Skip to content
Over 180 freebooks free for newsletter subscribers

estimated reading time: 13 min

Sew a baby bodysuit in 5 steps (perfect for beginners!)

29.01.2022 by Sabine Schmidt

Baby-Body nähen in 5 Schritten (perfekt für Anfänger!)

Sewing a baby bodysuit: With this guide and the free pattern, even beginners can sew a super-cute and practical baby bodysuit in no time at all.

The most important things at a glance

  • In this article, you will learn which fabrics are suitable for baby bodysuits
  • I will explain how to attach jersey snap fasteners
  • You will receive tips for sewing the baby bodysuit
  • In the step-by-step photo tutorial, I will show you how to sew the baby bodysuit
  • At the end of the article, you can download the free pattern for the baby bodysuit in size 50
  • There is also a YouTube video on the topic of sewing baby bodysuits
  • Sewing level: Beginner
  • Sewing time: 30 - 45 minutes

Why should I sew a baby bodysuit myself?

First of all: Because it’s fun! It is simply wonderful to conjure up such super-cute little pieces for the most precious people in the world. Perhaps you already have some experience sewing baby or children’s clothing. A great starting project is to sew a baby shirt.

But hey, of course, self-sewn bodysuits are also mega practical. You can conjure them up to your own taste using fantastic favorite fabrics. And, of course, you can adapt them to the season by sewing them with long or short sleeves.

Baby bodysuits in stores often only come in one width. It’s different with the SewSimple Finnlie baby bodysuit: you can get it in slim and loose. You can decide whether you want to sew the narrower or the looser version.

By the way, you can also "play" with the width here: for thicker, sturdier fabrics, I recommend the loose version.

Last but not least: self-sewn baby bodysuits are inexpensive, especially if you sew them from upcycled clothing from mom and dad. That works fantastically!

Of course, you can also focus on sustainability by using organic fabrics.

Sewing a baby bodysuit

Can I sew a baby bodysuit as a beginner?

But of course! In my guide, I explain step by step how it’s done. So don't be afraid. Even if you have never sewn a piece of clothing before, you will definitely manage to make the bodysuit.

In fact, it is a good idea to start with baby clothes. Why? Because you won't have to handle huge pieces of fabric. That can be quite intimidating at the beginning.

Plus, you can be sure that you won't waste too much fabric if an attempt goes wrong. That actually happened to me with the first bodysuit I sewed many years ago.

But as the saying goes, you learn from your mistakes. And as I write this guide today, I know exactly what the tricky points of sewing bodysuits are, and I can help you navigate those pitfalls. ;)

Recommended reading: Sewing jersey with a sewing machine

How much fabric do I need for the baby bodysuit?

Depending on the size, you will need between 40 and 60 cm of fabric. It is best to follow the information in the fabric consumption table:

Which body measurements correspond to the stated sizes?

The body measurement table will help you here. Depending on your preference, you can calculate the size based on the body measurement table or the finished garment measurement table. For the body measurement table, you measure your baby’s specific circumferences and compare them with the table.

What are the measurements of the finished bodysuit?

The finished measurements of the bodysuit can be found in the finished garment measurement table. What can it do for you? It shows you what the finished bodysuit looks like. You can compare a well-fitting bodysuit with the measurements in the finished garment measurement table. Just like the body measurement table, this can help you find the right size for the baby.

What kind of fabrics can I use to sew a baby bodysuit?

Ideally, you should use normal jersey fabric. Which, by the way, doesn't have to be expensive while you are still practicing. Once you are a bit more confident, you can move on to beautiful organic jerseys. ;)

Depending on the season, you can also use French Terry (summer sweatshirt fabric), sweatshirt fabric, knit fabric, or velour. Even terry cloth stretch is a good idea.

You can also use bodysuits made from thicker fabrics as a shirt or sweater replacement.

Thin jersey bodysuits are ideal as a T-shirt replacement in the summer.

