Kimono Coat, Raglan Sleeve Slip, Kimono Slip.
Knitted Shirt and Band. Shaped Diapers. Diaper Fastening with Tapes.
Gertrude Petticoat. Kimono Nightgown Fastening with Snaps.
For the Layette.
Making. Preparation of the baby clothes should be a joy and not a worry or burden. Let them be simple, moderate in quantity.
The kimono or raglan sleeve gowns, wrappers, and coats are much easier to put on and off than the set-in sleeve. By liberal measure under the shoulders, the sleeve will not pull out; a gathering string at the cuff for little babies will keep the hand from slipping out.
All seams should be flat.
Seams on woolen garments should be felled or edges featherstitched flat. Armhole and neck of flannel garments should be covered with soft seam-binding or turned back ¼ inch and raw edge stitched down or featherstitched; never turn under, as this makes a ridge. At hem of flannel petticoat, raw edge need not be turned in but may be featherstitched flat.
Sleeves may be turned back in a 2-inch hem for first months.
Edge of dress sleeves and neck may be finished with a ⅛-inch hem with featherstitching, or a narrow Armenian or val lace, or soft batiste embroidery, whipped on; or twistless tape or wash ribbon ¼ to ½ inch wide, may be run through facing or beading at neck and one or two inches from edge of sleeve.
Fine gathers or tucks may be made in the front and back of slips to form a yoke; these may be taken out later as the baby grows.
Beading, or buttonholed eyelets two inches apart, for wash ribbon sash, may be made in dresses, thus forming a yoke; leave garment loose two inches each side of under-arm seam.
Maximum length allowable for dresses and petticoats, 27 inches; minimum, 22 inches; hems, 1 to 3 inches.
Neckbands, 9½ inches at birth to 10 inches at 6 months.
Sleeve bands should be 8 to 12 inches long.
Average length of infant, neck to soles, at birth, is 16 inches; at 6 months, 24 inches.
Set-in sleeves, small cuffs, small neckband, tiny buttons, make dressing difficult. Gathering string of twistless tape or ribbon, with beading, at sleeves and neck, are recommended, or ample neckbands.
Kohinoor snappers are preferable to buttons, using care in laundering to prevent bending. If sewed on to linen tape, which can be used as a facing for material, there is less strain on goods.
Short Clothes. Clothes are usually shortened at four months in summer or six months in winter, keeping about the same models.
Rompers are convenient after creeping begins. The English use diaper drawers knitted of soft wool.
Leather moccasins, made after the Indian model, with seams outside, are the best footgear until the walking stage, at twelve to fifteen months.