Boy patterns (1) - Baby boys

Someone on a Facebook page gave me the idea of doing something on free PDF patterns for boys. There are so many for girls, but given that the birth rate is approximately equal between the sexes, it's surprising there's such an inbalance of free patterns.So, in this post, I'll list and review some of my favourite patterns. I treat them as unisex, of course, because only one of my 4 grand-daughters is a girly girl. Thank you to all the authors of patterns who have been generous to share. Some of them also have patterns for sale. Please recognise that I put a lot of work and research into these reviews, so please don't just copy them all onto your own web site without acknowledging the source. Thank you.

Here are some shorts I made last summer from a free pdf pattern. These were for one of my grand-daughters, but they would work equally well for a boy.  

Please note that these patterns have all been generously shared, and you should not use them to make things for sale. But you can contact most of the authors through the links.

To see my suggestions for free PDf patterns for baby boy clothes, read on.



For baby boys. (All these patterns work equally well for baby girls, of course!)

Pants and things with legs first. OK, the first thing I need to say is that I am not a fan of pants patterns where the front is cut exaclty the same as the back. It's a lazy way of making pants, and they never look right. Babies and kids, just like adults, have a bigger amount of flesh out the back than they do in the front. So pants cut the same front and back will either be tight round the butt, or baggy in the front. Some pants patterns (even paid for ones, which is shocking) just cut the legs as an upside down 'U' shape - how can that work? Therefore I don't recommend any that are like that.

1. My favourite pants pattern in this one from Suzy from Baby Pattertns at Space in the Netherlands. This is the 3-6 months size.

Click on any of the pictures on her web site to get the pattern. The great advantage of her patterns is that they are based on a squared grid, so you can be sure you can draw it to exactly the right size. I've used the 0-3 months pants and the 3-6 months over and over again. I've also redrawn the 3-6 months a tiny bit wider and quite a lot longer to make a 12 month size.

2. Here's a lovely pair of dungarees by Shwin and Shwin, for 0-3 months. Though in general I avoid making these smallest sizes - it's too disheartening when the newborn comes out already too big, or they grow out of them in what seems like days. 

(However, I'd personally still prefer to curve the back seam a bit more.)


3. Another one, from Ribbons and bibbons, for knits:

4. Melly Sews has a number of free patterns, among which I love this one.

5. This one by Shwin and Shwin is a favourite method for me of sewing pants, though in practice I've mainly used Suzy's pattern, above, or the Jereli one for larger sizes. 

6. Here's a nice basic loose fitting romper for knits for age 12  months. It would be easy to cut down (or increase) though, as she gives instructions for making your own pattern from an existing garment.

(I've cropped this picture as I didn't want to post another person's child just because she was generous enough to share a pattern!)

7. A 0-3 month pattern from Crafting Zuzzy for baby boy shorts:

8. And of course, there is the Perfect Diaper Cover from Dana which would work for baby boys as well as baby girls, depending on the fabric you choose. Dana's diaper cover comes in multiple sizes. I've also used it to make a romper suit - see picture below.

(Picture cropped from Dana's original, she was generous enough to share this pattern!)

And made into a romper suit (yes, she's a girl, but this would work just as well for a boy).

Now for some tops. Many patterns for T shirts etc are unisex.

9. Another lovely pattern by Shwin and Shwin for a great looking sweatshrt for 6-12 months.

Haven't made it, sadly - all of my grandchildren were the wrong age at the time of year this might have worked. I may have a go at enlarging it next winter. Shwin and Shwin also have a pattern for a Baby Ringer onesie and a bavby raglan onesie, so it's worth checking out the free patterns on their site.

10. Once upon a Sewing Machine also have some nice baby patterns, among which is this V neck T shirt for 0-3 months.

11. Brindille and Twig, mainly a commerical site, do have some free patterns, including this T shirt pattern, in several sizes from infants upwards.

12. Other people with more patterns suitable for baby boys include:

Melly Sews - T shirt

Small Dream Factory - onesie

Purlsoho - Fleece jump suit

Finally - other clothes, like hats and bibs. By and large, most people don't want to dress their boy baby in a frilly bonnet. But there are alternaitves available!

13. There are two boy hat patterns I can recommend for babies.  The first is a tutorial rather than a PDF, but it's for a nice cosy hat with flaps by Indietutes that you could make for any age.

(I've blurred this picture as I didn't want to post another person's child just because she was generous enough to share a pattern!)

14. And the second is another (reversible) hat with flaps, from Victoria White of the Creative Workshop.

There are also quite a few patterns for knotted hats, so you can look these up for yourself. Just too many to list. But they work equally well for girls as for boys. 

Likewise, there are many free patterns for bibs - I guess boys need these as often as girls! I've already done a post on free patterns for bibs and aprons, so you can check that out. 

And my blog has many other things that would be suitable for boys, including babygros, hooded towels, quilts and blankets, and even a wigwam. So do search this site. And have fun making things for baby boys.

For my review of free PDF patterns for toddlers and older boys, see this post.