The other day, after a bit of chaos, our old baby gate finally was removed. I needed a quick and cheap replacement, but I also wanted something that was easy to hide away and did not take up much space. Enter this Pinterest find on how to make a DIY Fabric Baby Gate.
Fabric baby gate Directions: (From top left to right working down)
- Measure your doorway and cut your fabric to fit. I made sure to include room for the seams as well as the placement of the hooks.
- Finish your Edges. I used my serger to do this, but you can do the old fashioned, fold, iron, sew to avoid unraveling.
- Prep your elastic corners. I cut the elastic to about 3 inches and then folded it in half. The I turned my fabric inside out then matched up corners so I knew where to place the elastic.
- Place elastic corners INSIDE the right side of the fabric (upside-down). Make sure to leave a little of it sticking out.
- Pin the elastic in place. Make sure to leave room for your seams as well so you do not sew over your fabric.
- Pin and Sew your sides together. Make sure that you leave about 5-6 inches open and not sewn so that you can flip your fabric right side out.
- Flip, Iron and Sew the opening closed.
Finally place your Command Hooks. You may need to angle these to hold your gate tight. Also, you can attach the hooks to your baseboards and I highly recommend that because we did not at first and the kids (and dogs) were easily able to slide under. Once moved and adhered correctly the gate worked perfectly!
|
| See the gap between the fabric baby gate and the floor…put those hooks on the baseboards! |
I love this fabric baby gate. It is easy to take down and wash, it does not take up hardly any space if I want it out of the way, I can clean around it, it is able to be made to fit our unique doorway and it only cost $15.00 to make! Get to it!
Sarah
Wednesday 29th of July 2020
Hello! I am very interested in this idea, but I was wondering how effective it is? If a toddler leans on it, does it hold up? Or if a clumsy husband tries to step over it but catches his foot on it? I suppose we could use more permanent metal wall hooks anchored into the wall to make sure?
Laura
Thursday 30th of July 2020
Hi sarah!
My apologies, I am coming out of a surgical slumber that has taken me down and out. Make sure to use good hooks. I bought the extra sticky 3M adhesive ones but I ended up switching to ones that screwed into the stud. It kept our dogs and kids out of the kitchen space while I was cleaning and cooking and did a good job holding up for the nearly year that we used it.