Convert any Gown into a “Converter”

Let’s get one thing straight, I am a mom ALL day and a sewist for only a few glorious nap-time hours. Because of this all day mom-ing, I like to sew items that are first practical and second adorable.  I know that there is no way I will grab an item for my child to wear that is impossible to get stains out of, extremely uncomfortable for her, or an impediment in any way to the car seat. Perhaps in the future, if I’m lucky enough to be a grandmother, I will allow myself to follow my every whim in the sewing room (sigh…). Until then; I’ll spend the extra thirty minutes sewing “converters,” like the ones in the simple tutorial below, into all of my gowns because let’s be honest….you can’t get a gown in a car seat comfortably.

Kissy Kissy and Magnolia Baby make some of the most delicious knit baby ensembles I have ever seen. If you’re not a sewist and just want a super convenient, incredibly comfortable gown that can “convert” into a romper you should check these out. The one pictured/linked below is from Bloomingdale’s but you can find them in tons of department stores and sweet boutiques.

If you do sew, you will never believe how easy it is to insert these into any gown!

This is a gown I made using a modified Creations by Miche Pattern. It is made of blue flannel.

Try it using these Instructions!

1. Choose a gown pattern. This can be done with a knit gown or conventional gown-do whatever floats your boat!

2. Mark the center of the front and back skirt pattern piece. Extend this center mark 5-8 inches from the bottom. This

measurement will vary based on the size of the gown. In the image to the right I used 5.5 inches for a newborn gown.

3. Transfer that mark onto the fabric pieces.

4. Complete the pattern as instructed until the step in which the gown is hemmed. Stop before putting the hem in.

5. At this time you will create 2 plackets up the center front and center back of your gown. Cut the front and back center lines drawn earlier. Then insert a continuous bound placket on each. Do not tack either placket in a specific direction (normally a boy placket is folded and tacked to the left and a girl placket to the right). Both plackets will remain open.

6. Add snaps to the plackets in the orientation seen in the image. This can be done with snap tape or hammer in snaps. My favorite snaps can be found here https://goo.gl/t94Sd1.

Place snaps or snap tape on the plackets in the orientations seen here. On the front you should have three “male” snaps on the left part of the placket and three “female” snaps on the right part.

Place snaps or snap tape on the plackets in the orientations seen here. On the back you should have three “male” snaps on the left part of the placket and three “female” snaps on the right part.

7. Hem the gown on both sides of the placket. Fold the bottom of the fabric up 1/4″ to the wrong side and press. Fold this up another 1/4-1/2 in to the wrong side and press again. Stitch in place creating the casing for the elastic, make sure to leave an opening through which to thread the elastic on each casing. Using a safety pin, run 6 inches of elastic through the casings at the gown bottom. Stitch the elastic in place near the placket.

8. Et Voila! That’s it my friends!

These converters are simple and quick to add to any gown. I’ve done it on both flannel and knit with no problems. Now, if someone can come up with a self-cleaning car-seat, all of my problems would be solved!