Sewing

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Review + Giveaway: sewExpecting eBook

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sewexpectingcoversewExpecting is the new eBook from Leigh Ann Tennent (The Object Project and Strawberry Truffle).  If you’re an expecting mother, or know someone who is pregnant, or just like to have sweet baby gifts on hand just in case, this eBook is for you.  In it, you can find patterns and instructions to make 20 – yes, TWENTY – different projects for baby:

  •  A basic infant bib, plus a patchwork and appliqued version.
  •  A basic toddler bib, plus a patchwork and appliqued version.
  •  A toddler bib with a storage pocket that doubles as a crumb-catcher!
  •  A basic burp cloth, plus a patchwork and appliqued version.
  •  A burp cloth with an innovative storage pocket!
  •  Three styles of changing mats.
  •  A very cool diaper clutch with instructions for 2 looks.
  •  A textured securtiy blanket to keep little fingers busy!
  •  A satin lovey.
  •  A very simple, super-quick quilt!

sewexpecting2All of these projects are boutique-quality, assuming of course that you construct them of quality materials. 

The instructions are straightforward and are geared toward those with limited or no sewing experience.   (Experienced sewers can probably skip straight to the patterns and use the instructions just as a quick reference guide.)  If you’ve wanted to learn how to sew but haven’t known exactly where to start, sewExpecting is a good place to begin.  The beginning of the eBook gives quick instructions for basic sewing, applique, and patchwork skills that you’ll need to create the projects.  Most of the projects are constructed with from simple shapes, with minimal fuss.

sewExpecting is available from Strawberry Truffle for $22.00.

By now, I know there are more than a handful of you who want a copy of sewExpecting for your very own.  And so Leigh Ann has graciously offered to give away one copy of the eBook to a lucky Craft Gossip reader.  Here’s how it will work:

To enter, post a comment on to this Craft Gossip post telling me which SewExpecting project (listed above) you think will be the first one you’ll sew.  One entry per person, please.  Deadline is Friday, August 7, 2009 at 10:00 pm CST.  I’ll choose a winner at random the following day.

Comments

  2. I think I’d probably stitch up the burpr cloths and bibs, as my daughter is expecting our first grandchild in September.

  3. My little guy is just starting to eat finger foods.. We could certainly use a few of the toddler bibs with crumb catchers around here!

  4. I’m responding to the give away of the SewExpecting book. I would sew the diaper clutch first. I have a friend that just had a baby and she asked if I knew how to make one! Thank you for the opportunity to be in this contest. (I’m new to using blogs)

    Pam Guerrette

  5. I’d go for the bibs. Not only are the pictures too cute, but we’re drowning in drool over here, so they’d be functional too!

  6. What a lovely book. I’d like to try one of the change mat patterns first – I hate the hard plastic thing that came with my babay bag and would like to use something softer with my baby girl.

  7. Looks like a great book! I would start with the diaper clutch. I’m also very curious about the burp cloth with pocket :o)

  9. I think I’ll make some diaper clutches! I have 3 friends who are expecting, not to mention my three. 🙂

  11. I’d love to make the diaper clutch! We have lots of friends who are expecting…lots of baby gifts to make! 🙂

  13. The first project that I would love to make is the patchwork infant bib… and I know a few babies to make them for too! The book looks awesome!

  14. I would DEFINITELY try the textured security blanket first! My little one loves holding things in her hands – she’s VERY tactile and I think this would be a perfect gift for her!!!

  15. For sure I would make one of the bibs first. I am due any day to have my fourth baby and all the others have been terribly spitty. I’ve been looking for great bib patterns for this new little one.

  16. I think I would start with the textured security blanket. It may keep my 1st busy when the 2nd is born.

  17. We’ve been TTC for 22 months, I’d probably start with a quilt to help keep my mind occupied…Maybe do a few mini-quilts in memory of my angel babies.

  18. I think the first thing I would make is the patchwork burp cloth since my 4 month old is teething this would be GREAT! Love the Craft Gossip website it is a daily read for me.
    thanks

  20. I would love to have this book because I have small children and I’d like to make the small quilt with printable muslin with pictures of their grandfather who just passed away.