Sewing a baby bodysuit

Fabric recommendations for baby bodysuits

Here I have linked recommended fabrics that you can wonderfully use for sewing baby bodysuits. When selecting fabrics, make sure they do not contain any harmful dyes or substances.

I recommend organic fabrics* for children’s clothing.

A word on ribbing fabrics: Ribbing, especially fine-knit ribbing, can be the softest fabric in the world. Super elastic, wonderfully comfortable to wear, and sometimes even organic!

So why not conjure up a complete bodysuit made of ribbing fabric? You don't need to pay attention to anything special. Most ribbing fabrics can be processed just like jersey.

However, for the binding strips, you should use a jersey fabric so that the finish doesn't become too thick.

How should I prepare the fabrics?

The following applies to all types of fabric: wash and iron the fabric at least once before you start sewing. Clothing that is worn directly on delicate baby skin should not be burdened with residue from finishing agents, dyes, or similar substances.

Personally, I think it is best to wash the fabrics twice in advance. Specifically, at the highest temperature recommended in the care instructions.

Can I sew an upcycled baby bodysuit from worn clothing?

Great idea! When you use worn clothing, you can be sure that harmful substances and dyes are largely "washed out." In addition, such a bodysuit, sewn from a top belonging to mom or dad, is something very special. It is also great if you use T-shirts with prints. This results in particularly cool baby bodysuits. :)

What accessories do I need to sew a baby bodysuit?

Bonus: Free baby bodysuit pattern

As a little surprise, I have a free baby bodysuit ebook here for you: With this link, you can download the pattern for the cute size 50 baby bodysuit for free:

Freebook Download: Baby bodysuit Finnlie size 50

YouTube video: Sewing a baby bodysuit

Conclusion

Sewing your own baby bodysuits is so much fun! And the result can keep up with any store-bought bodysuit, especially in terms of durability. And of course, you can play with colors, patterns, and materials to your heart's content. If you like, you can go right ahead and sew matching baby pants. Or perhaps you'd like to sew a baby shirt?

Such a set, consisting of baby pants, baby shirt, bodysuit, and a self-sewn neckerchief, is also a fantastic idea. And a wonderful gift idea for expectant or new parents. :)

By the way, you can also easily sew bodysuits for adults!

Happy simple sewing

Yours, Sabine

Baby-Body nähen

Frequently asked questions

What do I need to sew a baby bodysuit?

You need 40 - 60 cm of jersey fabric (at a fabric width of 1.40 m), 3 jersey snap buttons, and your sewing machine.

Can I sew a baby bodysuit as a beginner?

A baby bodysuit is easy to sew even for beginners. If you like, you can check out my post on sewing with stretch fabrics beforehand, then you'll be well-prepared to work with elastic fabrics without any problems.

How much fabric for baby bodysuits?

For the bodysuit, you need 40 - 60 cm of fabric at a width of 140 cm. The fabric consumption depends on the size sewn. You can find this in the finished measurement or body measurement table.

Can you sew your own baby bodysuits?

Yes! Baby bodysuits are easy to sew and can be done very quickly. Besides, you can also save money with self-sewn baby bodysuits because homemade is often cheaper than store-bought.

Links marked with * are affiliate links: If you make a purchase through them, we receive a small commission. The price remains the same for you.

Step-by-step instructions

Sew a simple baby bodysuit

Sewing a bodysuit for babies is so easy! First we finish all the fabric edges with ribbing strips. Then the shoulders are joined, the sleeves set in and the sides closed. It really doesn't get any easier. Let's get started so you can hold your first handmade baby bodysuit as soon as possible. :)

  1. Step

    Step 1: Cut out the baby bodysuit correctly

    For the baby bodysuit you need between 40 cm (size 48) and 60 cm (size 104) of fabric. If you use patterned fabric, make sure when cutting that the print isn't upside down.

    You cut on a double fold. This saves you lots of fabric. This is what it looks like when you fold fabric into a double fold:

    This is how the bodysuit pattern pieces are placed on the double-folded fabric and cut out:

    This is what the required fabric pieces and materials look like:

    Step 1: Cut out the baby bodysuit correctly
  2. Step

    Step 2: Bind the fabric edges

    On this bodysuit, the fabric edges are bound with ribbing or jersey strips. This stabilises them while keeping them stretchy.

