1/10/10

Make It Yourself - Jumper Tutorial

I was inspired to make a little jumper for Ruby by this picture of Hazel on Janae's blog. It's a pretty simple concept for those of us who don't like fiddling with patterns and want to get on with things while we're feeling motivated. Here is my first attempt at something similar. I'll share what I'd do differently next time as we go. The measurements given fit my 9 week old and I'm guessing it would measure 0-3 months.

This pattern can be made according to your little one's size by changing a few measurements here and there. My favorite way to get the sizing right is to pull out a retail dress that is similar in some way and think about how my dress will fit in the same places. I also gathered some fabrics that I thought went well together. I love to mix prints and colors that coordinate well. The brown gingham is vintage and the pink floral is a reproduction.

You'll need:

* 40" x 10.5" of fabric #1 (gingham) as well as two straps measuring 10" x 2.5"
* 20" x 4" of fabric #2 (pink floral)
* 2 buttons
* Measuring tape or ribbon to use as measuring tape
* 3" of elastic (not shown)
* Sewing machine
* Shears or rotary cutter, straight edge ruler and cutting mat
* Thread
* Iron
* Depending on your child's size you may need a longer band. To determine length, measure the area under the circumference of their body just under their armpits and add about 2-3". Your elastic will keep this snug but you'll still be able to get it on and off easily.

Fold fabric #2 in half so that the right sides are facing each other. Then stitch the two short ends together.
* Depending on your child's size you may want this longer or shorter. Measure from the same place just under their armpits to the length you'd like and add 1.25" for hems. Cut your length so that it's twice as long as the length of fabric #2.

Fold your fabric down 1/4" and then again 1/2" along one long edge of fabric #1. Iron flat and stitch along the length.
Then fold fabric #1 in half with right sides together as shown above, and sew. I used a zig zig stitch to finish the edges on a short, wide setting but a serger gives it a professional look. Place fabric #2 inside fabric #1 with right sides facing together and seams lining up. Pin at the seam. Then find the halfway point of both fabrics and pin them together so that you have even amounts of fabric on both sides as shown. Pin together.

Then find the halfway point between both pins on either side and pin again. Repeat one more time so that you have eight places pinned.

Make your pleats. Keep in mind that you are looking at the opposite side of your pleats so make sure your points are meeting up on the other side. Iron flat and then stitch down about 1/4" from the edge.
Pull fabric #2 out and iron the top and bottom edges of the band in about 1/4".

Fold fabric #2 onto itself as shown so that you cover the seam. Press flat and pin in four places.

Elastic is shown on the outside here but this is where it should be on the inside. Stitch one side of the elastic so that it's under fabric #2 in this same place. Then pull it a little tight and stitch the other side. You'll trim off a little. If I were to do this over, I'd use wider elastic.

This is what your band will look like once the elastic is stitched in. (Make sure you stitched through both layers.) Carefully repin and then stitch the bottom of fabric #2 so that your seam is hidden.
This is what you'll have so far. (Notice my front pleat isn't centered! I'd double check this part next time.)
Fold your two straps length wise with right sides facing each other and sew down the long side. Turn right side out and tuck your ends in and stitch across. Then add button holes. (My least favorite thing to do while sewing clothing.)

Decide where your buttons will be placed making sure it's placed properly to fit over her shoulders. Attach your buttons first. Then place the straps onto the buttons.

Make sure your straps are even and pin them to the inside of the back slightly closer together than the front. Sew down. If you want them to criss-cross in the back measure how much more you'll need and adjust accordingly. Iron your sweet little number and you're set!

I held my breath as I tried this one on Ruby but it fits like a charm! I'm hoping to make a few more in bigger sizes so we'll always have something cute to throw over a onesie when it warms up. It's great as a dress but use the same pattern and make it a few inches shorter to wear as a tunic. If you use this tutorial I'd love to see pictures of your finished piece!

xoxo,
Rachel

56 comments:

emily b said...

SUPER cute! I've never sewn any clothing yet, but I think I've found my first project! I'll send ya a photo if it works...

lolasmom said...

oh my oh my! she looks cute as a button!

...i really must learn to sew...

tara - scoutie girl

mrs boo radley said...

Oh gracious...SO CUTE!

Kat said...

that is so cute! I just wish I had a little one to make it for.

Anonymous said...

A great little functional wardrobe piece for such a cutie patootie :) Great job!

Jeanee said...

Awh... looks lik she loves it!

cara. said...

this looks great! there's something similiar to this for adults in heather ross' "weekend sewing" that i've been eyeing. . . putting this one on my to do list! (: working on another tunic now, if all goes well, i'll send you the idea. thanks for this!

Mandi said...

It's DARLING! I sent this link to my best friend who's due with a little girl in March, it's too cute!!

emalie said...

omg that is so adorable!

Casey said...

Thank you for this, me & hubby saw this yesterday and he really wanted me to make it! I'm excited that I can try it now without trying to figure it out on my own now

Anonymous said...

OMG ITS TOO CUTE! <3

http://candidnoir.blogspot.com

diane said...

thanks for the tutorial...I can't wait to try a bigger version for my girls. I love the plaid...such a fun combination.

If I make it I will be sure to share it with you.

Jaimie said...

it's really cute. i need a little girl. dang.

Erin said...

well done! it looks perfectly adorable on Ruby.

Jenn Grigoryev (jenn of all trades) said...

i. can't. stand. it.
she is too cute for words. and that jumper really makes me wish i had at least ONE girl. alas.