  21. Oooh! Great projects! I have two little ones in diapers, so I think I’d go for a changing mat first. I need something better than just a blanket to take with me when we go places. I’d love to keep off the germs in style!

    Thanks for the chance to enter!

  22. I would love to make a changing mat. I have been looking for a good pattern for that for awhile. The ebook looks wonderful. You can never have too many baby patterns!

  23. diaper clutch for me! my best friend is pregnant and very creative so it would be lovely to have something orginal and funky to give her

  24. Hello,,My first will be A basic infant bib, plus a patchwork and appliqued version ..

  25. A textured security blanket to keep little fingers busy!

    I’m looking up on making me own diaper bag and blankets so… that’ll be the first project!!!

  27. I have many baby gifts to make and I think I would start with a changing mat.
    Thanks for the giveaway!

  28. As an expectant mother, I am intrigued by the Diaper clutch. I remember being all too annoyed the first time around carrying a huge bag, and after a while I basically just grabbed up 3 diapers, when on the run, and stuffed in my pocket. I’m curious to see how the diaper cluth can replace and minimize the diaper bag.

  29. hmmmm…i think its a toss up between the bib and the burp cloth. I have a spitter at home!

  30. I will make the super quick quilt first, since I’m running out of time for a baby shower gift!

  32. I’m having a hard time deciding on a first project. I would probably start with the burp with pocket, then the appliqued bib and then the simple quilt. I will need to do several because I have one granddaughter of 5 months and one grandchild due in Jan ’10

  34. Love that this book is for beginning sewers, because I am that exactly, but want so badly to do more DIY stuff for our baby due in December and our 2 year old toddler. The first thing I would make is a baby quilt….I’ve wanted to learn to do that for years!!

Have you read?

12 Free Baby Booties Sewing Patterns – Easy Fabric Shoes for Newborns & Babies

There is something slightly ridiculous about how satisfying it is to sew baby shoes.

They use barely any fabric, the finished project fits in the palm of your hand, and somehow a pair of tiny handmade booties can completely steal the show at a baby shower.

They are also one of my favourite scrap-basket projects. If your sewing room is anything like mine, there are always those little pieces of beautiful quilting cotton that are far too nice to throw away but not quite big enough for anything sensible. Baby booties are their moment to shine.

If you’ve been searching for a free baby booties sewing pattern, I’ve gathered together a mixture of simple fabric booties, soft baby shoes, Mary Janes, moccasins and even tiny sneakers. Some are wonderfully straightforward beginner sewing projects, while others have a few extra details for anyone who enjoys fiddly little sewing projects.

And when I say fiddly, I mean tiny curved seams where you suddenly find yourself wondering why something measuring four inches across requires quite so much concentration.

Still, they are worth it.

Most of these patterns require only scraps or a couple of fat quarters, making them lovely inexpensive handmade baby gifts too.

Before You Sew Baby Booties

Most fabric baby shoe patterns are designed as soft-soled shoes for babies who are not yet walking outdoors. Once babies begin pulling themselves up or toddling around on smooth floors, consider adding a non-slip sole fabric designed for slippers or children’s footwear.

I also tend to keep embellishments simple on anything made for babies. Decorative buttons, long ribbons and other detachable trims may look adorable in photographs, but anything that could potentially become loose should be avoided or secured extremely carefully. Baby shoes containing ties or embellishments shouldn’t be worn during sleep or without supervision. Several of the designers below make similar safety recommendations with their own patterns.

Now for the tiny shoes.

Free Baby Booties Sewing Pattern – Easy Fabric Booties in 4 Sizes

Free Baby Booties Sewing Pattern – Easy Fabric Booties in 4 Sizes

I’m putting our CraftGossip pattern first because this is exactly the sort of baby booties sewing pattern I think most readers are actually looking for: straightforward fabric shoes without unnecessary complications.

The pattern includes four baby sizes, which makes it much more useful than many older free baby shoe patterns that only include one size. Choose a cute quilting cotton for the outside and something soft for the lining and you have a lovely little handmade baby shower gift.

This is also the pattern I’d suggest starting with if you’ve landed here specifically looking for an easy fabric baby bootie rather than a novelty shoe.

