Sunday 16 November 2014

An outfit for Baby B


Last week I made a little outfit for the baby boy of an old friend who lives in South Africa. I never sewed for my own babies - my youngest was a toddler before I had a go at sewing kids' clothes - so it felt rather novel to be making something for someone so young.

Not owning any patterns suitable for babies, I used two free online ones: the envelope-neck top from small dreamfactory and Made by Rae's newborn baby pants (which I enlarged a little, since Baby B is already 8 weeks old). Both were nice and easy to make, with no closures or complicated details. I used cotton jersey knit from Spotlight, added some coordinating cuffs to the pants, and loved the way I needed so little fabric for these tiny (hopefully not too tiny) garments!


I haven't sent this gift off yet, because I have one problem: the elastic in the waist of the pants. I have no idea how tight or loose to make it. I think I'm going to have to corner some mums of babies and see if I can measure a three-month-old. In the meantime if any readers know the average waist size of a baby this age, please let me know!

9 comments:

  1. The outfit is so cute Marisa :) I am sure the recepient (and his parents) will love it. When I am unsure of the length of the elastic I leave a 'tail' out so it can be adjusted by the recepient. Of course it doesn't look too glamorous, but elastic is really easy to adjust even if one does not sew.

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    1. Thanks Jenya! I thought of leaving the elastic out... maybe I should.

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  2. I read somewhere cut elastic 0-3 mths 14", 3-6 mths 15", which allows for 1/2" overlap when you sew it together.
    Rose

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    1. I also meant to say thanks for the link to smalldreamfactory - lots of great stuff!
      Rose

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  3. Cute outfit marisa. I was about to reach for the Oliver + S Layette pants pattern to give you an elastic size estimate but Anonymous probably has you sorted.

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    1. Oh well, thanks anyway! Having never sewn for babies before i have no patterns to refer to.

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  4. Anonymous is right I think. I just measured baby M for you :-). Love the little outfit you have made, and thanks for the link to smalldreamfactory. I want to stitch up one of these teeshirts too!

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    1. Ah - good to know. Thanks to you and baby M! Yes smalldreamfactory was a good find - I discovered it when searching online for an envelope-neck pattern.

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