I have shared this before but when I started sewing six years ago it was my mom who taught me. The first thing I made was a pillow, followed by a baby blanket (sort of) and a burp cloth. But I remember my mom telling me that if I could sew a straight line, I could sew anything and I did not believe her. It's true though that mastering the basics, like sewing a straight line, can open up a world of possibilities in the sewing world. It's incredible how many different projects you can tackle with that one foundational skill. I believe that if you feel adventurous enough to try new things and are okay with not getting it right the first time, you will be tackling projects you did not think possible! It truly wasn’t very long before I was feeling more and more confident making baby blankets and then crib sheets. The first clothing I tried my hand at were baby bloomers. I still remember I finished a pair that probably took me all afternoon and at the end when cutting threads…I accidentally cut a hole in them! I was bummed by that mistake but overall still excited that I was able to make them.
Below I am going to list some of my favorite sewing tutorials or patterns and why. Most of these tutorials I still use or will reference them if I haven’t made something in a while. I always like to double check measurements so even though I make crib sheets on a regular basis, I will still reference the tutorial to make sure I am cutting with the right dimensions.
The first tutorials will be from Dana at https://www.madeeveryday.com/ She has a great YouTube channel as well that has very informative and easy to follow videos! I have learned so many sewing skills from her tutorials and I am very grateful for her content. I have already mentioned it once but I will again, I just love her crib sheet tutorial. They have always been one of my favorite things to make. I really believe that a beautiful crib sheet makes a big difference in a nursery. Especially since cribs should not have blankets, pillows or anything else in them a beautiful crib sheet can really stand out. Here is a link to her tutorial, I have literally lost count of how many crib sheets I’ve made over the past six years. Here is a photo of baby Eva on the first sheet I ever made! They are such a fun thing make and mom’s always need multiple crib sheets. They make a great baby shower gift and if you are a beginner sewer, I would high recommend giving them a try!
Another one of Dana’s tutorials that is a favorite of mine are the diaper covers, I usually call them bloomers but no matter what you call them, they are adorable! For this tutorial she has a YouTube video that you can follow along on and I would definitely recommend that. There is nothing quite as cute as a baby girl in bloomers and a shirt. When Eva and the twins were babies, they wore bloomers non stop; a lot of which were ones that I made. They hold up very well too! All of the bloomers that I made for Eva we were able to keep for the twins. Now that I have sewn many different clothes, there are certainly other ones that felt more “beginner friendly” but going back to my original feelings; if you are feeling adventurous enough to try new things then go for it no matter what! These bloomers pair great with a cute onesie or the next pattern I will highlight.
These next two patterns will come from Oh Me Oh My Sewing. I have many of her patterns and love them all, but this Peasant Dress Pattern is very beginner friendly. It can be made as a dress or a top, and the pattern starts at 0-3 months up to ages 5-6 years. One thing I love about this pattern is not only that its very easy to follow, but you can make a dress and wear it for a very long time because it easily becomes a top! I used this pattern many times for my girls and for custom orders. Pair it with a pair of bloomers for an entire outfit and you have a great gift.
Another Oh Me Oh My pattern that I absolutely love is her Woodland Romper pattern. The first one I made was for Eva when she was 3, and of course I picked a pattern with stripes but it was a fun challenge to line them up! This pattern does call for a knit fabric so if you have not sewn with that before, I would practice playing around with it. Knit fabrics require a zig zag stitch or the use of a serger (if you have one). I do not have a serger and zig zag stitches holdup very well. (Headbands are a wonderful beginner project for kit fabrics!) This romper is so fun to make because it works great for a boy or a girl, and its adorable sleeveless but you could throw a long sleeve shirt under the romper and wear them for cooler temps as well.
I’ll wrap this up with one more pattern from Oh Me Oh My with a bummie short pattern. This is another pattern that calls for knit fabrics and are probably a little easier than the romper pattern. The romper pattern is very beginner friendly, but the shorts are even more so! Depending on the size you are making, these shorts can come together with very little fabric. I have made both styles; the elastic waistband and fold overs and each turn out adorable. My girls are tall and slim so the elastic fits them better, if you have a slender child and want to make the fold over version make sure you take their measurements first. The size charts on these patterns are very accurate, even if it seems that the size is much smaller than their age I would go with it! These patterns come with very clear instructions that are easy to follow and are very affordable so all around, they are a great investment!
If you enjoy sewing, let me know below if you tried out any of these tutorials and patterns. Or you can let me know what some of your favorites are; I would love to try them myself. If you would like to start a custom order with me for any of the items I talked about in this post, send me an email at babycloth@icloud.com
Happy Sewing!
