crib book/toy holder tutorial

here is a quick tutorial for a little hangy thingy for your child’s crib…fill it with books, toys, or binkies to keep them happy after naps. (or before…)

Click below for more details!

You’ll need: sturdy fabric
interfacing
snaps
ribbon (to decorate)
thread, sewing machine, yada yada…the basics.

first, measure your crib to make sure these measurements work…if they’re different, you’ll have to adjust obviously…but i think most crib slats are standard sizes these days… don’t quote me on that.

I cut my main pieces of fabric 19″x 16″, allowing 1/2″ seam allowance, so your finished holder should be 18″ x15″ (ish) You’ll need two of this size.

Apply your interfacing with the instructions included.
cut 6 pieces of fabric 2 1/4″ x 10″ (again, make sure, if your top crib bar is wide, to lengthen these pieces so they’ll be able to wrap around the bar.

Apply your interfacing to these pieces, then cut each piece in half.
taking your strips of material, sew two pieces, right sides facing together, along three sides, making sure one of the narrow ends is open for turning. Trim corners and edges, and turn right side out. press with your iron.
this is what your straps should now look like. half way there!
back to measurements…when i measured where i wanted my straps, i made sure they fell between each bar. I placed them at, measuring from the left, 3/4″, 7 1/2″, AND 13 3/4″. didn’t get a picture of this, but then, placing the straps at the correct measurements, sew right sides of your large pieces of fabric together, with the raw edges of the straps poking out of your seam. (hope that made sense.) turn right side out, and make sure it lines up on your crib. adjust if necessary!
now if you’d like to embellish your pocket a little, now’s your shot. i folded up the bottom edge so that the pocket measured about 5-6 inches deep. then i lined up some ribbon, sewed it into place along the bottom of one of the pieces.

now, placing right sides together, sew around the whole large piece of fabric, and leave a space to turn, about 3-4″. turn right side out, press all edges, fold up the pocket, (sew along the top of the pocket first, before sewing around the outside edges)

and sew along the outside edges. (use a heavy duty needle…cause it’s thick stuff!)
set your snaps on your straps, and you’re good to go!
let me know if you have any questions! thanks!

this tutorial was featured on craft gossip!

***If you have used any of my tutorials, I’d love if you’d add a quick pic to my flicker group! Thanks!***

Comments

  1. AWESOME!!! I’m totally gonna make one for my son’s crib!

  2. I’m sorry, I’m not really comfortable being negative about someone’s creativity but I’m having a hard time leaving here without saying anything. I’m REALLY worried about the safety of this in a crib IMO the risk of a little one hanging themselves on this is high. Sorry, just thinking of your littlest one and all of the others out there.

  3. Melita, i did think about that before i made this, believe me! safety is number one! I would not use this if I didn’t feel it was safe enough for my child. I’m also not sure how how a baby would go about hanging themselves on this…but it’s something i would use with an older child. even if my daughter could get it unhooked, there are no long enough parts that would be an issue, basically it’s just a piece of fabric with a pocket then. let me know if you have any other reservations, or how this could be dangerous…thanks!

    Jessica

  4. Jessica, I think we are a bit more paranoid over here (Australia) about anything in cribs, we don’t use bumpers or have loose blankets either. I was concerned about the bubs that are standing and using the pocket as a foot hold and catching their head over the top. It would depend how ‘securely’ it was attached to the crib as to whether it would just come off or stay on and cause the bub to get in trouble. Each to their own to assess the risks in this case…

  5. very true! i don’t think the snaps would hold in that case, totally depends on the child, i think!

  6. Great organizer!! I featured it on Craft Gossip Sewing:
    http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-crib-toy-and-book-organizer/2010/01/12/

    –Anne

  7. I love this! I have 2 older son’s and I will definitely be making this. Thanks!

  8. Hello

    i really love your blog and this project i already made to give to a friend and she loved…..
    I was very easy and your steps help a lot!

    Thanks for the tutorial.

