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Back today with an updated tutorial of my DIY Coordinating Newborn Giftset– a blog post that’s been popular on Pinterest for years now! This version is just as simple and cute and quick to make too. When you buy everything at JoAnn’s with coupons it’s really inexpensive as well.
Materials:
3 yards of knit/jersey material (you want something that feels soft, stretchy and drapey- use whatever you like!)
2 nylon rings for headbands
3 suspenders clips for paci clip fasteners
sewing machine and sewing supplies
fabric scissors
Directions:
1. Make the swaddles. Lay out each yard of fabric and trim into a square. You can do this by folding one corner of your fabric up into a big equilateral triangle then trim. It doesn’t have to be perfect, the hemming will cover up any jagged edges.
2. Hem all edges. This is the trickiest part of this whole set and it’s still super easy! The trick is to use a wide zig zag stitch and to gently tug on the edge of your fabric the whole time you are sewing. This will cause the fabric to roll over onto itself perfectly and you can stitch down the edge all the way around. No pins necessary! Keep the corners simple by folding them squarely as you turn the fabric 90 degrees. I don’t bother with miters or anything like that.
Here is how I tug the fabric while I sew. It rolls right under itself at about 1/2” increment.
And above is an example of a corner. So simple!
Stitch slowly to make sure you are always catching the rolled edge of the fabric. If you don’t catch it you’ll have little openings along the edges of your swaddle which is not what we’re going for, ha!
3. Next up is the Coordinating Newborn hair accesoris- I went with one knotted headband and two nylon no-dent bows. Head here for the knotted band tutorial first. Then check out my no-dent newborn/baby headband tutorial here for more ideas! (edited to add – the greyish bow is a simple rectangle of fabric folded inward on the back so the two ends meet in the middle. It’s then gathered gently in an accordion fold and hot glued with another little strip of fabric around the middle!)
4. Last but not least, braid up some paci clips! Cut your leftover swaddle fabric into long strips (I cut my strips about and inch wide which ended up being pretty skinny. I might make more with 2-3” strips next time for a chunkier clip. For two of these I just did a simple three strand braid and a 4 strand braid. The neutral colored one has wooden beads slipped on and it’s double knotted between each bead.
And that’s it! This whole set only took me two hours tops to make and looks so sweet together now that it’s finished. All it needs is a little baby to enjoy it. Coming so soon!
Happy crafting!
xoxo
-J
Tayssa says
Hello where are these fabrics from? Os from Joann’s? I didn’t find o. Their website.
Jacquie says
Yes Joann’s in store not sure if they still have them!