Gossamer threads intertwine with nimble fingers, yielding precious garments that cocoon our little bundles of joy. Stitch by stitch, the symphony of a sewing machine creates a symphony of love, instilling warmth and comfort into every fiber of their being. And as we embark on this delicate journey of bringing fashion to the tiniest of fashionistas, it is crucial to master the art of precise measurements. Like a compass guiding a lost sailor, accurate measurements form the cornerstone of sewing baby clothes that fit like a tailored hug. So, gather your needles, bobbins, and measuring tape, as we delve into the captivating world of measurements for sewing baby clothes, where the tiniest details hold the power to embrace our little wonders with garments that sing lullabies of style and comfort.

Baby clothing should be as comfortable and functional as possible. This is especially true at night. Pajamas and rompers should always be constructed with extra length and sufficient space for the diaper. With one-piece models, quick access to the diaper must be easy. Push buttons and fine zippers are therefore indispensable. Baby skin is very sensitive and reacts to external influences, so materials with a soft, smooth surface are suitable for sewing baby clothes. For underwear that lies directly on the skin, the fabric should therefore be selected very carefully. Classic textiles for baby clothing are soft jersey, fine fabrics made of cotton and wool, as well as nicki fabric and fleece. Elastic material makes dressing easier and allows sufficient freedom of movement. Pattern construction for Babies isn’t that easy, because they have different proportions than schoolchildren, the head of a baby accounts for one fifth of the body size. Thus, the measurements should be taken precisely and sufficient comfort width should be included in the construction of the patterns.

This article shows an excerpt of the construction of a longsleeve baby body and a wrap body as well as an insight into the pattern constructions from the e-dossier Pattern Making Baby Clothes. You will also find instructions for taking exact measurements of babies.

Content

• Taking Measurements
• Pattern Construction Longsleeve Baby-Body
• Pattern Construction Wrap Body
• Instructions for Pattern Construction for Baby Clothes
• Sewing Pattern for Baby Clothes

Taking Measurements

Measuring babies is often more difficult and less accurate than measuring older children and adults. Newborns and infants up to 18 months do not have the motor skills to stand upright, to sit straight and to participate actively in the measuring process or they are just starting to develop these abilities. The height can be determined in newborns and in the first months by lying down with legs stretched. Babies and infants have different body proportions than adults. The torso is still not very pronounced and chest, waist and hip girths are relatively identical.

Measuring Tools

A cardboard measuring strip for the wall, a waist  measure, a tape measure, a small angle and a measuring chart.

Bh – Body height

Measure the body height from the top of the head to the sole of the foot.

Cg – Chest girth

Measure the chest girth horizontally around the fullest part of chest right underneath the arm pit.

Wg – Waist girth

Measure the waist girth around the narrowest part of the natural waist. Measure the waist girth just above the belly button if the proportional
difference between chest and waist is not pronounced yet.

Hg – Hip girth

Measure the hip girth around the fullest part of the hip.

Sl – Sleeve length

Measure the sleeve length along the arm with
slightly bent elbow to the wrist.

Sdl – Side length

Measure the side length over the hip from the
lower edge of the waist band to the floor.

Is – Inseam length

Measure the inseam length from the crotch to the
sole of the foot.

Ng – Neck girth

Measurement of the normal neckline. Put the
measuring tape on the nape of the neck and place it
around the neck.

Sw – Shoulder width

Measure from the neckline to the sleeve cap.

Sd – Scye depth

Measure from the nape of the neck down to the
arm depth. This measurement is taken at the back
from the nape vertically down arm depth.

Bwl – Back waist length

Measure from the nape of the neck to the bottom
edge of the waist tape measure.

Bw – Back width

Measure across the bottom part of the shoulder
blades from one arm fold to the other. Note only
half of the measurement.

Br – Body rise

Measure over the hip from the bottom of the waistband to the seat surface.

Pattern Construction Longsleeve Baby-Body

 

Front and Back Pattern

Use the basic body block in size 74 as a template. Since the head size of a baby in proportion to the neck size is much larger than the adult head, the neckline needs an extra opening for the head to pass through. There are several variations for the neckline closure. Often you can see bodies with snap placket at the shoulder. To avoid pressure and friction for delicate and sensitive skin, the overlapping shoulder is a simple and convenient variant, which provides enough width for the head. Draw the new shoulder seam as shown in the illustration and mirror it over the shoulder on the front and back pattern.

Finished Pattern Pieces

Figure 2 shows the finished pattern pieces.

Pattern Construction Wrap Body

Front and Back Pattern

Draft the basic front and back pattern as shown for the body block in size 74 but according to the measurements of size 50 (see measurement chart). The armhole is drafted but the calculations of the sleeve measurements are not necessary. The wrap body is designed with short batwing sleeves. The body is constructed with a wrap closure, which is particularly convenient for handling newborns. In the first few weeks, the head should be lifted very gently and always supported. A body that must be pulled over the head is not suitable for a newborn. The wrap body can be easily opened and closed without lifting the head.

Finished Pattern Pieces

Trace a copy of the front pattern and mirror it over the centre front. Draw the neckline and the overlap for the wrap front. Mark the snap fasteners. Tie the overlap with a bow sewn from the binding. The right picture shows the finished pattern pieces.

1. “Tiny increments, meticulous details: Unlocking the devoted art of sewing baby clothes”

Sewing baby clothes is a labor of love, where every stitch is filled with care and attention to detail. The intricacy of this art form lies in the tiny increments and meticulous details that create beautiful and functional garments for the little ones. From the choice of fabric to the selection of buttons, every aspect is carefully considered to ensure comfort, durability, and style.