  9. what kind of interfacing did you use? i’m a newbie to crafting…

  10. ER-I used a medium weight iron on interfacing. Hope that helps!

  11. I just found your blog and I am so happy that I did. This book/toy holder is so cute. Instead of making this for a crib I am going to make this for my daughter’s bunk bed to hang on the outside rail for her books. This is such a cute project and I can’t wait to try it out for my daughter’s books on her bunk bed.

  12. I’d love a link or pic if you make one Becky!

  13. I guess great minds think alike (I’m sure your the great mind :-). I made similar bags for my three kids at Christmas time. I love them. I have yet to post pictures on my blog (I may just link to your tutorial because your pics are MUCH better than mine). I love your blog and have enjoyed learning some of your sewing tricks, my sewing is all self taught (kind of learn as you go), so it’s not always as pretty as yours.

  14. Hi Jess! I just made one of these today for my little lady! She is in heaven ๐Ÿ™‚ Thanks so much for the awesome tutorial!

    You can see my version here if you are interested: http://www.meinasnap.com/2011/05/17/cot-pockets/

  15. I am featuring this sweet project today on my blog… Thank you so much for sharing it!

  16. I stumbled upon this via pintrest & ran (well, drove very fast) to the fabric store to get super cute fabric to match my boys room & decor. I can’t wait to make 2 for their bunk beds… pics to follow!!

  17. Easy fix for the safety Issue. Simply hang it on the outside end of the crib. That way baby can still reach his/her items but won’t be able to climb on it.

  18. This is great. Just yesterday I sewed up a stuffed animal hammock for my 2 1/2 year old son’s bedroom wall. Then I got to thinking, “what else can I make that will help us keep this circus organized?” So I started looking around online and at our methods or regular house organization and it hit me.. Why not make a custom pocketed book organizer to hang on his wall?! Now your tutorial has given me the proper insight on how to go about it. Obviously, he isn’t in a crib anymore so I will be modifying this to add more pockets and, like I said, to hang on his wall. He’s got book shelves in his room but likes to take them all down to look at them. Hopefully this will help us out quite a bit! Thank you so much!

    -Tina, mommy of a 2 1/2 year boy with one more on the way!

  19. Hello Jess ! Thanks the tutorial. I”ve been wanting to make one since i saw your post. Please see how it came out on my blog http://www.helpmesew 101.wordpress .com. Your comments would be precious to me!

  20. i make something similar to this and i put it on the outside of the crib so if your worried about the baby getting caught in it that would be a idea

  21. Jess you are a star! I followed this tut last year when I was making all the baby stuff for my nursery and it was so easy to follow. I also hung mine on the outside of the cot – I filled it with nappies and other bottom changing goodies.
    I think I’ll have to have another go and do what Tina has done to hang it on the wall – cute idea!
    Anyway I just wanted to let you know that I’ve made your tutorial one of my Top 5 in a blog post I just published ๐Ÿ™‚

  22. I am going to make this for the outside of my kiddos bunk bed!

  23. Ok I just re read through the tutorial (for the hundredeth time…) and looks like I did miss the pocket part. So I answered my own question. ๐Ÿ™‚

  24. Desiree D Cozad says

    Love this! I made mine a bit wider and have it on the outside of the crib. I put cloth wipes and socks in mine. ๐Ÿ™‚

  25. I love the idea that this project was originally posted in 2010… the little one who it was made for is now about 12-13 years old!!
    My interest was piqued as I am looking for a bedside caddy for a COLLEGE DORM room project. I’m thinking with a few minor changes this might just fill that need!! Thanks

Trackbacks

  1. […] tutorial from Jess is really easy to follow and if you’re feeling brave you can adjust the measurements to make […]

  2. […] tutorial from Jess is really easy to follow and if you’re feeling brave you can adjust the measurements to make […]

  3. […] Crib Toy/Book Holder (by Craftiness is not Optional) Handy and sweet, this holder can be used at all ages. The design is simple and you can choose any […]

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  5. […] to the handle. ย A cute and useful baby shower gift by Calico. 72.ย  Here is a quick tutorial by Craftiness is not Optional for a little hangy thingy for your childย’’s crib, fill it with books, toys, or binkies to […]

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