How to Build a Crib in Just One Weekend
Reader Project
Christian wrote in to tell us exactly how he went about turning his sketches into reality:
I'm not a carpenter, but my father is – working as a general contractor on Cape Cod – and growing up I've done my share of framing and building. To get started I contacted my father to discuss the general approach and have him fax over some sketches of the joinery. From there, I drew out plans to meet a standard mattress and California safety specifications, and then produced a lumber list.
I intended to build the crib out of all hardwood, but considering the cost of lumber, I adjusted to use fir for the frame, pine for the headboard and footboards and poplar for the balusters. As I planned to use 4x4 posts (which are not common for many lumber yards out here), I had the lumber yard mill a couple of 4x6 fir timbers and used the offcuts for the rails.
The crib is 56.25 inches in length, 33 inches wide, with the headboard and footboard reaching 50 inches in height. The plans were designed to allow me to complete the construction with only a table saw and mitre saw, in addition to a few hand tools. The joints are rabbeted with a dado blade on the table saw, allowing the rails to slot in to the posts a quarter inch. These joints are secured with timber screws and wood glue on three sides, allowing one side to be removed easily. The rails on all four sides have channels cut in them with the dado blade to receive the balusters and boards at the head and foot. The bottom rails on the long sides also have grooves cut to receive the 1 inch plywood base. We're able to raise and lower the platform by using a couple of cross-beams cut from the scrap. The moon was cut out of the head and foot boards with a jigsaw I borrowed, and the stars were created with a hand drill.
I was able to pick up the lumber on a Friday and complete the construction within the weekend. Michela and I primed the crib together the following weekend when she returned. We painted much of the framing with a deep red paint and then painted the entire crib off-white, allowing us to sand down the edges of the white crib and reveal some of the red paint below. As the paint is worn and chipped over time, more of the red paint will be exposed. We're traveling to Italy for the birth and first weeks, where Michela's nonna (our baby's great grandmother) will make the bedding for the crib!
Thanks so much for sharing, Christian!
Comments (9)
Top Tours
- Penelope and Sabine's Shared "Sweet"
- Layla's Small-but-Stylish Aviary
- Baby Daley's Room-to-Be
- Scarlett's Sensational Secondhand Space
- Isabelle and Juliette's Monde de Filles
Top Posts
© 2010 Apartment Therapy
It's actually harder than you'd think to find a simple crib which is what I love about this one. Great job!
view CMcB's profile
Would Chris be willing to share the plans/sketches? That is a beautiful crib and made me all teary. Have a safe and healthy birth!
view edava72's profile
Let me see what I can do about getting together the scans of the plans – they are a combination of the original fax from my father and my quick redrawing…
view letters's profile
So beautiful--your baby is so lucky to sleep is such a unique piece! However, as a virtually inexperienced carpenter, I would be terrified to build a crib for my child--who knows what would happen to them :-P
view CrazyLady's profile
Are you planning on sealing the paint? It will get chewed, guaranteed. I was careful to choose a very hard wood crib, hoping for no scratch/chew marks, and my daughter still managed to do a number on it. I'm just wondering about the child ingesting paint flakes.
Beautiful job! It really is stunning.
view La Rêveuse's profile
looks great, just one warning. When your child is 2 they will start climbing, they will use that cutout moon as a foot hold and leverage themselves out of the crib. I would fill it in if that looks to be an issue for you.
view funstraw's profile
I look forward to seeing the plans! Thank you for doing this- I hope we will be able to make a crib too.
view hardee's profile
I would like to remind anyone interested in making a crib to make sure the slats are close enough that the baby cannot get its head caught. Babies have died that way.
view gettingthere's profile
i too would be VERY interested in the plans. i am due in june and my husband would like to tackle this project... please keep us updated on plans! thank you so much!
view jensemler's profile