Canopy for a crib: we sew ourselves

For many centuries, parents have protected their sleeping babies from the cold, insects and the evil eye with the help of canopies over the cradle. Now this thin veil is not an essential item and performs rather a decorative function. However, a crib canopy can decorate a child's room and make them sleep peacefully and comfortably. Consider the most interesting models of canopies and try to make them with your own hands.

A canopy over the bed is most often used for newborns. It not only creates a cozy nest for the crumbs, but also protects it from dust, pet hair, drafts and mosquito bites. For older kids, such a canopy helps to form a daily routine, and for hyperactive children and teenagers to hide from the outside world and calm down.

According to the size of the curtains, the products are:

• short - used exclusively for beauty;
• medium - the most popular and practical;
• long - very effective, but uncomfortable.

There are three main types of fastening canopies over a berth:

• removable universal holder in the form of a long stick with a ring or loop, which is attached to the back or head of the crib;
• a holder mounted to the wall at the head of the bed, which allows you to hide only the upper part of the bed under the canopy;
• a frame around the entire perimeter of the bed for fixing the so-called "royal" canopies.

Most often, you can find holders of the first type on sale, usually they come with finished products or baby bedding. This is the most successful option for attaching a canopy for newborns.

As a rule, fabrics of white or light pastel colors are used as the material for the canopy. Thick curtains are usually used to protect against bright sunlight and drafts, transparent ones - from dust and insects. It must be remembered that the canopy over the crib should not interfere with the free circulation of air and accumulate static electricity, so synthetic fabrics should be avoided, giving preference to natural materials: cotton, linen, satin, airy tulle.

A canopy for a crib can be decorated with bright material inserts, artificial flowers, light and airy mobiles made of paper and felt. Popular now products in retro style are richly embroidered with lace, beads, ruffles and lush frills.

The canopy for a boy can be designed in the form of a knight's tent or an Indian wigwam, using applications on the appropriate theme, felt flags and natural materials. For girls, as always, delicate lace, garlands of large beads, silk ribbons are relevant.

A very interesting and practical decor option is the use of an LED garland, which plays the role of not only an original accent in the interior of the bedroom, but also a night lamp with a dim, subdued light that will not interfere with the baby. It is not difficult to fix such a garland: just throw it over the holder for a canopy and tie it in the center or fix it in several places with decorative clothespins. When using such electrical lighting sources, one should not forget about safety precautions.

Sewing a canopy with your own hands

Despite the huge selection of various curtains in children's stores, many mothers prefer to sew them with their own hands. The manufacturing process of the product is quite simple, but requires some accuracy and attention.

To sew a classic canopy for a crib, you will need the following materials:

• 2.5-3 m of natural translucent fabric, about 1.5 m wide;
• a ribbon of bright colored material about 1 m long and 20-25 cm wide;
• white or colored satin ribbon for edging the edges;
• lace or additional accessories as desired.

Operating procedure:

1. Cut the rectangle of the main fabric in half and fold it with the right side inside. Using a ready-made pattern or pattern, slightly round and trim the bottom edges of the future product.
2. Using a sewing machine, sew the middle seam, leaving about 25-30 cm open at the top of the canopy.
3. Finish the edges of the details with a satin ribbon for edging.
4. In the upper part of the workpiece, using a pencil and a ruler, draw two parallel lines, one of which should recede from the edge of the part by about 5 cm, the other by 20 cm.
5. Manually or using a sewing machine, carefully assemble the upper part of the future canopy so that its length is 1 meter.
6. Cut a blank of colored fabric in half by analogy with the main fabric, process the sections on one side. To make it easier to sew the tape to the canopy, its edges should be ironed in advance, forming a hem.
7. Baste and stitch the colored tape along the marking lines.
8. Treat the top of the product with a satin ribbon. Decorate the canopy to your liking.

To hang this model on the holder, you need to pass its ring into the drawstring - the gap between the colored tape and the main fabric of the canopy. If you plan to use fasteners with a one-piece ring, such a drawstring is not required. It must be replaced with ties made of fabric or braid.

The order of fastening the product

Ready-made or self-sewn canopy on the crib can be fixed in various ways. The easiest way is to use a ready-made holder, which, depending on the model, can be attached to the walls of the bed with a clamp or screws.

A simple holder is easy to make yourself. The function of a ring or loop, which is passed through the drawstring of the canopy, can be played by a small wooden hoop, a plastic blank, or a piece of thick wire. They can be fixed above the bed using a polished stick of the required length and a pair of screws. Another option for attaching a fabric canopy can be a bracket in the shape of the letter "L". In this case, the curtain is simply thrown over its upper crossbar and fixed with strings or decorative clothespins.

You can fix the canopy frame in different positions:

• if the crib is located along the wall, it is most rational to mount the holder in the center of one of its long sides;
• if the crib is perpendicular to the wall, the holder is attached to the center of its short side - at the head.

Curtain fasteners can be mounted directly to the wall or even the ceiling, but these options are more suitable for older children who sleep in standard "adult" beds.