Finding the right baby clothes can be a stressful and expensive endeavor. This is why so many parents are deciding to make the items themselves. If you want to skip the store and craft your own baby clothes, remember to follow these three tips before taking out the knitting needles.
Choose the Right Size
As you may be well aware, babies grow incredibly fast. Sometimes you will find that a sweater or bootie that fit them a week earlier is now tight. This can be a pain for when you buy your clothing and when you make your own baby clothes. It can feel like a lot of effort went out the window if your child only wears something a handful of times.
When I was a baby my grandmother would knit me cute little outfits. I was a preemie and back then it was hard to find clothes that small. Nowadays, thankfully preemie clothes are easy to find, just not as heartfelt as the ones I got.
Remember to knit for the future instead of the present. That way your project won't be too small by the time it’s finished. Look up the average baby clothing sizes based on age, so that you can estimate how long and wide the piece should be.
Choose the Right Fabric
Babies and toddlers have very sensitive skin. So getting a material that won’t cause irritation is an important step before starting your project. When you knit or crochet your own baby clothes, you should choose yarns that are specifically made for sensitive skin. You can find and order baby-friendly materials at the website Yarnspirations, and have them mailed directly to your home.
The website carries a fantastic supply of yarn brands, colors, and weights for delicate skin — you won't find a better selection of yarn for babies in hobby stores or on other websites.
If you want to choose a specific type of yarn that isn’t labeled for infants, test it on your skin before knitting or crocheting with it. As an added precaution, you can always add a liner in a softer material to your items so that the yarn won’t rub against their skin.
Choose the Right Style
You may be tempted to add a bit of flair to your knitted or crocheted baby clothing, but you should be aware that there are some decorations that are inappropriate for infants. Buttons, beads, sequins, rhinestones and other appliques become choking hazards for babies the moment they fall off of clothes.
You should also be cautious about other style issues that are fine for older children but can easily hurt an infant like zippers and drawstrings. One of the greatest tips for dressing your baby is to make sure that their clothing is comfortable and safe. After covering those fundamentals, you can worry about making the outfit look cute.
If you follow these three helpful tips, you will be able to provide your baby with the best homemade clothing possible. The items may go through lots of wear and tear and many stains, but the clothing you craft will make sure that your baby will be comfortable, safe and happy.
1/17/18 Happy hump day! The week is almost over. I can't wait till I can sleep in. I am SO tired! Saturday can't get here fast enough.
Very good tips. I always use baby yarn for softness and gentleness.
It is the perfect medium for baby clothes, especially for a craft project.