How to Make a Newborn Gown
- 1). Lay the onesie on a flat work surface and smooth out the wrinkles. Fold it in half lengthwise and again widthwise. Make a small dot with the fabric marker to mark the middle. Unfold the onesie and spread flat.
- 2). Measure the front of the onesie from side to side over the dot in the middle. Ensure that the measuring tape is straight to obtain an accurate waist measurement. Double the number and add one-half inch to get the final measurement for the width of the fabric for the gown. For example, if the width of the front of the onesie measured six inches, the width of the fabric will be cut to 12 1/2 inches.
- 3). Measure and cut the rectangle for the bottom of the gown. The width of the rectangle will be the doubled measurement obtained from the onesie and the length will be 11 inches. Adjust the length measurement to create a longer or shorter gown, but add an extra inch for seam allowances.
- 4). Spread the fabric out, right side down. Fold up a long side of the rectangle about a half inch. Crease the fabric and pin into place. This will create the bottom hem of the gown. Stitch along the bottom edge with a sewing machine and matching thread. Remove the pins as you sew.
- 5). Place a strip of elastic along the waist of the fabric, still right side down. Line up the end of the elastic strip with one of the sides of the rectangle. Move the strip down from the top edge about a half inch. Fold the top edge of the rectangle, the waistband, down over the strip of the elastic. Crease the fabric and pin it down, holding the fold and elastic in place. Cut the end of elastic when you finish pinning it into place.
- 6). Sew the elastic and folded fabric with a sewing machine. A zigzag stitch will create a tight hold in the elastic band. Check the manufacturer’s directions to set your machine to sew a zigzag stitch. Remove the pins as you sew.
- 7). Fold the rectangle in half widthwise to match up the two sides, keeping the right sides together. Pin the sides into place. Sew the two ends together, creating a stitch about a half inch into the fabric. Remove the pins as you sew.
- 8). Arrange the onesie and the bottom of the gown to attach the pieces. Keep the gown piece inside out and push it down onto the onesie, waistband first. The bottom hem of the gown will be at the top of the onesie. Line up the waistband of the gown just above the middle dot on the onesie.
- 9). Unsnap the bottom of the onesie and arrange the waistband to ensure that it's straight all the way around. Turn the gown so that the seam is in the center of the back. Insert pins around the waistband to hold the two pieces together.
- 10
Sew around the waistband, attaching the gown to the middle of the onesie. Remove the pins as you sew. Flip down the top of the gown when finished.
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