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Making Baby and Toddler Clothes

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Make your own baby and toddler clothes

It is possible to make good and useful clothes for your new baby or growing toddler. It takes some skills, which can be easily learned step by step. If you can use a sewing machine to make a straight stitch and a zig zag stitch, you have the main skills well in hand.

The Workspace

You will need somewhere wide and relatively clear to work. This could be the kitchen table, a counter, or even a folding table set up in a corner. At times, it can be the floor! You will need to trace out large pieces of patterns, check cloth for holes and stains and generally have a lot of elbow room while working. A very good light source and some storage options are good, too! Workspaces also need regular upkeep to keep them useful, as little bits and bobs, scraps and loose tools tend to collect there while you are working.

Time for short sleeves, shorts and sundresses

knit or sew one up this season

The temperatures are going up - so look for seersucker, eyelet and other nice lightweight cotton fabrics to make pretty sundresses and short sleeved shirts out of. Boys and girls both can benefit from light colored shorts and button up shirts, lightweight jackets for when evening is rolling in and floppy brimmed hats to keep the sun out of the eyes. Remember there will be lots of playing in the sand and maybe the kiddie pool as well, so see that fabrics are washable and preshrunk before you start.

The pink shirt in this pattern was thrown together from a pattern from the 1940s along with alterations because our little one is very tall for her age. Another great reason to sew clothes for your growing child - everything can be adjusted and might even last a lot longer because of it!

Japanese sewing books

There are a lot of wonderful Japanese sewing books that show step by step how to craft beautiful clothing for children. I will showcase one or two from time to time. They are worth at least going and looking at the pictures for inspiration!
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Hat Patterns

A good hat pattern can be indispensible!

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Choose a Pattern and get started

and have a measuring tape handy

Use a flexible measuring tape and measure the child around the waist and chest. Also take measurements from the hip to the ankle and from the neck to the waistline. Look at the back panel of the storebought patterns and use these measurements to choose which size pattern to buy. The pattern will also tell you how much and what type of fabric is needed for that size in the garment.

Check out vintage patterns!


There is so much to learn from vintage patterns - new sewing techniques, coordinating items - go check them out at my other lens!
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Lay out and cut

Once you have your pattern, cut out each piece of the pattern on the black line and fold each piece away until it will be used. Be sure the fabric has been washed and dried in the same manner the garment will be in the future. This will keep the seams from shrinking after sewing! I often wash my cloth by itself in very hot water for that first wash - as it will also remove any extra dyes that might get onto other garments in the wash!

Use a waterproof pen and trace each piece of your pattern out onto the fabric. If the fabric is dark, it may be difficult to see a dark pen color, and a white 'chalk' should be used, instead. There are suggested 'laying out' pictures inside the pattern, or use your own judgement. Some pieces must be cut out twice, such as two halves of a pair of pants. These pieces are normally 'reversed', cut with one print side down and one print side up. Pay attention to diagonal lying pieces - these are 'on the bias' and may be important for skirts and coats.

Pin your pieces of the pattern together and sew 1/4 inch from the edge. Use the pictures in the sewing pattern to help you put the right pieces together and sew in the right places. Facings can be difficult, I've tried to put up a good 'step by step' here with pictures of a project.

Pin and seam

Pin your pieces of the pattern together and sew 1/4 inch from the edge. Use the pictures in the sewing pattern to help you put the right pieces together and sew in the right places. Facings can be difficult, as the one pictured. I've tried to put up a good 'step by step' here with pictures of a project.

Little bits

Notions you might need are elastic,pins, safety pin, thread, a pen, scissors, pinking shears (really useful, but expensive).

How to put elastic in a pair of pants: Measure the elastic one inch less than the child's comfortable waist measurement. By 'comfortable', it means to not pull the measuring tape tight around the waist, just comfortable. Sew the waistband of the pants closed all but a two inch gap. Take a safety pin and close it on the end of the elastic. Use the safety pin as a handle to wheedle the elastic through the gap in the enclosed waistband from one side to the other. Inch the safety pin further into the casing a little, grab the safety pin and pull the casing tight. It may take a few minutes, but when the safety pin emerges from the other end of the casing overlap the elastic over itself and make a few small stitches to hold the two opposite ends together. You may zigzag the elastic shut with a machine, as well. Once you have tried the waist on the child, sew the small gap closed.

Other Baby Items to Sew

Ideas for other baby necessities to sew.
Hooded towels: See our tutorial!
Burp cloths - Cut a piece of terry cloth, an old towel or flannel to the same size as a piece of washed cotton fabric. Place wrong side of cotton down and sew all around edge leaving 1 or 2 inches gap on one side. Turn inside out, close hole and then topstitch all around outside about 1/2 inch from the edge.
Tip: After turning inside-out, take a pencil eraser and poke the corners out before topstitching.
Flannel Blanket for baby's crib - Same instructions as the burp cloth except cut both pieces to the size of your baby's crib. You can add some horizontal or vertical topstitching down the length of the blanket or topstitch small squares or circles here and there to keep everything flat.
Roll-Up Changing Pad: See Instructions at my blog

For the boys

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Sewing and Knitting for your Newborn

some online resources

Necessity is the mother of invention - and mothers definitely want to get all the necessary items together for their new arrival, sometimes months ahead of time! It's nice to have a stockpile of clothes ready for your little one, and in a variety of sizes.

