Over the past few months, I have been making the first year of clothes for my baby. In this post, I share what I made, the patterns and fabrics I used, along with a short review of the project. Some of these items are available for a limited time in my store. The patterns and fabrics are linked to the sources when possible and some are affiliate links.
Pattern: Solano, Little Lizard King
Fabric: Double Brushed Polyester. The blue butterflies and solid red are from KnitFabric.com, Yellow flowers and solid purple are from Raspberry Creek Fabrics
Size: XXS
Thoughts: Very quick and easy to make. Great use of scraps. Practical and cute.
Pattern: Starry Night Smocked Gown, Australian Smocking & Embroidery Issue No. 25
Smocking plate: Baby Bishops II, Kathy Crisp Designs, View B and C
Fabric: Vintage, possibly Interlock
Size: Preemie, it’s roomy enough to fit a newborn
Thoughts: I constructed first and smocked last. Pleating knit fabric was tricky but not as hard as I thought it would be. Very easy to put together and so comfy for tender newborn skin.
Pattern: East Romper, Lowland Kids
Applique: Heart and Flowers by Applique for Kids
Fabric: Pink and White Loop Terry from Raspberry Creek Fabrics, Purple Sweater Knit from KnitFabric.com, Vintage Pink and White Stripe Rib Knit
Size: Newborn
Thoughts: Easy to make. Practical with only two snaps and doesn’t have to go over the head. Fold over cuffs and mittens are easy to assemble but take more fabric than I thought they would. Loop terry and sweater knit are so soft and cuddly.
Pattern: Bellevue, Little Lizard King
Embroidery: Journey, Little Lizard King
Smocking Plate: Stephanie’s Hearts, Little Stitches
Fabric: Yellow, Imperial Batiste from Farmhouse Fabrics. Pink, Vintage
Lace: Joann
Size: Newborn
Thoughts: This pattern is so fun to make, and I love all of the ruffles. The yellow fabric was so nice to work with and easy to embroider on, good body and the wrinkle resistance is very nice. The pink gets wrinkly very easily.
Pattern: Bonnet, Auburn. Shirt, Hartford, retired. Romper, Lillesand. Little Lizard King.
Embroidery: Knightsbridge, Little Lizard King
Fabric: Pink, Rib Knit from KnitFabric.com. Khaki linen from Raspberry Creek Fabric.
Size: Bonnet, XXS. Shirt and Romper, newborn.
Thoughts: Simple patterns that are great for adding embroidery to and making them into something special.
Pattern: Romper, Napa. Headband, Wells. Little Lizard King.
Fabric: Vintage Jersey
Size: Headband, XXS. Romper, newborn, scaled to 90%.
Thoughts: Both of these patterns are quick and satisfying. I added snaps to crotch of the romper following the tutorial on the Little Lizard King website.
Pattern: Sweet Cheeks Smocked Diaper Cover, Kathysheirloomshop, Etsy.
Fabric: Cotton, Joann
Smocking plate: included with pattern
Size: Newborn, seems to run a little big
Thoughts: Fun project that can be paired with the onesies that we were gifted. Took more fabric than I anticipated. Smocking is only on the front, with elastic casings on the back. I made these in several sizes to smock postpartum while holding a baby. Need a smocking plate with good elasticity.
Pattern: Sweater romper with dolman sleeve ruffles, Lowland Kids.
Fabric: Vintage, Jersey
Size: Newborn
Thoughts: I’m a big fan of this pattern and was glad I found a way to make it for a summer baby. Very roomy and should fit until baby is too long for it.
Pattern: Bloomington, Little Lizard King.
Fabric: Vintage, Jersey
Size: Newborn, scaled to 90%
Thoughts: My boys helped me choose what design elements to include, which was so fun. All the details are very cute, but more time consuming to do than most knit patterns. I like that the bottom is more like shorts. The cut out on the back should make it easy to get it on and off.
Pattern: Hadley, Little Lizard King.
Fabric: Vintage, Jersey
Size: Newborn, scaled to 90%
Thoughts: When I found out I was having a girl, this was the first outfit I made for her. I was so sick and needed something quick and easy, but to cut and sew. This project was great for that, and I was able to have the satisfaction of creating an outfit with little energy required. I made the dress length, and the bodice is designed to be roomy. I’m hoping that it will be able to fit for a while and can be worn as a tunic and she gets bigger.
Pattern: Dublin, Little Lizard King
Fabric: Vintage, Jersey
Size: Newborn, scaled to 90%
Thoughts: I’m not sure if I did the scaling wrong or if this pattern is just on the small side, but it seems way too small to fit on a newborn. The pattern itself is very cut and was pretty easy. I’d like to try it again in a bigger size.
I will give an update of how these outfits worked once my baby has worn them. See what I made for the 0-3-month size in the next post.