim the fabric from the seam allowance and neaten the
raw edges together. 2 Turn under a 12 mm (1 in) double hem along all the raw
edges.
Stitch the turnings in place, beginning and ending stitching 8 cm from
each corner seam. To make elasticated corners, take four pieces of 6 mm wide
elastic, each 10 cm (4 in) long. Pin the elastic over the turnings at each
corner of the sheet, and stitch in place with a zigzag stitch, stretching the
elastic as you stitch.
A COT BUMPER Use washable
fabrics and quilt the bumpers with heavyweight polyester wadding. The
instructions here are for a bound edge - but bumpers can equally well be
finished with a frilled or piped edge. Measure across the inside of the top and
half way down the sides of the cot and Decide where the ties should be
positioned - the top edge of the bumper should be tied to corner posts and to
bars half way down the side of the cot. If the cot has a solid headboard, make
long ties which can fasten around the back of the headboard.
Cut main panels of
fabric and a layer of wadding to the finished measurements. Join widths of
fabric with flat seams and the wadding with a lapped seam if necessary. Cut a
15 cm wide strip to bind the edges of the bumper; these strips need not be cut
on the bias since they do not have to be eased around curves. Cut four ties, 20 cm
long and the 5 cm wide. Sandwich the wadding between the two panels of fabric,
right sides outwards; pin, then tack together all around the edges. Tack at
intervals to hold the layers in place while you stitch the quilting - tack
along the length of the bumper for vertical stitching, or up and down for
horizontal quilting.
Turn under 2.5 cm down each long edge of the binding, position
on the inner side of the quilted panel, with the raw edge of the binding 2.5 cm
from the edge of the panel, right sides together. Stitch along the fold line,
making tucks to turn the corners.
Turn the binding over to the
outside of the quilted panel and slip stitch in place by hand or machine just
inside the previous line of stitching. Make up ties by turning in 12 mm (! in)
down each long edge and then folding in half, press and stitch, turning in the
ends. Stitch the center of each tie to the appropriate point on the outside of
the binding by hand. Do not make the ties too long; if they were to come
untied, they could become entwined around a baby's neck.
POCKET STORAGE A
simple fabric pocket storage system, hung on the back of the door or at the
foot of the cot, can be used to store baby-changing equipment or small items of
clothing. Decide on a suitable overall size for the storage system: about 60 cm
wide by 100 cm (40 in) deep is suitable for most needs. Plan the size and number
of pockets: the instructions here are for three rows of pockets across the
width of the panel, 30cm.
