Sewn Layette
I love the tradition of a layette, a little bundle of necessities to prepare a newborn for its first few months. And even more, I love the idea of sewing it myself!
For this Sewn Layette, I designed a handful of useful pieces that together make a perfectly adorable first wardrobe. And because I’m a mom myself and I know that sometimes cute alone doesn’t cut it, I’ve made sure this Layette is equal parts precious and practical.
The Sewn Layette Pattern includes detailed instructions for three sizes (from newborn to 6 months) of four basic wardrobe pieces: Bloomers, Pants, and a cross-over Shirt and Romper (both with short and long-sleeve variations). The whole set is ripe for mixing and matching, so whether you’re making one special piece or two of everything, baby is sure to look super sweet! -Corinne
Update: New Fabric
March 10, 2016
Read all about our Sewn Layette in cozy flannel!
Materials
For our Sewn Layette Pattern, please email customerservice@purlsoho.com and we’ll send a free PDF right over to you!
Shirt
- 1/2 (1/2, 1/2) yard of light or midweight fabric. We used Moda Muslin 45-inch, 200 Count in Natural.
- Note: 1/2 (3/4, 3/4) yards for long sleeves, if using 44 or 45-inch fabric
- 33 (37, 42) inches of 7/8-inch bias tape
- Short Sleeves: We used Purl Bias Tape by the Yard in Flame.
- Long Sleeves: We used Purl Soho’s Liberty Bias Tape in Mitsi, Red.
- 12 inches of thin ribbon. We used Carta Inc’s Fettuccia Ribbon, ¼-inch in Natural.
- 2 snaps in size 1/0 or 3/0
- Embroidery or hand quilting thread for sewing on snaps
- A 110-yard spool of Gutermann’s Cotton Thread in a color to match the fabric. We used color 1040.
- A 110-yard spool of Gutermann’s Cotton Thread in a color to match the bias tape. We used color 4915.
Pants
- 1/2 (1/2, 1/2) yard of light or midweight fabric. We used Moda Muslin 45-inch, 200 Count in Natural.
- 15 (16, 17) inches of Braided Elastic, 3/8 inch in White
- A 110-yard spool of Gutermann’s Cotton Thread. We used color 1040.
Romper
- 3/4 (3/4, 1) yard of light or midweight fabric. We used Moda Muslin 45-inch, 200 Count in Natural.
- 54 (58, 64) inches of 7/8-inch bias tape. We used Purl Soho’s Bias Tape by the Yard in Nectarine.
- 12 inches of thin ribbon. We used Carta Inc’s Fettuccia Ribbon, ¼-inch in Natural.
- 7 (7, 8) snaps in size 1/0 or 3/0
- Embroidery or hand quilting thread for sewing on snaps
- A 110-yard spool of Gutermann’s Cotton Thread in a color to match the fabric. We used color 1040.
- A 110-yard spool of Gutermann’s Cotton Thread in a color to match the bias tape. We used color 4950.
Bloomers
- 1/2 (1/2, 1/2) yard of light or midweight fabric. We used Liberty of London’s Tana Lawn Classic in Mitsi, Red.
- 30 (31, 33 ½) inches of 7/8-inch bias tape. We used Purl Soho’s Liberty Bias Tape in Mitsi, Red.
- 15 (16, 17) inches of Braided Elastic, 3/8 inch in White.
- 17 (19, 21) inches of Braided Elastic, ¼ inch in White.
- A 110-yard spool of Gutermann’s Cotton Thread. We used color 4915.
Update 2024: You can explore our current collection of beautiful fabrics and supplies on our page of Sewing Tools + Notions!
Sizes
Newborn (0-3 months, 3-6 months)
- To fit a baby whose weight is 11 (14, 17) pounds and whose length is 22 (24, 26) inches.
Notes
For the Shirt, Romper, and Bloomers you may use prepared bias tape or make your own. If you are making your own bias tape, you will need ½ yard of additional fabric and a 25mm bias tape maker. For detailed instructions on how to make your own bias tape, visit our Making Single Fold Bias Tape Binding tutorial.
All samples are shown in the Newborn size.
Love that! so sad my littlest is too big for these now 🙁 any chance there will be extended sizes in the future?
