One of M’s closest friends just had a baby boy, and all around us baby news abound. I have one baby-specific Japanese pattern book, shown above, and I wanted to give it a whirl for the many pint-sized gifts I’ve been making. The book includes several outfits, bibs, bags including a diaper bag, a nursing cover and other sweet creations.
From this photo, this onesie/romper seems super appropriate for a little freshly born guy, right? I made the smallest size (probably comparable to 3 to 6 months) but mine came out HUGE. The kid will be three before he can wear it. I’m not sure how the fabric got stretched out so much, and the proportions also look off. I’m debating whether I should still give it to little O…But the fabric is adorable! The selvage says “Baby Lulu” and it’s been sitting in my stash for who knows how long.
For obvious reasons, I don’t have a lot of fabric geared towards boys. This is such a fun print, though, and who says girls can’t wear rompers with cars? Perhaps this will have to go to a girl who is more likely to fit this…I believe I was planning on making a baby blanket out of this fabric, which means I had a good amount. So when one of my lovely readers won a fabric giveaway of mine, I included some of this stuff because she has a son and the fabric she won was more on the girly side of things. Look at her great onesie:
Awesome job, Liz!
For another friend, I thought this Nani Iro double gauze number would be perfect. Except, I couldn’t find the kind of snaps on a ribbon as specified for the pattern, so I used metal snaps that I had on hand and it’s so bumpy I’m afraid the baby will have permanent indentations in her back. I’m going to have to come up with a different, less invasive closure.
I used this fabric for an enchanting peter pan collar top that K has only recently decided that she loves now that she’s about to outgrow it. I think my super power is that I’m nearly always successful at gauging how much fabric to use for a pattern without looking at the final measurements. I was able to squeeze this outfit out of the skimpy remnants I had available, though I had to rearrange the pattern pieces many, many times. A truly useless super power unless you sew.
It’s tricky to figure out which side is the front for the bloomers, so I marked the back with a little heart using fabric paint…coincidentally, the color matches this inky, purplish blue perfectly. Hmmm, I seem to be going through a major bluish-purple phase right now. There are a few more baby items in progress and I’ll post those soon. Oh, they’re so itty bitty and cute!
Oh. How sweet. Sometimes I regret I did not start sewing for my friend´s daughter before she was two. And the nani iro – devine! I love that you used it for this outfit. Even if the little girl will outgrow it probably very soon. I would still give the little romper as a gift, even on an older boy it would be cute.
I am in a blue phase also! For the first time in years I am wearing dark blue again and I love it… and I just bought such lovely japanese indigo blue fabric with wonderful differnt prints on it in white; some flowers and seigaiha.
That’s the thing about baby clothes – they’re outgrown before you can blink. But I love to display kids’ clothes. I still have the onesie I embroidered for K hanging in her room. It looks like it’s meant for a doll! Your Japanese indigo fabric sounds amazing Ute!
oh, the cuteness!! Tiny things always elevate the cute factor, even if one outfit is not as tiny as you had hoped:) I’d say give it anyway! At birth, you get such an influx of teeny baby gifts (that are quickly outgrown), and it’s nice to have something to look forward to down the road.
So true, thanks for the suggestion Lucinda! I do remember getting a jillion newborn stuff and then six months down the line K had no clothes that fit! I’ve always loved everything miniature so baby clothes make me exceedingly happy!
I have used the little snaps that come on twill tape for kid stuff — you can order it at joann or Amazon. Just google “snap tape.” It’s made by Dritz.
Twill tape! That was what I was trying to remember. Sometimes I wonder if my English is atrophying from using mainly Japanese sewing books. I’m always snapping my fingers saying, “you know that thing…it’s called [japanese sewing term] but I don’t know how to say it in English…”
These are such great baby gifts! I especially love the Nani Iro set. It looks so cozy. Sidenote: I was totally the kid dressed in off-gender prints. I loved cowboys, trucks, and any sports-themed fabrics. And, just for variety, rainbows. 🙂
Haha, I can totally see you in cowboy themed clothes, Morgan! That’s fantastic. Yep, the Nani Iro is very cozy! 🙂
Pretty presents! I love both, I couldn’t choose. Hand made presents are the best, I treasure every one I was given when my daughter was born. That little heart is just to die for!!!!!!
Thanks Maria! The heart is my favorite part! I think I’m going to tweak this pattern to make it more baby friendly – I seem to remember hating baby clothes with closures on the back…
those are some very sweet baby gifts! double gauze and babies go hand in hand if you ask me :).
Totally! Nothing breathes better than double gauze and when you add the fabulous textile designs of Nani Iro, well, how does it get any better?
Sewing cute baby clothes can make some people all clucky (me included). I always adore your choice of fabric and colour. Very impressive to fit the bloomer outfit using just remnants. Fabric is too precious, get the most out of it!
Thanks Lulita! I tell you, it was like solving a crazy puzzle to get those pattern pieces to fit on the odd shaped remnants! And I love the expression “clucky”!!
Love that a baby is getting *nani iro* stuff–what a good start:-) Oh, but I am really writing to say that I love the way you have photographed the stuff, esp. with the little circle chain that is sort of hanging transparently from the hanger.
Oh thank you, Asmita! Those are great safety pins shaped like light bulbs – have you seen them? Merchant & Mills makes them and I love them.
Both outfits are so cute! I love the print on the little boy onesie…it’s hard to find good boy fabric. And I love the fabric paint addition to the bloomers!
Thank you Teresa! I agree that it’s harder to find cute boy fabrics – this one was a lucky find. 🙂
Hey, I recognize that pudgy baby bottom! Love the romper you made, and don’t worry about sizing — it’ll fit eventually. My little one has grown out of this outfit already 🙁 although with the weather changing that’s probably OK. I’m going to try to squeeze a long-sleeve baby T out of the rest of the fabric, it is a nice thick knit and so cute. (I’ve looked and looked and Baby Lulu fabric is hard to find!)
And such a cute pudgy bottom it is, Liz! I think I got the Baby Lulu fabric from Nancy’s – they have some nice knits (and the annual sale is going on now – have I mentioned how much I’m regretting my fabric fast?). 🙂
Oh my goodness; I have that same car print (from ages ago) and still wonder who makes it:). I got it at Bolt years ago and just adore it – love these sweet little gifts!
Such a great knit, right? I wish there were more cute options for knits like this!