Newborn Baby Items to Sew as Gifts
Trying to find the right gifts for the newborn can be daunting, but for those who like to sew it can be rewarding. Since newborns eat, sleep, and grow and usually in that order, dressing them may not be a top priority simply because they grow so fast.
Baby doll patterns
Sizing them may be a little harder but usually you can get close to the size by using the weight of the baby. The average weight is around 6-8 lbs, average size is around 0 to 3 months. Also, take into account the length when purchasing sewing patterns for newborns. On occasion if you are an experienced seamstress, you can use medium to large doll clothes patterns and adjust where needed just by taking baby’s measurements and matching them with the measurements on the pattern.
Flannel receiving blanketsQuick and easy newborn gifts that can be sewn up in a hour or so are flannel receiving blankets, All you need for one of these nice little blankets is one yard of flannel. Cut it 36 x 36, turn edges under and hem with a straight stitch, zigzag stitch, or the serger. Make a set of three blankets to give as a gift or to use for own baby.Another easy and quick version for receiving blankets is to take two 36 x 36 pieces of cloth and with right sides together sew them together, leaving a small opening on one side to turn right side out. Turn raw edges in and top stitch around blanket to finish. To keep blanket from parting or moving, straight stitch across blanket from corner to corner, do this again to catch both corners top and bottom. You will have an X pattern across blanket. You can also stitch a large circle in the middle. You just need to make sure you do not pucker the material, keep it tight when sewing. Finish the edge with a blanket stitch using yarn to give it a little upgrade or crochet an edging around the blanket.
Burping clothsAnother newborn gift to sew are burping cloths. They are nice gifts and come in handy since newborns may spit up a lot. You can make them square, round the corners, or make it like the number eight with a slight curve between the two ends. This will allow the burping cloth to lay across the shoulder near the neck. You need two pieces of cloth and sew right sides together, leave a small opening to turn right side out, top stitch around the cloth. Finish the edges with crochet and small beads, or a blanket stitch.
Hooded bath towelsWhen it is bath time, a large soft towel with a hood helps to keep the baby warm while being dried. These can be made by cutting one end of the towel across. Use the cut off part of the towel and place it across one corner of towel. Cut off excess and stitch to towel. Complete the edge of the towel with bias tape or make your own with small calico prints. To make your own bias tape you need to cut against the grain, or the way the cloth stretches..These are just some of sewing ideas for newborns that are useful and often needed but so much fun to make.
