Free PDF patterns for newborns - Page 1

In general, I try to discourage people from making clothes in newborn baby size, at least, in large quantities. See my posts here and here. Often a newborn is bigger than you expect, and they grow just SO fast. But there are times when these very small clothes may be appropriate, especially if the baby was small at birth, or perhaps, was born too soon. Or you just want to make some because they are cute, so you are happy to ignore my advice. Just don't say I didn't warn you!

In fact, there are quite a lot of patterns available as free PDFs on the internet in this size - perhaps more than for other sizes. So you'll find in this post (3 pages-worth) my recommendations for which to choose. These are almost all patterns that are described by their designers as newborn, 0-1 months, or 0-3 months - I'll tell you which. There are dresses, onesies, pants, hats - you can make a complete outfit for a tiny baby using these free patterns. Most come with tutorials. Let's start by thanking the designers for their generosity in sharing. And please remember that they are shared freely on the basis of people using them for personal use, not for commercial purposes.

If you are looking for even smaller sizes, you could look at my posts for premature babies. But often, PDF patterns can be printed a little smaller, and can be adapted to be suitable for premature babies by adding in some extra openings. I give some suggestions for how to adapt them in this post.

To find out more, read on.
In what follows, the larger pictures are my own, smaller ones are from the web sites of the designers concerned. 

Before we start, let me refer you to one of my favourite web sites for free PDF patterns, for babies and toddlers. Suzy has a web site called Baby Patterns At Space. You need to read this, her introductory page, first, and then head to   Baby Patterns for 0-3 months, which has 10 patterns for 0-3 months. These are not PDF patterns, you draw them out yourself based on a 2" or 5cm grid, but I have loved the ones I've used. In fact, one of her pants patterns I've used again and again. Here are some reversible combat pants I made for my grand-daughter from one of her patterns.

On her web site, she doesn't give full tutorials, but some basic instructions. She assumes a degree of sewing experience. But if you just want patterns and ideas, head to her web site! 

You could also look at some of the photos other people have posted on her site using her patterns, adapting them to their own needs. Thanks again, Suzy!

Now for some other specific patterns, mostly free PDFs. On this page, I'll cover onesies, T shirts and dresses. Other clothes will follow on the following 2 pages.

Onesies

First, some onesies. Those without legs are sometimes called vests in the US, but I still think of the vests of my youth as sleeveless garments coming to just beyond the waist. We always called the ones with legs 'babygros', but now they seem to be called sleep suits.

The one below is based on a free PDF pattern from House of Estrela, and is sized at 0-1 month. Sadly, it proved too small for Ada at birth (I suppose I had expected a repeat of her sister's early arrival), but it was easy to make, and very cute. Hopefully someone at the baby care unit will have benefitted from the donation. It has the advantage that with this kimono style, it doesn't have to be pulled over a baby's head, so may also be suitable for a premature baby.

This one, from Spacefem, is an envelope neck style in size 0-3 months - although, as the author says, it could be adapted to be a bit bigger or smaller. I haven't made this one myself though.

Another very similar is from Small Dream Factory. This one has  2 free sizes, newborn or 0-1 month, and 2-4 months. (There are also larger sizes that you can pay for.) I haven't used these but I have found her other patterns very reliable. 

There's also a loose fitting long-sleeved version for newborn upwards from  Spoonflower.

For onesies with legs, (aka sleep suits) head over to Page 2 when you've finished here.

T-shirts

Next, some T shirts. The only one I would use personally for this age group is the first one from Melly Sews, which is an envelope neck style, but you may prefer the others for your needs.

Melly Sews Baby T shirt is envelope neck style, and the free PDF pattern is 0-3 months. Melly also sells larger sizes.

The Harvey T shirt from Once upon a Sewing Machine is a V neck, so although not, in my view, as easy to put on as an envelope neck, it's easier than a round neck. She says her 0-3 month free size is suitable for a baby 8-13 lbs. You could make it a bit smaller if you wanted, but I wouldn't make the neck hole any smaller. This one has long and short sleeve options.

The Ringer T shirt from Brindille & Twig comes as a free PDF in several sizes from 0-3 months up to age 6. It has long and short sleeve options. However, personally I would not make one for a 0-3 month old baby with a round neck. I would open up one or both shoulders and add some snaps. But it has very good reviews. People do say the smallest size is fiddly for adding the sleeves.

For a looser fitting T shirts with short or long sleeves, there is also the Baggy V neck teeshirt from Lowland Kids.

There are some kimono style tops among the sleeping clothes on Page 2 of this post, if you prefer these.