Hi Molly –
Thank you for writing in. I’m so glad you like the pattern!
We do not have any plans of sizing the pattern up at the moment, but will definitely keep this in mind, and let you know if it happens in the future!
-Corinne
Thanks Corinne! I’ll probably get one anyways. They’ll make great gifts!
Great patterns, many thanks!!
What a lovely set! What kind of adjustments would you recommend if we want to make the pieces out of a knit fabric?
Thanks!
Loren
Hi Loren –
This is a great question!
Unfortunately I do not have a lot of experience working with knits, so I can’t say what adjustments you would need to make. I designed the pattern for use with light to mid-weight woven fabrics. Luckily, this covers a very wide range, so there are a ton of options to choose from!
I’m sorry I can’t help more. Please let me know if you have any other questions.
Best,
-Corinne
Love this collection!
Would this work with any other fabrics? Cotton knits?
Hi Freida –
Thanks for writing in! This is a great question.
This pattern is designed to work with any light to mid-weight fabric, so there are a ton of options to choose from. Unfortunately, I don’t have a lot of experience with knits, so I cannot say whether they would work here or not.
I hope this helps!
Please let us know if you have any other questions about the pattern, or would like any help picking your fabrics!
-Corinne
Hi, were these patterns designed for use with cloth diapers or disposables? The romper, bloomers and pants pattern all look like there isn’t enough room for cloth diapers, and since it’s not a knit there won’t be much stretch. I made the linen baby pants and *barely* squeezed them over a cloth-diapered baby bum; it would be nice to know if this pattern would be the same before purchasing!
Hi Kristin –
This is a great question. These garments were designed with disposable diapers in mind, and they might be a bit tight around the extra bulk of cloth diapers. However, you could make any of the garments using the width of a larger size, and keep the length and elastic measurements true to size to add a bit of room.
I hope this helps!
-Corinne
Thank you!
Hi, i love all the garments you made.
I’d like to buy this pattern but i live far away in Korea.
Hello Donghee!
Thanks for your interest in our pattern! Even though you are far, you can download the PDF version of the pattern here: https://www.purlsoho.com/sewn-layette-set.html
Happy sewing! -Alyson
Wow. Thanks a lot!! I will download it tomorrow.
Hi, should i pay for this pattern for even downloading?
Hello Donghee,
The PDF of the pattern’s download is $9.00 and available here: https://www.purlsoho.com/knit-layette-set-pattern.html
I hope you enjoy the design! -Alyson
Looking forward to making this set for a grandson due to arrive late May. What fabrics would you recommend given the time of year?
Thank you,
Rachel
Dear Rachel,
Thanks for writing in! Congratulations on your coming grandson! Based on the time of year that he is arriving, I would suggest the original fabrics used in the sew layette (Moda Muslin, Bias Tape and Liberty Lawn). Kaffe Fasset’s Shot Cottons would also make a soft and light weight version of this sewn layette.
Happy sewing and congratulations!
Cassy
I see that you made the set out of muslin in natural, but in the pictures it looks more like the white muslin you sell. Can you let me know which color of muslin would match the color of your photos better?
Thanks!
Hi Sandi,
Thanks for writing in! We did make this sweet layette set out of the natural color muslin. We do our best with photography but given that all monitors are different, it can be hard to get true color for everyone. If you would like, you could certainly use the white muslin in place of the natural. Both will make a lovely layette!
Best,
Cassy
I was wondering whether the bloomers would be fine without the bias tape, and whether it just makes a difference in looks. Also, I haven’t had my baby yet, to use cloth diapers, would one have to also make the top wider?
Hi Mei,
Thanks for writing in! The bias tape on this pattern is used to encase the elastic that holds the legs taught. Not having a child of my own, I am not certain about the fit over cloth diapers. If you are worried about fit, you can certainly go up a size!
Best,
Cassy
My partner and I have been waiting to become grandparents it seems like forever. Watch out what you wish for, we are delighted to be expecting twin girls from our son and his wife, and our daughter is also expecting in June of 2018. She and her husband are over the moon with joy, they struggled for a year to have this happen. So this layette set would be perfect. Can’t wait to get started.
Hi Liz,
Congratulations! How very exciting! We are so glad that this lovely project will work out for you!
Happy sewing!
Cassy