Baby’s Got a Bunting

bunting: 1. thin cloth for making flags, streamers, etc. 2. flags, or strips of cloth in the colors of the flag, used in holiday decorations 3. (of American origin) a baby’s garment of soft, warm cloth made into a hooded blanket that exposes only the face.

(Above is McCalls pattern 2219, which I did see available for just over $3 on ebay and etsy.)

I have about 12 boot sized boxes of patterns that I have collected over the years.  Among those are some out-of-print baby patterns from the days of my little ones.  It has been a delight to go through them with new hopes for the first time in years.  About 15 years, to be more exact, since that is the age of our youngest child.   I am still sewing for my children on a regular basis, but there is something about a baby project.   So a couple of weeks ago, I decided to make a baby bunting for the coming grandchild.

Since making polar fleece ponchos over the last few years, I have had a stash of fairly large remnants due to the circular cut out of the ponchos.  I have made convertible mittens, a baby bib, and mini mittens for babies.  I was still able to find several pieces of one design, and, with minimal patching, work them up into a unisex baby bunting.  I even found an old red zipper in my supplies, so didn’t have to go out to purchase anything for this project.

———————————-(wrong side out view of front bottom)———————————–

The patch work was only used for the front body section and, now that it is done, looks like it was meant to be that way.  The pattern was cut to create a box-like roomy area for the feet, as well as have attached, fold-ever mittens.  The lined hood has clean lines and no exposed seams to make it uncomfortable for tender baby skin.  The pattern and sewing directions for the hood  have folds and shapes that make it  a challenge to picture how it will go together, but if the directions are followed, it all goes smoothly.  These efforts to create a fitted garment should make it stay on well.  I used red ribbon for the ties, but don’t know if that will hold up in the wash very well.  They are easy enough to re-thread with something else if need be.

If you click to enlarge the picture, it should be easier to see the fold-over mitten at the end of the sleeve angled so as to be up to the right of the hood (your left).  Polar fleece makes it possible to skip some of the double hem folding, but it can be a good idea to zigzag the edges in various places so they won’t be too bulky.  I did this at the openings for the mittens.

And here is our cooperative teddy bear, once again modeling for us.  This bunting is for up to an 18 month size baby (whatever that means), so the little bear is swimming in it.   Now, we are just waiting for the baby.