We Blog Artists said...

Perfect...thanks for sharing...I'm thinking it's a gorgeous skirt for our girls...just without the straps!
THANK YOU!
Char

Anonymous said...

Awesome!! I love this!! Thanx for the tut.

Anonymous said...

omg! thats so cute! aaww i hope my second baby is a girl! for now i'll have to find a tutorial on how to make a tshirt. i do know how to make little pants!

Staci Danford said...

That is the cutest thing.. I always LOVE little girl clothes so much better than boys stuff.. My "main little man" just wouldn't like wearing that though. Darn! ha

Erin Alaska said...

that brown fabric IS to die for (just like you mentioned earlier)! Now I just have to find a little girl to make one for. I don't think my two boys would be very happy with me
Happy Sunday

Hege Synøve Kolstad Evensen said...

So pretty, love the colours:) Cute dress for a cute girl!

Alexandra said...

That looks beautiful on Ruby! xx

Gingiber said...

Oh, so adorable! I wish I had made more clothes for my Violet when she was that little!

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the tutorial! I'm going to try this for my 3 year old!!

Sarah M said...

what a cutie-patootie! That jumper looks great on her! Awesome mix of fabrics, too.
Sarah M

rev said...

OMG this is fab!! Thanks so much!! my sweetheart is 6 years but i NEED to make her one! and otherwise i put my 2year old boy in it :D

Anonymous said...

cute, cute, cute! makes me hope for a little lady sometime. :)

Unknown said...

This is so cute and simple! We don't know if our baby is a boy or girl, but I love the idea of having little jumpers to dress up onsies!

boots said...

love this tutorial- i better start sewing for my future babies!xoxo

Holly S said...

I wish my 9 year-old would wear one of these beauties!

jenny said...

super cute! I wonder if my 4 year old would wear one of these. I'm positive my 12 year old would. Maybe I'll make one for her. (love her style and willingness to wear handmade things!)

Anonymous said...

Adorable. Love it.

Big Yellow Dog said...

That looks great! I can't wait to have a little girl to make fun clothes for.

David and Christine said...

Ruby is just so adorable! The jumper turned out great!

Rubyellen said...

i am totally doing this! Soul needs some clothes!

Bethany said...

I'm pretty sure she's the most stylish baby I've ever seen.

the whyte house said...

agh! so cute! i love layering kids clothes. she looks so precious.

emelie said...

adorable. ruby is a doll. she looks quite a bit like sebastian, doesnt she? wow rachel, i am in awe of your talent and all that you do. how do you manage to do it? thanks for sharing.
emelie

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Rachel@oneprettything.com said...

Aww, that is SO cute! I love your fabric choices. Thanks so much for this, I'll be linking.

Kim Smith said...

once again, i say;
marvelous.

Emily said...

This is darling! I'm making baby gifts for my Sister-in-Law right now. I'm going to have to make one of these!

Fawn and Flower said...

Thank you for that! I made one this morning for my 17-month-old:

http://fawnandflower.blogspot.com/2010/01/i-used-little-jumper-tutorial-from.html

Anne said...

This is such a sweet little dress!! I featured your tutorial on Craft Gossip Sewing:
http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-jumper-dress-for-an-infant/2010/01/13/

--Anne

little moon... said...

oh my!!! so beautiful and baba looks adorable xoxo

Elizabeth said...

Oh my goodness this is the cutest thing ever!!! Thank you so much for sharing the tutorial! I shared it with some gals on a craft site I own so that they can come check out your amazing blog as well! Thanks again and it looks fantastic!

- Elizabeth
Co-Owner
www.missimagination.com

chelsea lee said...

She is heaven! What a cutie pie. I really want to make one of these for my sweet little Harper Lee. She's a huge fan of layering :)

I'm thinking it would be absolutely adorable in some Liberty fabrics (or repros)!

Unfortunately, no sewing for me until we move :( March 1 I'll be dusting off the machine and getting busy!!

Erin said...

So so so cute!!! I love this. I made this for my daughter today. Here is a picture of my finished product. I would love feedback! Thanks for the great tutorial.

http://mrserinjohnson.blogspot.com/2010/01/finished-product.html

Thanks!

Erin said...

I would love for you to share it....thanks so much for checking out my dress!

Anonymous said...

Oh, SO cute! I barely made my first curtain today, but this is definitely gonna be a goal!

Corey said...

HI Rachel, thanks for the wonderful tutorial! I made one for my five-month-old and posted photos on my blog: http://coreymoortgat.blogspot.com/2010/01/vintage-goodness.html

So cute and easy!!

Love your blog-it's one of my favorites!

rachel said...

I followed your tutorial and made one for my almost 7 year old. I blogged all about it, I can't wait to make a few more for my 5 year old and 1 year old! Thanks for sharing this1

Unknown said...

better late than never...but I used this tutorial to make a tunic for my little gal. thanks!

http://crissybell.blogspot.com/2010/02/saturday-is-for-sewing.html

xoxo
crissy

Mme Zsazsa said...

Oh, this is so great!

The colours are super together.

Narsistanbul said...

Perfect! I will try it as my first sewing project. Thanks:)

JBassem said...

Wow, thanks for the show-how. I was looking to make a little outfit for my little one, and it's not the kind of thing that there's a pattern for. Your tutorial and clear explanations were just what I needed.
Your little one is precious in her home-sewn, lovely outfit!