One of the key elements in sewing baby clothes is using high-quality materials. Soft, breathable fabrics like organic cotton or bamboo ensure that the delicate skin of the baby remains comfortable and irritation-free. Alongside fabric, the choice of thread and needles is equally essential. The thread needs to be strong enough to withstand wear and tear, while the needles should be fine and sharp for precise stitching. Attention to these small details sets the foundation for creating clothes that are not only visually appealing but also practical.

• Patterns: Sewing baby clothes provides the opportunity to play with a variety of patterns. From floral prints to geometric patterns or cute animal motifs, the options are endless. Each pattern brings its own charm to the final garment.
• Embroidery and Appliqué: Personalization is a beloved aspect of sewing baby clothes. Embroidery and appl

  2. “Crafting miniature perfection: Precision in measurements for sewing adorable baby garments

  How to Measure Your Kids for Sewing

  Do you want to make a beautiful clothing piece for your little one? Maybe you need to do some tailoring for a beautiful kids’ garment you already have? Or just wondering how to measure your child to pick the perfect clothing size? The first thing you have to do is to measure your child’s body accurately. Let’s learn everything about kids’ measurements for sewing.

  How to measure your child for sewing

  Measuring your child requires very few tools and slightly specific knowledge of how to do it. Read this article and soon enough you will know how to take correct body measurements that will allow you to choose the best size or make well-fitted garments for your little one.

  Tools needed to measure your child

  Taking body measurements is always the first thing before sewing or drafting a sewing pattern. For this task, you need very few tools.

  Measuring tape

  The measuring tape is a soft flexible type of ruler that is usually made from plastic and sometimes fabric or leather. Unlike a regular hard ruler when measuring the body it allows you to measure the circumference of the body parts. This is very useful when creating the garment because you have to have accurate measurements for a three-dimensional object.

  Pencil

  Yes, good old pencil. Try not to use markers and pens around your sewing project. They can leave marks around your workspace as well as fabrics. And since no one wants to scrub the stains from your newly made garment…

  Sheet of paper

  For writing down all the sewing measurements you will also need a sheet of paper or a body measurement template. List out all the measurements you need on a sheet of paper or download our body measurement template here.

  How to take a child’s measurements for sewing

  Use measure tape to take all the measures and write them down. Make sure not to tilt or stretch the tape. Tilting can lead to incorrect lengths and stretching can affect the size you will choose. Afterall couple of centimeters can determine a completely different size and you will end up with a garment that is too tight or too small.

  Height

  

  Height measurement in sewing is measured like in any other occasion. Total height is the length from the top of the head to the bottom of the heel. Measuring total height is important because some pattern companies and clothing brands do not write down sizes according to a child’s age and only use height. After all, not all of us grow at the same pace.

  Chest

  

  Chest circumference is measured by wrapping the tape around the fullest part of the child’s chest. Chest measurement is considered among the most important ones. It is useful for determining sizes for many types of garments like tops, dresses, bodysuits, and rompers.

  Waist

  

  For grown-ups, the natural waist measurement is taken when wrapping the tape around the thinnest part of the waist. However, children usually have more rounded bellies without the thin part. It only starts to show when they start to get closer to their teenage years. Therefore to measure the child’s waist, wrap the tape around ¼’’ or 0,25 cm above the belly button.

  Back

  

  Back measurement is taken by going from the prominent bone to the line of natural waist. To take this measurement accurately wrap a second measuring tape or a thread around the child’s natural waist. This way you will be able to see the exact waistline and measure the back length accurately. This measurement is very important when making dresses and tunics as well as some types of rompers and overalls.

  Hips

  

  To measure hip circumference, wrap the measuring tape around the fullest part of the hips. Hip measurement is important when making or determining the size of pants, shorts, bummies, overalls and skirts.

  Side leg

  

  Side leg measurement goes vertically from the natural waist to the bottom end of calf bone or in other words the ankle joint bump. This measurement is useful for determining the size of long pants, skirts and jumpsuits.

  Inseam

  

  Inseam measurement goes vertically along the inner side of the leg from the crotch to the end of the shinbone or in other words ankle joint bump. In other cases it is measured from the crotch to the ground. Otter Patterns however use the first method because it is simply more useful when creating the garment or choosing the size. This is because pants rarely go all the way to the ground. This body measurement is required mainly for making and determining the size of the pants.

  Mid-thigh

  Mid-thigh measurement is taken by wrapping the tape around the middle of the thigh. It is not the most common measurement because it is only needed when drafting the pants patterns and not deciding on the pattern size or garment piece.

  Calf

  Calf measurement is taken by wrapping the tape around the fullest or widest part of the calf. This measurement is needed when creating garments that are tight fitted below the knees.

  Arm

  

  Arm length is measured going down from the shoulder joint through the elbow till the wrist bone. Most of the garments that have sleeves will require this measurement to be taken.

  Neck

  

  To measure the neck, wrap the sewing tape measure around the base of the neck. This measurement is needed when working with neckline design as well as some head accessories.

  Head

  

  To measure head wrap the measuring tape following the line around the mid-forehead and in the back approximate line at bottom of the crown. This measurement is mainly useful for headpieces.

  General body measurement sizing chart for babies, toddlers, and kids

  General body sizing chart is used to create kids clothing pieces by industry or brand standards. This is a useful asset because it defines most common body measurements of a child in a certain age. You can use it to make your own clothing pieces or compare with your kids body measurement to define what size brand considers your child is. Don’t forget that all of us develop at different pace and if your child doesn’t match the standard you should pick either smaller or bigger size.

  

  Want to download these sizing guides? Click here to get the files together with some other digital assets that will help you take kids measurements for sewing.