Soft Knit Baby Booties That Stay On

How to Sew Baby Booties & Free Pattern

These booties from Handmade in the Heartland are designed for babies around 0–6 months and use soft knit fabrics with elastic around the ankle.

That’s a particularly practical feature because anyone who has spent time around babies knows they seem to possess a mysterious ability to remove socks and shoes without actually touching them.

The tutorial includes both photographs and video guidance, and the design uses interfacing, elastic and snaps to give the booties more structure while helping them stay in place.

Spoonflower Elastic Baby Shoes – Five Sizes

How to Make Baby Shoes With Spoonflower Fabric and Pattern

This is one of the better options if you’re looking for multiple baby shoe sizes rather than a single newborn pattern.

Spoonflower’s free baby shoe pattern covers sizes from approximately 0–3 months through 12–15 months. They’re soft fabric shoes made using just two fat quarters, so they’re also perfect for raiding that fabric stash.

I particularly like this pattern for matching shoes to a handmade baby outfit because you can use contrasting fabric for the lining and exterior without needing very much of either.

Free Fabric Baby Shoes With Velcro Straps

Free Baby Shoes Sewing Pattern and Tutorial

These little fabric shoes from Welcome to Nana’s have a classic soft shoe shape with a Velcro strap across the foot.

The original pattern is designed around the 9–12 month size and uses two fat quarters, optional interfacing and a small piece of Velcro. There are several small curved seams involved, so I’d put these slightly above absolute beginner level.

They would be especially cute made from lightweight denim on the outside with one of those tiny floral prints hiding inside as the lining.

Free Leather Baby Shoes Pattern

Free Leather Baby Shoes Pattern

If you’d like your handmade baby shoes to look a little less like slippers and a little more like proper shoes, this leather version from Heather Handmade is worth trying.

The pattern works with lightweight real leather or suitable faux leather and uses an elastic casing to help keep the shoe on. Heather estimates that she can sew a pair in about 30 minutes once familiar with the construction.

The free PDF pattern is available through an email signup on the tutorial page.

Upcycled Denim Baby Shoes

Free Baby Shoes Sewing Pattern: Upcycled Denim

Now this one is right up my scrap-hoarding alley.

Instead of cutting into new fabric, Heather uses old jeans or trousers and cleverly reuses the existing hem as part of the elastic casing. The free pattern comes in three baby sizes, and the project can be completed using very small pieces of fabric.

If you’ve been saving the legs from worn-out jeans because you were absolutely certain they would become useful one day, congratulations. Today is apparently that day.

Mary Jane Baby Shoes

Mary Jane Baby Shoes Pattern

These sweet Mary Jane shoes from The Cottage Mama have that classic handmade-baby-gift look that never really dates.

The free pattern is designed for approximately 6–12 months, with guidance for reducing the size for younger babies. They’re made from exterior fabric, lining, fusible fleece and interfacing, with a Velcro strap finished with an optional decorative button.

This would be such a pretty pattern for Liberty-style florals, gingham or tiny vintage reproduction prints.

Little Man Fabric Baby Shoes

Little Man Shoes

Baby sewing patterns can sometimes lean heavily toward frills and florals, so I always like finding a pattern that works beautifully with more neutral fabrics too.

The Little Man Shoes from Shwin & Shwin have a more structured shoe shape and look wonderful sewn in seersucker, cotton, denim or lightweight wool.

They’re also a fun excuse to use those ridiculously small scraps you keep saving because the fabric is too lovely to throw away.

Free Baby Moccasin Sewing Pattern

Baby Moccasins Free Pattern

For something a little more modern, these baby moccasins combine leather or suede with felt and fabric.

There’s a lovely fringe detail around the back, plus several options for securing the shoe including a bow, elastic or tie. The basic pattern is very simple once you understand how the curved heel and toe pieces attach to the sole.

This is a particularly good choice if you already have small leather remnants left over from another project.

Baby Booties With Non-Skid Soles

Free Pattern: Baby Booties With Nonskid Bottoms

I wanted to include this older CraftGossip find because the non-slip sole idea is still extremely useful.

Elastic around the ankles keeps the booties snug, while the sole can be made using a non-slip material for babies who are beginning to spend more time standing.

