I’ve got a decent stack of sewing-for-babies-and-kids books, with pages flagged.
And while I’d love to say I’ve made a least one of those flagged projects from each book, it just isn’t true. I’m working on it, though. I finally broke in Lotta Jansdotter’s Simple Sewing for Baby, a book I’ve had on my shelf for well over two years.
There are lots of great options in that book, but with a baby shower for twins coming up next weekend I went with the Snuggler, which is a velcro swaddle wrap.
Don’t worry. I wasn’t going to make those poor twins share – I made two, of course.
I needed something gender neutral, and my local Fabric Depot just got the Lotta Jansdotter Echo fabrics in, so I went with that. An obvious choice.
The only changes I made were using flannel inside rather than microfleece (I can’t seem to sew with Minky without it shifting all over the place), and topstitching the whole thing rather than slip stitching the turning opening. Otherwise I just followed the directions and had no problems at all. Simple sewing for baby indeed!
Here’s how they work:
And my neighbor was kind enough to loan me her super happy and cooperative three month old (recipient of the bonnet and booties I made back in August) to try them out – she was maybe a tad long for them already (and strong enough to eventually find her hands!), but she was the sweetest little model ever.
P.S. As I was looking at snuggler photos in the Simple Sewing for Baby flickr pool, I discovered that the pattern is also available here as a free download. If you’re so inclined, you can make a snuggler, too!
hey thanks for the link. i usually can’t resist a baby book but didn’t get this one for some reason.
love that you made a Lotta pattern in a Lotta print:) I had a snuggly wrap, albeit not nearly as cute, for Lilah when she was a baby, and it was a lifesaver! I’m sure the new mom will be thrilled!
These are gorgeous! What a lovely baby present
A whole lotta CUTE is what those are!
Great prints and your little model is so adorable! I don’t know if I’d seen one of those snugglers actually on a baby before, they look like they fit great!
looks great! and what an adorable baby
very sweet! My mom made one of these for my daughter (with Heather Ross’s man in the moon fabric) just after she was born, but she was already too big for it, alas. We kept it to try again for the next baby.
Lovely! Thanks for the free tutorial tip. Looking forward to seeing some more projects from this delightful stack of books you’ve got, but hey, no pressure
Love the fabric choices and that baby is ridiculously cute!!
Beautiful sewing and such great photos. I am inspired to give it a try for my sister’s baby due in a few weeks.
These are stinkin’ cute and that baby – oh baby what a doll.
I also have that book & some of the others they r great books…. Those r adorable hope the twins enjoy them…. mommy too!
This is one of those projects that I WANT an excuse to make. But so far everyone who is pregnant doesn’t use this type of swaddler. Grr..
I’m dieing with baby-cuteness-overload! Such gorgeous little swaddles…and such a gorgeous little baby!
What an excellent gift, beautiful and practical! Thanks for posting a link to the free pattern too. I can’t wait to try it!
I hope someone I know or barely know has a baby soon so I can make a few of these. Too cute!
Oh my gosh I totally have to make baby gifts for twins. These are perfect!! Love the fabric you chose. I might just copy this whole darn thing!
Where do you buy the cool fabrics that you used to make these snugglers? I love them! I want to make a skirt out of them for my teenage daughter.
Love your blog, and fun projects.
thank you! i got the fabric locally at Fabric Depot, looks like they have some of the Echo line online, too: http://www.fabricdepot.com/index.php?page=CatalogPage&pageid=105
They are just beautiful, what a gorgeous gift.
This turned out gorgeous! I have this tagged to make too. I was actually thinking of running some elastic around the top so that it’s a bit more snug and a bit harder for the little one to get their hands out. Do you think this would work?
How on earth did you figure out how to put the pattern together from the link? I’ve printed it out and can’t match anything up. Or did you have the pattern in your book? Anybody had any success with the download?
I used the pattern in my book – I haven’t printed the one from the link. Hopefully someone else can give you some advice on piecing it together!
Thanks, I think I finally have it figured out. Like putting a puzzle together
This is the perfect snuggler as it swaddles the arms. Just heard a snippet on the news that there could be issues with hip dysplasia in later life if legs are swaddled.
I’m in love with those fabric choices!
So cute! This would make an awesome gift.
Gail, You are an inspiration! I have made 4 of these and they were only my second sewing project ever! I hope my friends like them as much as I have, although now that I see yours again I feel mine are very begginer looking :S
Thank you soo much!
I will keep at it I know I will be able to make some more and prettier
These turned out beautifully – and your model baby is absolutely adorable!!
What kind of fleece did you use? I’m always worried about it being too thick for little ones.
I just used flannel, which keeps it pretty thin.