Baby Shower Gifts to Sew: 8 Handmade Ideas

The best handmade baby shower gifts to sew are bibs, hooded towels, wipes pouches and booties, and a bib takes only 20 minutes. Pick soft cotton, wash it first, and sew a small set of two or three items.

What baby gifts can I sew?

These eight ideas are all useful, and they range from beginner to intermediate.

Bib. The Baby Bib is free, beginner level and takes 20 minutes. It comes in Newborn, Baby and Toddler sizes.
Hooded towel. The Hooded Towel is beginner level, takes about 60 minutes and comes in Baby, Toddler and Kid sizes. It grows with the child.
Wipes pouch. The Wipes Pouch takes 45 minutes and comes in Travel and Full Pack sizes.
Booties. The Baby Booties come in four sizes: 0-3 months, 3-6, 6-12 and 12-18 months. They take about 90 minutes and are rated intermediate.
Mary Janes. The Baby Mary Janes use the same four sizes and take 90 minutes.
Fabric crown. The Fabric Crown comes in Baby, Toddler and Child sizes and takes 45 minutes. It makes a sweet photo prop.
Zipper pouch. The free Zipper Pouch holds diaper cream or pacifiers.
Bunny or other soft toy. The Memory Bunny and other plushies can be made in small sizes, but see the safety note below first.

How do I put together a gift set?

A set feels more special than one item. Three combinations that work:

Bath set (about 80 minutes): hooded towel plus a bib.
Out and about set (about 65 minutes): wipes pouch plus a zipper pouch.
First shoes set (about 110 minutes): booties plus a bib.

Wrap them in a Wine and Gift Bags, sewn from the same fabric, so the wrapping is part of the gift.

Which fabrics are best for baby items?

Soft, breathable, washable cotton is the safest start. Good choices include cotton flannel, cotton jersey, terry cloth for towels and bibs, and muslin. Practical tips:

Wash and dry the fabric before cutting. New parents will wash the gift often.
Choose 100 percent cotton where you can. It handles frequent washing.
Avoid fuzzy trims, long ribbons and loose beads. Anything small that can come off is a hazard.
Use a stretch or ballpoint needle for knits. See our needle and thread guide.

Is it safe to sew gifts for babies?

Yes, with sensible choices. Use embroidery or appliqué stitched down firmly instead of buttons. Keep stitches small and secure. Check seams for loose threads before gifting. For soft toys, the safest approach is embroidered eyes and a note to the parents to supervise play. Always label the fabric content and washing instructions, such as "machine wash cold, tumble dry low". This is general advice, so follow any safety rules that apply where you live.

What size should I make?

Babies grow fast. Make bibs in Baby size and shoes in 3-6 or 6-12 months, since newborn items are outgrown within weeks. A hooded towel in Toddler size will last longer than the Baby size. If you know the due date, a size one up from newborn is usually the most useful. If you are unsure about measurements, read what size sewing pattern you need.

See more on the baby sewing patterns page.

How long will a whole set take?

A bib, a hooded towel and a wipes pouch add up to about 125 minutes, a little over 2 hours, plus cutting. Do it in one afternoon, and add a gift card in the pouch.

Make it with Sewzy

Every pattern comes with all sizes included, a print-at-home PDF (Letter, A4 and an A0 copy-shop file) and a written step-by-step guide. The size finder and AI sewing coach help with sizing and tricky steps. Sewzy is iPhone only, at $3.99 per week or $29.99 per year, with a 3-day free trial. Get Sewzy on the App Store.