Tipnut’s Picks: 40 Free Projects For Baby

Here’s a whopping list of free patterns and tutorials for baby, perfect to give as gifts to welcome a newborn or if you’re a soon-to-be new mom–you’ll find lots of goodies here to fill the nursery. I’ve also included a few vintage patterns for baby blankets (2 knit, 1 crochet).

You’ll find cloth diaper patterns, burp cloths, baby blankets, diaper bags, booties and more. These are my favorite picks that I’ve come across, I hope you enjoy them too!

*Updated: 10 projects/patterns removed due to no longer being freely available

Free Diaper Patterns & Covers

1. Celtic Cloths All In One Diaper Pattern: This diaper snaps close up front and fitted elastic legs. You’ll also find a few more pattern freebies here (changing pad cover, tapered pouch sling, wet bag).
2. Fast ‘n Friendly Fitteds: Pattern is for a fitted diaper, velcro closure, partial elastic legs, soaker inserts.
3. How to Sew a Fitted Cloth Diaper (on the cheap!): Velcro closure, soaker inserts.
4. Ottobre Design Diaper Pattern (pdf): Here’s a pdf download for a fitted diaper, soaker pad, velcro closure and elastic at the legs and waist.
5. How To Make PreFold Diapers: Instructions found toward the middle of the webpage.
6. Rita’s Rump Pocket Pattern: This is a two layer flannel fitted pocket diaper that fits small infants to large toddlers. Diapers have leg elastic and are held closed by one pin (to provide ultimate adjustability). Pattern is available via pdf download.
7. Diaper Cover (pdf download) Side snapping, pattern has a variety of sizes available (from Preemie to X-Large)
8. Cloth Diaper Sewing: Plenty of free patterns found here – Fitted Diapers; Flat Fold Diapers; Knit Soakers; Training Pants and lots more.
9. The Curly Purly Soaker Pattern (pdf download) Knitting pattern for a soaker.

Homemade Burp Cloths & Baby Wipes

1. Burp Cloths Tutorial: Shows how to make affordable (and super-sweet) burp cloths from purchased pre-folded cloth diapers.
2. Burp Cloth Tutorial: Peanut-shaped to fit the contour of your shoulder and have a rag edge, uses flannel and quilt batting for padding.
3. Make Your Own Cloth Wipes: Easy project for beginner sewers, this set of instructions will walk you through making a bunch of cloth baby wipes (for bathing, wiping faces and dirty bums).

Homemade Bibs

1. Something to Make: Basic Bib: Full instructions available online, pattern provided via pdf download. Velcro closure.
2. Basic Chenille Baby Bibs – Tutorial: Luxurious bibs using chenille fabric, how lovely! Tutorial includes a pdf bib pattern to download.
3. Chickpea Infant Bib pattern: Snap closure, pattern can be downloaded (pdf).

Baby Booties & Shoes

1. Seam Baby Footies (pdf download)
2. Cloth Baby Shoes (pdf download)
3. Cloth Shoes For Baby: Too cute! Web page instructions, shoe pattern available via pdf download.
4. Heather Bailey’s Bitty Booties: Pattern is available via pdf download, very cute design that encourages embellishments.
5. Christine’s Baby Booties: Knit pattern for booties that stay on because of the clever side ribbing. From Threads Magazine (1989) sent in by a 95 year old woman who wanted the pattern to be shared.

Diaper Bags & Cases

1. Diaper & Wipes Case: Designed to fit a travel wipes container and a few disposable diapers, velcro closure.
2. Easiest Diaper Bag Ever: Full sized diaper bag with shoulder straps and inside pockets.
3. Hip Mama Diaper Bag: This is one of my favorites, lined with water resistant vinyl, both inside and outside pockets (zipped). Finished dimensions are: 14″ long, 12″ high, 5″ wide, with a 36″ long strap. Love it!

Baby Blankets

1. Chenille Backed Blanket Tutorial: Simple blanket backed with cuddly chenille. Easy project for beginner sewers.
2. Crocheted-Edge Blanket Tutorial: Instructions for how to make a flannel baby blanket with a crocheted edge, rounded corners. Very sweet!
3. Flannel Receiving Blanket With Crocheted Edge: Another tutorial for crocheted edging, this one doesn’t have rounded corners and the edging design is less frilly as the one above, love it!
4. Tutorial: Chenille-Backed Patchwork Blanket: Tutorial example is done as a doll quilt, but you can easily adjust the size.
5. Double Sided Flannel Baby Blankets: Simple and easy to make, perfect to give as gifts if you’re on a tight budget.
6. Puakenikeni Baby Quilt: Beautiful floral block pattern for a baby quilt.
7. Oh So Soft Baby Blanket: Knit pattern, circular needles. I want one!

