DIY Network

Hip Belted Onesie More Christmas Crafts

By Shelagh Nichols Traill, Une Petite Etoile

Materials:

sewing machine
rotary cutters or scissors
plastic cutting board and ruler
iron
old towel
1 infant or toddler onesie in 100 percent cotton
1/8-yard pre-washed black and white checked fabric
1/8-yard Wonder Under fusible web
One 2" x 3" pre-washed piece of red minky dot chenille
white, red and black polyester thread

Figure A

Steps:

1. Cut one 12" x 1-1/2" piece and one 2" x 2" piece of the black and white check fabric (figure A).

Figure B

2. Cut the Wonder Under fusible web slightly smaller than the two pieces of checked fabric, this will ensure that it won't be visible once the fabric is applied (figure B).

Figure C

3. Cut one 2" x 3" piece of pre-washed red minky dot chenille (figure C).

Figure D

4. Cut a 1" x 2" opening in the red minky dot chenille, using a ruler and a fine rotary cutter or scissors (figure D).
This will form the buckle. Tip: Be precise; unlike free-form applique, the cuts must be exact.

Figure E

5. Attach the two pieces of the black and white fabric to the two pieces of Wonder Under with a hot, dry iron, being careful to center the fusible web under the fabric (figure E).
Tip:When applying fusible web to fabric, the rough side should face the reverse side of the fabric, the paper side should face downwards.

6. Remove the paper backing from the checked fabric after it has cooled and carefully center the 12" x 1-1/2" piece across the mid-section of the onesie using a hot, dry iron. Use a ruler to ensure that the fabric runs straight across the garment; this will form the decorative belt (figure F). There should be excess fabric on each of the sides, this is intentional. Repeat this process with the 2" x 2" piece of fabric, applying as a diamond shape on the back of the onesie at the neckline (figure G).

Figure F

Figure G

Figure H

7. Cut the excess belt fabric on the left side of the onesie so that it aligns perfectly with the side seam of the garment. Begin to sew the belt onto the onesie (figure H).

Figure I

8. Cut the overhanging fabric on the right side of the belt as your stitches are approximately 1/2-inch from the side seam of the garment (figure I). Waiting to trim away the excess fabric once you have almost completed the sewing ensures that the belt will reach the seam. Because the onesie is made of cotton, it will stretch a bit as you stitch. Continue sewing the belt and lock the stitch when completed.

Figure J

9. Flip the onesie over and stitch around the 2" x 2 diamond (figure J).

Figure K

10. Pin the red minky chenille buckle to the belt, using a ruler to center it (figure K). A simple way to find the center of the onesie is to align the ruler with the onesie's center snap.

Figure L

11. Attach the buckle to the onesie with red thread, using a decorative stitch (figure L).

Figure M

12. Create a hook for the buckle by stitching through the center of the buckle with a wide, dense zip-zag stitch (figure M).