    On the inward-curving parts of the necklines, the ribbing strip is stretched slightly. This gives the neckline its nice shape.

    The ribbing strip is stretched at the areas marked in orange. Along the sections marked in yellow, the strips are sewn on unstretched.

    We start binding on the wrong side of the fabric. Here I'll show you the method on a sleeve. The technique stays the same when binding the neck and leg openings.

    Pin the ribbing strip right side to wrong side, flush with the sleeve edge.

    Sew on the ribbing strip unstretched with the overlock.

    This is what it should look like now:

    Fold the raw edge of the ribbing to the raw edge of the overlock seam.

    Then fold the whole ribbing strip around the fabric edge so that the overlock seam is completely covered.

    Pin everything well.

    Stitch the ribbing in place. This time I'm using a straight stitch and elastic sewing thread so that the sleeve edge stays nice and stretchy.

    This is what it should look like now:

    Bind the remaining fabric edges in the same way. Remember to bind the inward-curving parts with stretched ribbing. The bodysuit fabric itself is not stretched, though, otherwise you'll get waves. ;)

    Step 2: Bind the fabric edges
  3. Step

    Step 3: Sew in the sleeves

    This is what your prepared pattern pieces should look like now:

    Now place the two bodysuit pieces right side up. The shoulder sections of the front lie underneath those of the back.

    Make sure the markings on the shoulder sections lie exactly on top of each other.

    Secure the shoulder section with a straight stitch within the seam allowance.

    Why do we do this? Because this way the shoulder sections and neckline bindings can't shift when we set in the sleeves.

    You can now cut off the protruding ribbing strips.

    Pin the shoulder marking of the sleeves right sides together to the shoulder marking of the bodysuit.

    Sew in the sleeves with the overlock.

    Step 3: Sew in the sleeves
  4. Step

    Step 4: Finish sewing the bodysuit

    This is what it should look like now:

    Pin the sleeve and side edges right sides together and close them with the overlock or the sewing machine.

    Make sure the bound edges lie exactly on top of each other.

    My tip: If that doesn't work so well, you can also secure them with a short temporary seam on the sewing machine.

    Secure the overlock thread chains with a thick darning needle.

    So that the seams don't get in the way, you can now fold them over and stitch them flat with a straight stitch.

    Step 4: Finish sewing the bodysuit
  5. Step

    Step 5: Attach the jersey snaps to the bodysuit

    This is how to attach the jersey snaps:

    Transfer the markings for the snaps from the pattern onto the binding strips.

    For each snap you need these 4 parts and the Vario pliers.

    For the upper part of the snap you need a prong ring and the metal part with the raised centre.

    Little tip: To make the prong ring click into the pliers properly, simply squeeze the pliers together lightly. You'll feel a soft click and the ring is held firmly.

    The metal part is placed in the pliers with the tip pointing down.

    The prong ring goes on the right side of the front.

    The second prong ring goes with the metal part with the hole in the centre on the back closure of the bodysuit. The smooth side of the metal part faces up.

    This time the prong ring goes on the inside of the bodysuit.

    This is what it should look like then:

    Remember to squeeze the pliers together really firmly so that the snaps sit really securely.

    Your new baby bodysuit is finished! Cute, isn't it?

    Of course, it's also an eye-catcher with long sleeves:

    By the way: the instructions in the baby bodysuit eBook are more detailed and include more intermediate steps.

    Step 5: Attach the jersey snaps to the bodysuit

Comments

Comments are loading …

About the author

Sabine

I come from Siegen-Wittgenstein, where I spent my childhood breaking in cows, jumping off haystacks and scraping a D- in needlework class.

Today, being creative feels like indescribable happiness to me – and it grows even more when I can share it with others. Since 2016 I have been celebrating my passion for sewing on this blog, and I love that sewing connects so many people.