Who doesn't love sewing for a baby! I do, that's for sure. And this month I've been sewing up a bunch of tiny items for little ones.
When Sewing for Charity Australia put out the call to sew for Giving Grannies, I simply couldn't resist. The name alone got me in - Giving Grannies - love it! They distribute baby welcome kits to mums needing a helping hand - all from donations.
One of the easiest things to sew for newborns are baby wash cloths. They literally take minutes to whip up. I've previously made them for a Virtual Baby Shower and a Christmas present (Yeah, I'm into practical gifts for babies).
The original sets were made with quilting cotton and terry velour quilted together.
This time I've used flannelette with a soft cotton knit. And I didn't quilt them.
They are SO easy to make. Here's an overview as to how I made mine...
- Cut two pieces of fabric the same size - one flannelette and one cotton knit - I cut mine to 9" x 9"
- Place right sides together.
- Sew together leaving a gap for turning. I sewed a ⅜" seam.
- Turn right side out.
- Topstitch about ⅛" from the edge, all the way around, closing up the gap.
- Quilt if you would like. I didn't.
The corners can be rounded or not. I just eyeballed the rounded corners, but you could draw a line to follow by tracing around a saucer, etc.
- For rounded corners, trim the corner seam to follow the curve - before turning.
- For non-rounded corners, trim the points at the corners - before turning.
For more detailed instructions, I've included links to several tutorials in one of my other baby wash cloths posts.
All up, I made nine little baby wash clothes, each finishing at roughly 8" x 8". While taking the photos, I noticed a small stain on one of them, so didn't send that one. Ha, ha - that one will make a soft dusting cloth for me.
If you'd like to make baby wash cloths, this is a starting point. Vary the size and fabrics to suit.
Keeping it real here at Threading My Way, I'll tell you how I came to choose the fabric you see in the pics.
The gorgeous animal fabric was given to me a long time ago. The green/yellow I bought on special, intending it to be the backing on a denim rug. The rug didn't eventuate and the fabric isn't particularly inspiring.
Both fabric sat in my stash for ages, till one day I had a brainwave that they'd make a nice quilt for a child. Wrong! They looked awful when I sewed them together - at least they did in the large charm square design I sewed. And so I ripped it apart.
Fast forward to the baby charity drive - finally, the perfect project turned up.
Do you ever unpick something you don't like once it's made, or do you persist because you don't want to undo all your work?
... Pam
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Oh I have definitely unpicked something that just hasn't "worked". But it usually gets put in the naughty corner for awhile first and then I find it weeks later and repurpose into something else!
ReplyDelete~ Cass
The naughty corner - love it, Cass!!! When I put projects away, they can disappear for a LONG time.
Deletethanks for this idea will be sure to be making some for charity once I find some flannelette
ReplyDeleteGiving Grannies is a wonderful name for the project Pam,I bet you were not the only stitcher who couldn't resist that name :)
ReplyDeleteVery cute washcloths! I avoid unpicking at all costs... :) xx
ReplyDeleteI send baby bibs to the counselling center for the new moms - I could make some washcloths to go with them :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful idea Pam! I love it! Mimi xxx
ReplyDeleteHi Pam,
ReplyDeleteI never in a million years would have thought about making baby wash clothes, but it is a fabulous idea. I have a great-niece or -nephew arriving by the end of the month and think I will whip up a few this weekend. Thank you for sharing the cute idea! ~smile~ Roseanne
A lovely project Pam and so useful! ��
ReplyDeletePam it finally worked - I can now post a comment! Yayyy
ReplyDeleteHI Pam,
ReplyDeleteI had a question about flannelette. How is that different from regular flannel? I only have a JOAnn store for fabric. Thanks
I wondered that too and found this on Google: "Technically, flannel is a loosely woven wool fabric that is not napped. While a distinction between flannelette and flannel is still made in Europe, the flannel sold in the United States is actually flannelette; real flannel is much less common and usually more expensive."
DeleteThank you, Janice. Here in Australia we have both flannel and flannelette, the same as Europe. I had heard that our flannelette was the same as American flannel, but couldn't for the life of me find a reference.
DeleteThank you for finding the answer to the question, and for taking the time to comment.
Unpicking is done all the time in my sewing room. I sew doll clothes and the small clothes must fit well to look good on the dolls. Because fabrics vary in weight/thickness/weave it's necessary to make changes as I go along. Last evening I was sewing a short dress for Curvy Barbie using a metallic iridescent stretch fabric. That stuff is awful to work with. After unpicking the armholes & side seams twice, the fit was right. It's irritating but the end result is usually worth the effort.
ReplyDeleteYou must be so patient, Lyn - Barbie doll clothes are so small, not to mention fiddly to make. And you used a metallic stretch fabric!! I bet the clothes look awesome.
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ReplyDelete