How I Made DIY Bassinet Mattress Covers (Because Spit Happens)
Why Make Your Own Bassinet Covers?
I’ll tell you why: Spit happens. And let’s not even get started on the other mysterious fluids that appear out of nowhere. Newborns may be tiny, but their ability to create laundry rivals that of a football team after a muddy match.
Store-bought bassinet covers? Lovely, overpriced, and somehow never in the wash when you need them. So, I decided to take matters (and fabric) into my own hands and make a stash of washable covers - because anything that reduces late-night emergency laundry sessions is a win in my book.
Also, let’s be real: I had plenty of fabric scraps lying around, and any excuse to use them up is a good one.
What You’ll Need:
Fabric: Preferably soft, breathable, and washable (because… well, see above). I used an old (and ripped) peach-coloured linen bed sheet, a cotton yellow floral remnant I found in the remnant bin in Spotlight Stores, and a quilting cotton I was given by a friend.
Elastic: To keep things snug and stop baby from wriggling the cover off like a tiny escape artist. I used 1cm wide elastic (left over from the bed sheet).
Sewing machine & basic supplies: Scissors, pins, and a questionable amount of coffee.
How I Made Them (And How You Can Too!)
PSA: If you’re a visual learner check out my Instagram reel on how I made these.
Measure the mattress – Width, length, and height. Write them down somewhere safe (read: not just in your head).
Draft your pattern piece – You can use paper or go full rebel and draw straight onto your fabric. You’re essentially making a big rectangle with square cutouts at each corner. Don’t forget to:
Add seam allowance (I used 1cm) to the width and length.
Add extra to the height measurement for the elastic casing (unless you enjoy unpicking later).
See the diagram for help visualising this.
Cut the fabric – The point of no return.
Sew the corners – Match up those square cutouts and sew them together to create the mattress shape. For durability, overlock the seam or finish it however you like (or don’t – I’m not here to judge your sewing habits).
Make the elastic casing –
The proper way: Double fold the edge for a neat finish.
The lazy way (my way): Overlock the raw edge, fold once, and call it a day.
Either way, leave a gap big enough to thread your elastic through (about 2-3cm if using 1cm wide elastic).Thread the elastic – A task that shouldn’t require as much concentration as it does, patience, a safety pin, and possibly a few choice words.
Sew the casing shut – Because loose elastic is nobody’s friend.
Fit check – Stretch it over the mattress and admire your work. Voilà! A washable, reusable, and (let’s be honest) far cuter cover than anything you’d find in the shops.
The End Result?
A bassinet that doesn’t look like it’s in a constant state of emergency - plus covers I can swap out faster than my baby can produce insert mystery fluid here (which, frankly, is impressive).
If I could go back in time, I’d tell my pregnant self to make ten of these instead of wasting time on yet another impractical maternity dress that wasn’t even breastfeeding-friendly. Future parents, take note.
Want More Sewing Shenanigans?
If you enjoy a good DIY (or just like watching someone else do the hard work), make sure to subscribe to my blog for more sewing adventures, tutorials, and questionable decision-making.
Have you made something for your baby that you actually used (or completely regretted)? Let me know in the comments below - I love a good sewing win… or fail!
Now, excuse me while I go make mattress covers for her cot…
Bassinet covers: made with love, photographed in pure chaos. Trying to get 'aesthetic' shots with a crawling baby determined to locate every hazard in the room? Basically an Olympic event. So please enjoy these poorly lit, messy-background photos - because survival came first.