For those whom 'ready made' isn't quite what they're looking for, or want to use special fabrics, or yarns to make items for their babies - here are some links I've found and instructions for newborn clothes, pants, hats, bootees, shoes, sweaters etc...

Definitely check out the book 'Kwik Sew for babies', below, on Amazon. It has patterns for making everything you need for your new baby.

From baby to toddler

sew along as they grow

Storebought clothes just have never really fit my girl - so I continued to learn to sew handmade clothes for her. To find pants that would fit her I would have to buy them much too long and the back always rode down when she ran. I just started making all the pants with elastic waists out of fun colors she liked. For shirts some of the storebought shirts would fit for a little while - but her arms quickly got too long and she would cry because the neck holes were so small. I moved on to making her dresses from vintage sewing patterns. In truth I use them over pants like a long shirt with a skirt and a zipper up the back. She loves them and everyone thinks they are some new brand or vintage.
Choosing patterns, tips and steps of making a toddler dress



You can use adult clothes recycled from rummage sales, thrift stores, hand-me-downs etc...to make excellent children's clothing. Te pants featured were made out of a thrifted men's shirt. The front pocket of the shirt is the toy pocket in the front of the pants.

Great Stuff on Amazon

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sew your own diaper bag

find a pattern here

I received two diaper bags at my baby shower - but ended up using the one I designed myself. You'll quickly find out where you want pockets and what you need to carry for your little one - so get sewing and make the bag that works best for you!
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Find vintage children's patterns

sew clothes to fit your growing child

I can have my daughter pick out a fabric in the store that afternoon and have a dress or pair of pants sewn for her by bedtime - she loves it and the handmade clothes fit her better, wear longer and best of all - are easily replaceable from spare fabric, using our old clothes etc... Choose medium weight cotton woven cloth and a strong thread - the possibilities are endless!
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Patterns and Instructions Online

Bitty Booties by Hello my Name is Heather
Pattern for easy to make 'crib shoes' or felt bootees in two sizes, 0-3 months and 3-6 months. I've made these and they turn out really cute! Downloadable PDF file for personal use only...
Yoda Sweater by Dogs Steal Yarn
This is a fairly easy baby sweater, even for those who haven't knit a single sweater before! Easy garter stitch and stockinette with a size 6 needle.
Martha Stewart 'kimono' layette pattern
Sewing pattern for a kimono style 'wrap' shirt. I haven't tried this one, but it's on my list of things to make. The hardest part seems to be the enlarging of the pattern to match the measurements.
Cinderella and Starwatcher socks from MagKnits
Easy to knit booties. I used worsted cotton and wool yarns and size 3 DPNS to knit several pairs of these little socks.
How to Make Easy Kids Pants from Handy Home Projects
Nice step by step sewing machine instructions for making kids pants and jeans. I used a thrift store pair of pants in the correct size (0-3 mo and 3-6 mo) and these instructions to make several pairs of elastic-waisted pants.

Tip: When planning for elastic, stretch the original pair of pants out to the limit of its elastic and cut for that size waist. Then cut a piece of elastic just a little larger than the 'rest' position of the original pair and sew it together firmly at the ends before putting it in the waist.
Knit Baby Bell Bottom pants
This is on my list to knit very soon! They are knit in Knitpicks Shine cotton with a size 5 needle and look very easy! Sizes for newborn to 2 years.

Knit an Easy Baby Hat

This hat should fit a newborn.

Materials: size 6 DPNS and a soft worsted weight yarn. Reccommended yarns: KnitPicks Shine Worsted, Caron Simply Soft

Cast on 66(for larger sizes use 72,78,84) stitches and join together to knit in the round.

Knit one row of garter stitch all the way around, put in a stitch marker.

Knit rounds of K5,P1 (knit 5, purl 1) for 9-10 centimeters (3.5 to 4 inches).

Knit round of K4, P2tog (knit 4, purl 2 together)
Knit round of K3, P2tog (knit 3, purl 2 together)
etc... until K0, P2tog (knit zero, purl 2 together)

Cut the yarn with a long tail hanging from your baby hat. Take a yarn or darning needle and draw the tail through all the stitches left on the knitting needles. Slip the needles out and draw the circle tight.

Use the darning needle to pull the yarn to the inside of the hat and weave/tie it down securely. Secure your beginning tail the same way and your hat is done!

Reader Feedback

  • Anahid Jan 31, 2012 @ 7:38 am | delete
    Hi I started sewing for my granddaughter was born and since then every year I make few dresses for her and I have a lens about Baby dresses. All the best Thanks. Anna
  • annmackiemiller Aug 12, 2011 @ 11:22 pm | delete
    great lens - angel blessed and featured on my road trip into crafts lens
  • Senora_M Jun 2, 2011 @ 9:33 pm | delete
    Good ideas! I love sewing, but I haven't made clothes for my little guys.
  • Lemming13 May 6, 2011 @ 3:12 am | delete
    I had the same problems dressing my kids - my son is very, very tall and thin, with long arms and legs, and clothes that fitted his arms and legs were always much too wide everywhere else; and my daughter also has long arms and legs but is short in the body, so nothing fits her properly either. Great tips here. Blessed.
  • Anahid Jan 23, 2011 @ 6:48 pm | delete
    Hi good idea I sew some clothes for my granddaughters and i have a lens about handmade baby clothes. Great work all the best. Anna
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This So Crafty page written by

knitowl

I'm a computer programmer turned kitchen and bath designer who makes softies as a hobby. Our little girl is a toddler now, and I still sew all of her clothes.... more »

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