Note: Since I first wrote this, there is now also the Wee Lap Tee from Patterns for Pirates (P4P), which is similar to the Melly Sews pattern above that I have recommended. It comes in sizes from preemie to 12 months (though in my experience a premature baby is unlikely to be able to wear something that has to be dragged over its head, especially if it is intubated - but maybe some full term helathy babies are bvery tiny, too) The Wee Lap Tee. also comes as part of a free baby set including some leggings and a hat. And there's a Tiny Tulip Tee (see below under dresses) from P4P. In the past I've been reluctant to recommend patterns that mean you have to sign up for a Facebook group, but it seems this is the way everything is going now. For many patterns you need to sign up, whether to Facebook or someone's mailing list. You can always join up and then leave!

Dresses

Next, how about some dresses? Once the baby is able to have things pulled over her head, I think peasant dresses are great, they stretch beautifully over the head, have no lumpy buttons or fastenings to lie on, and are as easy as pie to make.

This little peasant style dress is a 0-3 months size from Sew Much Ado, modelled here by 5 month old Jane, who was 10 weeks premature, and by her full term 8lbs sister Ada at 1 week - for whom it won't last much longer. 

There are larger sized peasant-style dress patterns you can find - it's a style I favour as it's so easy on and off. For example, this one from Stitching Scientist, which I have also used. It purports to fit 6-9 months. You could make an in-between size by looking at both of these.

There are several alternatives to peasant dresses, though. This pretty dress (with a back opening at the top) was made from Stitching Scientist's Rickety Rackety Dress. It is described as 0-3 months. However, I would only recommend it for a very tiny baby. The bodice proved too tight for our family's latest newborn.

This was disappointing, as it was made to match her older sister's dress. So I remade it by making it a new bodice from a different pattern, Shwin and Shwin's Summer Breeze pattern in size 3-6 months. You can read about that here. The replacement, even though size 3-6 months, was fine for Ada at 1 week old. It was also a back opening style, which I don't always recommend for premature babies or even very new newborns. They are so floppy to dress! But Ada was full term and growing fast. 

Here's another cute as cute dress,  also in 3-6 months, but which but fitted Ada perfectly at birth. This was based on See Kate Sew's baby dress. I like it because the elasticated shoulders make this one easy to get over the baby's head.

Another dress pattern that I liked the look of also comes from Shwin and Shwin, called the Abbey Dress, though I never got round to making it. 

It does look nice and easy, though, and looks especially pretty with the piping she has used. I have a feeling it would be easy to enlarge or even reduce in size, if you could take the baby's measurements. However, this is another one with a back opening, and I think I would avoid using the sort of button with a shank that she has used - that could be uncomfortable for the baby to lie on.

Melly Sews has a sweet baby dress, with a 0-3 months free pattern, with a lined bodice and gathered skirt, which has buttons on either shoulder, to make dressing easier.

For a simple jumper, or sundress with straps, Rachel Denbow gives this tutorial. She has made it for a 9 week baby and says the sizing would work for 0-3 months. However, it would easily be adaptable for larger or smaller. There is no PDF, just measurements.

Made by Rae gives a free PDF pattern for her Itty Bitty Baby Dress, with knotted shoulder straps. She points out that this is very tiny, intended for a small newborn or perhaps even a premature baby. However, the knotted shoulder straps will make it easier to get on, and may also mean it will last a little longer than one with fixed straps or shoulders. 

Another way of avoiding the back neck opening is to use a kimono style. I have one from Carewear, intended as a premature baby robe, but the largest size would fit a small newborn, and it can be fancied up with ribbons and frills if you like. This link will take you to the PDF of the kimono style dress. I have also linked to another kimono style jacket on Page 3.

Or an apron dress, such as this one from Melly Sews - looks very sweet.

And another one from Mary Martha Mama, that avoids the need to pull a tight neckline over the newborn's head, as it has opening shoulders.

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There's also the Tiny Tulip Tee from P4P. It starts at 3 months (and goers much bigger), but if, like me, you recognise that many newborns are larger than average, this may be a useful pattern for you. I haven't made it in baby sizes but only in larger sizes. Although it's intended as a knit overlap T shirt, you can make it a bit longer or add a frill and you have a nice dress.

For a very stylish dress, Stitch Upon a Time's Magnolia Top and Dress also starts at newborn size - though personally I wouldn't make the full length dress for such a young baby.

Rebecca Page has two party dresses that start at newborn size, the Portia and the Patsy.

And finally, a blessing dress from See Kate Sew. Do have a look at this if you would like to make a blessing dress - it's beautiful. I haven't reproduced an image here, as all her pictures include her baby.

On the next page, I'll continue with some clothes with legs, and hats. Other things will follow. 

For Page 2, click here.