Newborn babies like to be bundled up tight, and this cozy swaddler is just the thing to make baby feel comfortable.
Swaddling is said to help soothe colic and helps the baby sleep better. This swaddler is sized for babies 0 - 3 months, making it a perfect gift for new parents.
Supplies
**1 yard flannel
**13 1/2" x 13 1/2" companion flannel
**Adhesive Velcro
**Cutaway stabilizer
**Temporary spray adhesive
Designs Used
First, print the pattern piece linked above. Cut out the shapes, and tape them together to form a quarter of an oval.
Next, trace two large ovals onto the flannel. To do this, trace the pattern onto the backside of the flannel.
Flip the pattern to the left and trace again.
Flip the pattern down and trace again, then flip the pattern to the right and trace again. You will have one large oval on the backside of the flannel.
Repeat this so you have two ovals traced on the backside of one piece of flannel.
Cut the ovals from the fabric.
Print a paper template of the design to aid in placement.
We are placing the Giraffe in Pajamas on the center front of the swaddler. Because the swaddler is tri-folded, this means that the embroidery will be 7" from an end, centered in between the top and bottom.
Mark the center. To do this, we placed a bit of masking tape under the template, and poked through the center of the template with a pen to make a mark on the tape.
Extend the tape out to mark the vertical lines. These marks will be used to hoop the fabric straight.
Hoop the fabric and cutaway stabilizer together, making sure that the vertical marks on the tape match up with the marks on the hoop.
Scoot the hoop so that the needle is directly over the center point. Peel back the tape, and embroider the design.
After the design has finished, trim the excess cutaway stabilizer from the backside.
Next, sew the flannel ovals together. Lay the embroidered oval right side up, and place the second oval on top, right side down.
Mark a 6" opening on the bottom of the ovals. Do this by marking 3" out from each side of the center.
Pin the ovals together, leaving the 6" opening unpinned.
Sew a 1/4" seam around the ovals, stopping before the 6" opening.
Remove the pins and turn the ovals right side out. Push out on the seams to get rounded edges.
To finish the outer edge, sew 1/4" seam around the ovals, but do not sew the 6" opening.
To make a pocket for the infant, cut a 13 1/2" x 13 1/2" square from the companion flannel fabric.
Make two pleats by pinching and folding 3/4" of fabric, about 1 and 1/2" from each edge. Pin in place.
Tack the pleats into place by sewing a few stitches over the folds 1/4" from the bottom edge.
Fold and sew a 1/4" hem on the top and left side of the pocket.
Attach the pocket to the oval. Fold in the opening on the bottom of the oval. Mark the center of the pocket and the center of the opening by measuring and dividing by two.
Align the center points. Fold the right side and bottom of the pocket in a 1/4" and pin into place.
Sew a 1/4" seam along the right side and bottom of the pocket.
Add a 3 inch strip of self-adhesive hook Velcro to the inside, far left edge of the oval. Place it vertically, about one inch from the edge.
Flip the oval to the back and add two 2 1/2 inch strips of loop Velcro, horizontally, starting about 9 inches from the left edge. Place the strips in the center about 1 inch apart.
Having the hook Velcro vertical, and the loop Velcro horizontal, means that the swaddler can become larger with the infant over time.
To use the swaddler, lay the infant inside the pocket and tuck the loose flap around him or her.
Fold the right side around and tuck it under the infant. Fold the top flap down slightly.
Wrap the left around to the right side snuggly, and secure the Velcro.