If you’re making fabric booties for a slightly older baby rather than a newborn, this is the construction detail I’d pay attention to.

Ann Kelle Fabric Baby Booties

Free Pattern: Ann Kelle Baby Booties

These cheerful little fabric booties were originally designed to show off colourful flannel prints, which immediately makes them a winner for me.

The free pattern includes three sizes covering approximately 3–12 months, and ribbon ties at the ankles help keep the shoes secure.

Flannel would make these lovely for winter babies, while lightweight cotton would give the same style a completely different summer feel.

Pleated Mary Jane Baby Shoes

Free Baby Shoe Sewing Pattern – Pleated Mary Jane Shoes

If you want your handmade baby shoes to look suspiciously boutique-like, this is the pattern.

The pleating across the toe gives these Mary Jane-style shoes much more detail than you’d expect from such a tiny sewing project. They’re soft-soled and designed for infants and pre-walkers, with the strap helping to keep the shoe in place.

This is the pair I’d make when the baby shower gift needs to look just a little bit fancy.

Leather and Fur Newborn Booties

Free Pattern: Leather and Fur Baby Booties

These are tiny winter booties with only three main pattern pieces: sole, heel and toe.

The original design combines leather or faux leather with faux fur and is sized for newborn feet. It’s a particularly cute option for a winter baby or for using up those odd scraps of specialty fabric that aren’t large enough for anything else.

Because the original version uses ties, these are best treated as supervised daytime baby shoes rather than something a baby would sleep in.

One Paid Baby Booties Sewing Pattern Worth Considering

Free patterns are wonderful, but sometimes it’s worth paying a few dollars for a professionally prepared PDF when you want more sizes.

Baby Booties Sewing Pattern – Newborn to 24 Months

This Etsy PDF includes sizes from newborn through 24 months and is designed for woven fabrics such as cotton, linen and muslin. It includes seam allowance along with written and photographic instructions.

I’d choose this one if you expect to make baby booties repeatedly because having that wider size range saves a lot of fiddling around resizing free templates.

Fabric Picks for Sewing Baby Booties

A baby shoe is one of those rare sewing projects where buying a fat quarter actually makes perfect sense rather than becoming the beginning of another enormous fabric collection.

For sweet baby prints, take a look at the Guess How Much I Love You 2026 Fat Quarter Bundle from Fat Quarter Shop. It’s a 100% cotton collection with a baby and children’s theme and would give you plenty of coordinating combinations for outer fabrics and linings.

If you prefer solids for linings and contrast pieces, the Color Wheel Solids Collection from Connecting Threads includes 100% cotton options that are easy to mix with printed quilting cottons.

What Fabric Is Best for Baby Booties?

For simple everyday fabric baby booties, quilting cotton is probably the easiest place to start. It’s stable, easy to cut and press, comes in every print imaginable, and you may already have suitable scraps.

Flannel makes wonderfully soft winter booties. Lightweight denim is another good choice when you want a little more structure, while fleece or knit fabrics work particularly well for cozy slipper-style booties.

Leather and faux leather can create a more shoe-like finish, although you’ll want the correct sewing machine needle and clips rather than pins when working with leather.

Are Baby Booties Easy to Sew?

Mostly, yes.

The actual sewing techniques involved in many baby bootie patterns are quite simple. What makes them occasionally challenging is their size. Sewing a straight piece of fabric around a tiny curved sole can require considerably more patience than sewing the same seam on an adult-sized project.

If you’re completely new to sewing, start with a basic cotton bootie before progressing to leather, faux fur or more structured baby shoes.

And don’t panic if the first one looks slightly peculiar.

That’s what the second shoe is for.

Can I Sew Baby Booties From Fabric Scraps?

Absolutely, and that’s one of the best things about them.

Many of these patterns require only a small portion of a fat quarter, and some can be made almost entirely from scraps. Baby shoes are particularly good for those little pieces of designer quilting cotton that you cannot bring yourself to throw away.

Cut several pairs at once and batch sew them and you’ll suddenly have a useful stash of handmade baby shower gifts rather than a drawer full of fabric scraps.

Which feels remarkably productive for something involving shoes smaller than your hand.