Sweet Baby Things

1. Knit Sleepsack – Zodiac: Pattern is from Knitty magazine, worked in the round from the lower edge to the underarm, two buttons at top.
2. Baby Bunting Bag: Embroidered design included, has hood, zipped front. Pattern available via pdf download.
3. Hooded Baby Towels: Tutorial using Terry Cloth and double folded bias tape.
4. Cozy Hooded Baby Towel: Uses a thick luxurious terry towel, trefle gauze and some binding you make with the fabric (using a bias tape maker).
5. Baby Kimonos: A Martha Stewart tutorial for kimono style baby tops, a wrap style that doesn’t need to be pulled over baby’s head.
6. Basic Baby Kit: A Terry cloth kit roll to hold accessories like a baby brush, washcloths, cream, etc. Rolls up to fit inside a diaper bag. Quick tutorial from Martha Stewart that uses a washcloth (easy!).
7. If you’re planning on making a diaper cake as a gift, here’s the best set of free instructions I’ve come across (video included!): How To Make A Diaper Cake.

Tipnut’s Vintage Baby Goodies

Smocked Pram Cover – Knit (Crochet Edging)

Materials: Beehive Caressa. 14 ozs. Two No. 3 Beehive Knitting Needles. One Crochet Hook.

Measurements: Approx. 30 ins. X 35 ins.

Cast on 144 sts.
1st row: P1. *K1. P2. Repeat from * to last 2 sts. K1. P1.
2nd row: K1. *P1. K2. Repeat from * to last 2 sts. P1. K1.
3rd row: P1. *w.o.n. K1. P2. K1. Pass the w.o.n. over the last 4 sts. P2. Repeat from * to last 5 sts. w.o.n. K1. P2. K1. Pass the w.o.n. over the last 4 sts. P1.
4th row: As 2nd row. Repeat 1st. and 2nd rows once.
7th Row: P1. K1. P2. *w.o.n. K1. P2. K1. Pass the w.o.n. over the last 4 sts. P2. Repeat from * to last 2 sts. K1. P1.
8th row: As 2nd row. These 8 rows complete one pattern. Work 18 more complete patterns. Repeat 1st. row once. Cast off in pattern.

To Make Up: Work 2 rows s.c. around entire cover. Press pattern lightly and crocheted edge flat.

Tipnut Note: w.o.n. means “Wool Over Needle” according to this chart

Pattern Source: Beehive’s Baby Styles – Wee Willie Winkie (1940s).

Carriage Robe – Crochet

Materials: 3 4-oz. Skeins Kitting Worsted

Gauge: 3 1/2 Clusters to 3 in. on size 5

With size 5 crochet hook, ch 82 loosely. Work in pattern as follows:

Row 1: Work 1 dc in 4th ch from hook, * skip 1 ch; 1 dc, ch 1, 1 dc in next ch; repeat from * ending with 1 dc, ch 1, 1 dc (cluster st) in last ch. Ch 4 turn.

Row 2: Work 1 cluster st in each space of ch 1 across row, ending with 1 cluster st in last space of ch 4. Ch 4 turn.

Repeat row 2 until piece measures 32 in. or desired length.

Edging: Ch 4, work 1 dc in base of ch, work 1 pico st on top of last dc, * work 1 cluster st in next space, 1 dc with pico on top, in next space; repeat from * around entire robe, working cluster sts a bit closer at corners. Fasten off.

Pattern Source: Lacey’s Baby Book (1956)

Carriage Robe – Knit

Materials: 3 4-oz. Skeins Knitting Worsted

Gauge: 5 sts to 1 in. on size 7 needles

With size 7 needles cast on 135 sts. K 10 rows. Work in pattern as follows:

Rows 1 and 5: K 10, * P 3, K 5; repeat from * ending K 10.

Rows 2 and 4: K 5, * P 5, K3; repeat from * ending P 5, K5.

Row 3: K 10, * P 1, Y O, P 2 tog., K 5; repeat from * ending K 10.

Rows 6 and 12: K 5, Purl to within last 5 sts, K 5.

Rows 7 and 11: K 6, * P 3, K 5; repeat from * ending P 3, K 6.

Rows 8 and 10: K 5, P 1, * K 3, P 5; repeat from * ending K 3, P 1, K 5.

Row 9: K 6, * P 1, Y O, P 2 tog., K 5; repeat from * ending K 6.

Repeat above 12 rows until piece measures 32 in.

K 10 rows. Bind off loosely.

Pattern Source: Lacey’s Baby Book (1956)

*Updated Feb/09: Patterns & project links checked & updated or removed if dead

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