Little Baby Ruffle Butts

Welcome to Made Monday!


Do you know the best thing about having a little girl?

Little Baby Ruffle Butts, of course!

I kid! But seriously, how cute is a ruffle butt on a little girl... especially if it's a little bit unconventional. Sure the white lacy one's are great if you are living in 1910 (or 1983, as in my bottom's case, my mom totally lace-i-fied my buttocks), but a fun fabric with a bright-colored ruffle?... On a wee-bitty, soft-skinned, squishy-soft baby bum? Yes! Please! (Am I getting a little carried away?... Maybe. That's up for argument.)

My sister-in-law's sister-in-law is having a baby girl. While, alas, that still doesn't make me an auntie, it's the closest thing I've got so far (ha!). So, when my sister-in-law asked for help putting together a tutu and matching get-up to go with it, I jumped at the chance. I don't know what it is, but making baby stuff is just fun... at least to me. Plus, the baby's parents are just straight-up awesome people, with or without the loose relations. I can definitely make ruffle-butt covers for them... well, their baby anyways.
(scratch the ribbon... it should read ruffle. I don't have time to fix it. But please love me anyways! Thanks!)

I used my daughter's largest baby doll for my model. I know, pretty silly, but I wanted to get an idea of how it would look.

I used Prudent Baby's pattern and sized it down for newborn size. I did this mostly by guessing. I grabbed one of my one-size cloth diapers and sized it down to the smallest setting (for 8-12 lbs.) for a frame of reference. I ended up taking an inch from the side of the pattern, and a little less than that for the crotch area. If I did this again, I wouldn't have sized down the crotch. I think it will work just fine how I did it, but I think plenty of diaper-space allowance is a good thing. (So if you do this, don't mess with the crotch. HA!). You don't actually have to size down their pattern for a smaller size, just change elastic measurements... it'll just make for a "poofier" cover.


Some notes on elastic:

I found this chart you can use if need help figuring out measurements. When cutting elastic, take waist waist measurement, subtract by 10% the length (So if waist is 20" you will subtract by 2") and then add an inch for overlap in elastic (where you will sew the sides together).

I had to guess on the legs... I looked at my diaper for frame of reference and made mine 8" (allowing for 1" overlap). After making it, I found this chart which may help you with your guess work if you don't have a live baby to take measurements on.



I added the ruffle after sewing the cover together. It may have been easier to sew on before, but it actually wasn't hard to do it after, plus it let me see just where I should place ruffle.

Add some baby legwarmers, a freezer paper baby tee, a simple no-sew tutu, or a headband (tutorial for the one in the picture should be forthcoming!) for an awesome shower gift... homemade with love and costs very little.

Fabric: 1/2 yd (only used half of it. I could have safely used 1/4 yd.) $2.00
Ruffle: 1 yd. (could have just used 1/2 yard, but wanted to play it safe) $2.00 (I can't actually remember so I am totally guessing on this one)
Elastic and Thread: I had on hand so FREE!
Total: $4ish dollars for a super cute, super hip, little baby ruffle butt.

Hope your Monday is Made!

xo
Amanda