Baby Clothes

 DIY Baby Clothes

 

My baby girl just turned 4 months old and she is finally growing out of the newborn sized clothes. So, I decided to attempt to craft my own baby clothes. The fabric store had a big sale; plus I got 1/2 off the sale price because it was the end of the bolt of fabric. So, for $1.50 I was able to make a onesie, a pair of pants, and a sleeper out of only one yard of fabric.

 

Baby Pants:

The brown pants are what I used for a template.
The pink pants are my results.

 

Before You Begin and other Tips:

 

Allow for a 1/2" seam
Legs have 1/4" hem
Waist has a 1" hem to allow casing room for elastic



Let's get started!

All the materials needed are:
child's pants in the desired size, fabric suitable for clothing, ruler(for elastic and waist hem,) elastic (3/8",) scissors and 10 pins or fewer



Each leg has a front and a back side. Find the seams of right leg(turn inside-out if needed) and trace an outline about an inch larger than the pattern pants. Trace the front and the back of only one leg. Then, put front and back leg pieces right-side-down and trace for other leg.



Take back piece of right leg and lay it face-up. Take back piece of left leg and lay it face-down on top of other back piece, making sure to match up the sides. Sew the seam from star to star, back stitching at beginning and end. Repeat for the front side of the pants.



Unfold fabric and lay flat with the right side facing down. Fold fabric of waist down by 1" and pin all the way across. Only make a 1/4" hem on the waist. Repeat for the front half of the pants. There will be an extra flap of fabric that you will need for the elastic casing later.



Lay the back piece of the pants right-side-up. Lay the front piece of the pants right-side-down on top of back side. Sew along one side only from star to star. Open entire piece and lay flat with the wrong side face-up.



Create a 1/4" hem on the bottom of the pant leg that was just sewn together. Repeat this step and the last step for the other leg.



With pants inside-out sew the inseam from hem of one pant leg to the star and then back down the other pant leg to the hem. Turn right-side-out.

To create the waistband, first measure the waist on the pattern pants by laying pants flat out and measuring from one hip seam to the other. Cut two pieces of elastic to the size measured. Fold each piece in half and mark the center with a pin. Pin down the piece of elastic underneath the flap on each hip and one in the middle (3 pins total). Sew down each end of the elastic to the hip seams of the fabric. Stretch the elastic straight (this will cause the elastic to hid under your flap as close to your initial hem as it can get,) and sew just to the side of the elastic (NEVER sew through the elastic as it will not stretch properly.) This should encase your elastic band inside the hem flap. Repeat for the other side of waist.


Thank you for reading. I really hope you enjoyed the tutorial and found it helpful. Please share, comment or send me your results so that I can share them.



10-Step Cloth Diapers

Diaper Cover and Soak Pad

 

We spend $20 or more a week on diapers. Since I didn't "go green" with my Lovey, I decided to give it a try this go 'round. I can't wait to make these adorable little diapers for my Lily.

 

My results:
First Diaper

The instructions for the pattern I have weren't very clear- even with the pictures. Also, the pattern only gives two options: diaper with pocket (for soaker pad inside) or diaper with soaker pad (against baby's skin).

 

I chose the pocket pattern with soaker pad inside the diaper.

 

 

The idea and simplicity of the pattern (not so much the instructions) has inspired me to try again but make it better! There is a third option. I will make it my mission this week to make this pattern really work for me.

A tutorial is in order for the future diapers.

 

 

**UPDATE**

 

Below is a short tutorial for making these cloth diapers.

 

 

To Begin:

Step 1: 





Trace pattern onto fabric. Be sure that the straight side is on the fold of the fabric. Cut one lining and one waterproof outer fabric. Also, cut two or three rectangle layers of fabric and sew together to make a soaker pad.



Step 2:

Measure, cut, then sew the loop side of your Velcro on the right side of outer fabric across the top.

Step 3:

Sew the soak pad in the middle of the wrong side of the lining fabric.

 Step:4



With the Velcro side of outer fabric lying face-up, put the liner fabric on top with the soak pad face-up. Sew a 3/8" seam all around diaper except the red part pictured above.

Step 5:

Add elastic on the back and legs. Take your elastic and sew each beginning and end to garment. *Note: The fabric will bunch together and this is intentional. Only do one piece of elastic at a time. It's easier :) After beginning and end is sewn down, stretch the elastic until diaper lays flat and sew a zigzag through the elastic from beginning to end. Do this for back and each leg. Below is what the diaper looks like with all elastic pieces attached.



 

 Step 6: 



*Note: If using a waterproof outer fabric, use sealer on inside of all seams before turning right-side-out.
Turn diaper right-side-out and sew closed the hole above the Velcro.

Step 7:

Add topstitch outlining the elastic parts of the diaper. To do this: pull fabric straight and sew on the outside of the elastic, NEVER through. This gives a casing for the elastic to stay in place; closest to the seam.

 Step 8:

Measure, cut, then sew Velcro hook onto both tabs of diaper.

 Step 9:

Apply seam sealer to all topstitching if using waterproof fabric. Wash diaper inside-out with Velcro fastened. Hang dry if using waterproof fabric.

 

Step 10:

Enjoy!



Baby Lily in her new diaper.

 

Thank you for reading. I hope this helps you try to go green with your baby. Please comment or email me any questions or results that you may have.

Pattern from Clothes Pin

Make Your Own Fabulous Clothes!

 

I found this pin in just enough time to put a Genie costume together for my 7 year old for Halloween this year.

 

Original Pin, Tutorial

 

My Results: Genie Costume

I cut the fabric accordingly. However, I put my elastic bobbin in the sewing machine and went over the waist and ankles a few times each. Then, I folded accenting ribbon over the top of the waist and stretched the elastic straight to sew ribbon with regular bobbin.

 

 

Lovey being a mystical genie.

*With the extra fabric I made a top using one of her shirts as a pattern/guide for the width. It only has one seam in the back. I also used an elastic bobbin for the tube top on the top and bottom.

Tulle Tutu and Matching Bow

Tulle Tutu

 

 

 

Every year our family participates in the Halloween themed weekend at the Renaissance Festival. This year, we welcomed a new family member so I decided to dress the girls up and parade them in the Halloween Costume Contest. My oldest knew immediately what she wanted to be so it was up to me to pick the cutest costume for a 3 month old girl.

 

I saw a Pin for a Tulle Fairy Dress that was perfect for my Lily's first costume. The design was modified to fit my 3 month old as a tutu. Instead of the feathers, flower and bow in the original Pin, I added beautiful ribbons all the way around.

 

*tips*

*The tulle that I used was too transparent for older girls. I recommend more layers of tulle or darker colors. My little Lily wore a onesie underneath so I wasn't worried about it.

*I noticed that the tulle and ribbons kept coming lose from the knots attaching them to the elastic band. I ran it through the sewing machine once, backstitching at beginning and end.
*No baby girl's costume would be complete without a matching bow. The headband was purchased from Hobby Lobby and the bow was made from ribbon scraps that you can also purchase from Hobby Lobby.