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!
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9 comments:

  1. Jenya @ While she was sleeping17 November 2014 at 12:12

    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. marisa18 November 2014 at 00:11

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

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  2. Anonymous20 November 2014 at 20:59

    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. marisa22 November 2014 at 18:29

      Thanks, Rose :)

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    2. Anonymous23 November 2014 at 01:57

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

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  3. Lightning McStitch24 November 2014 at 23:38

    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. marisa25 November 2014 at 18:38

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

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  4. Anonymous27 November 2014 at 14:54

    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. marisa30 November 2014 at 21:32

      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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