The Sunsuit…. it is one of my favorite garments on a baby. As y’all are well aware from previous posts, bubbles (more specifically sunsuits) are a personal weakness. Prior to learning to sew them, I swooned over The Beaufort Bonnet’s many sunsuit options. Some of my favorites for boy (or girl) can be see below.
These can be found and purchased on their website here or at any boutiques that carry Beaufort Bonnet. Side note: Beaufort Bonnet is opening their first flagship store in Lexington, KY soon and you can bet this mama will be there.
Not crazy about the colors they have to offer? Or the price? Here’s how you can make your own using very little fabric and a pattern available for digital download. Creations by Michie Playsuits works perfectly with a few modifications explained below.
- Trace the pattern onto tissue/tracing paper. Do not trace the back bib piece, you will not be using it. The seam allowance is 5/8th” on every piece, as written.
- Fold the front bib piece down as seen in the image above. This will get rid of the “arm hole” part of the sunsuit. I also like to round off the edge of the newly created bib piece. This is personal preference.
- Add or subtract length to this piece as dictated by your model’s measurements. I usually do this by holding the piece up to my child’s chest (real accurate I know…don’t judge).
- Cut out four waistband pieces instead of the prescribed two. The extra two will be used as the suspenders.
- Make the suspenders by folding each piece in half lengthwise, right sides together.
- Sew one short end and the open long end. Leave one short end unsewn for turning. Repeat for both suspenders.
- Turn the suspenders so that the right sides are visible.
- Press and topstitch the suspenders. Subtract length as necessary to fit your model. (I left mine long because I wanted to be able to adjust as the .little man grows) Cut a slight angle at the raw edge of each suspender as seen below.
- Attach suspenders to bib (If piping bib make sure to do so before attaching suspenders) as seen in the image below.
- Complete bib by placing the bib lining on top of the bib front, sandwiching the suspenders in between. Sew along the sides and top of the bib as seen in the image below. Clip curves and trim edges to a scant 1/4 inch.
- Turn bib right-sides-out and press.
- Follow the pattern as written to complete the bottom of the sunsuit and attach the bib to the bottom.
- One of the big differences between my sunsuit and The Beaufort Bonnet sunsuit is that they use elastic to cinch the waistband and the Michie uses a placket. I have made them each way, either works well.
- Place a button hole at the top of the placket on the appropriate side (boy on left, girl on right). Attach button to opposite side. Ignore this step if using elastic. Instead, make a casing for the elastic and thread elastic through, securing it at both ends.
- Place two button holes (approximately half inch in length) in desired locations on the waistband. Thread the straps and attach as desired. If you’ve done the option with the elastic, it is easiest to place the button holes as seen in the bottom picture of Robby, horizontally along the bottom of the casing.
- Options include: tying knots at the end of the suspenders, adding buttons to the ends of the suspenders, or threading suspenders through the holes and forming a bow over top of the placket.
How simple was that?! Now go use all of your 1/3 yard scraps to make every sunsuit you could ever imagine.
