This weekend I did manage to spend a little time sewing for baby. On my agenda - baby gowns! I love love love to put my infants in long sack gowns. The only problem is that my babies are big, so they grow out of them quickly. I've always wanted to make some to fit larger sizes, but that never happened...until now.
I couldn't do just a plain gown, I wanted a kimono style gown in a knit. My love affair with baby kimonos goes way back. I've been working on this pattern for a while now. I've probably re-drafted it half a dozen times, but never sewed it up until now.
I should have used my head and made a muslin!! My first sewn version wasn't quite right. The neckline was too wide, the body was too narrow, and the sleeves were too long. Shoot!!
After some slicing and dicing of my pattern, I came up with yet another version. Again I took my chances sewing it up with good fabric, and thankfully it was a winner.
Aren't these knits sweet? It wasn't too difficult re-familiarizing myself with sewing with knits, though it had been a while (I don't think I've sewn with knits on a sewing machine since I was making nursing tops after I had Alex!). All these knits were purchased from Girl Charlee. It was my first time buying there and was very impressed with the customer service.
After the first success I of course had to make another! Instead of adding elastic at the bottom of this one, I bound the bottom with more trim knit. I made all of these on my regular sewing machine with a zig-zag stitch and a ball point needle.
I'm not sure that this will fit an actual baby, but comparing it to a store bought gown, I think I'm okay. I've never done the whole grading thing to make a larger version, but I'm up for the challenge!! I foresee lots more sewing with knits for baby in my future!!
