You're the Onesie

As we’ve covered in previous entries, I don’t exactly know a lot when it comes to babies. I mean, they’re nice and everything but I’m still not sure what I’m supposed to do with them. I’m better with, like, adults. Or, at the very least, teenagers. However, this hasn’t stopped people around me from having babies, babies, and even more babies. And while I’m not really sure what to do with a baby, I do love to make things for them.

My inner monologue: "Am I supposed to, like, DO something with it?"

Baby's inner monologue: "Thank God I can hold my head up on my own. This chick couldn't handle the responsibility."

With that in mind, this entry focuses on onesies aka those little article of clothing that all babies seem to have a ton of. Only we’re going to jazz them up a little. That’s right, the babies in our lives deserve better than boring white!

Supplies

Onesies (I ordered a package from Amazon)
Fabric Paint
Brush
Freezer Paper
Cardboard
Iron

Step One
Wash your onesies. Seriously. We’ve talked before about how unsavory chemicals can make their way into fabric, but even if that isn’t the case, it’s a good idea to wash your onesies before you start so they don’t shrink up on you when you’re finished. As a note, be sure to order onesies in a couple of sizes bigger than the baby is currently wearing since I’m told they grow pretty quickly. And these things aren't that big anyway.

The size 12 month onesie is roughly the size of the majestic pug.

Step Two
Pick your design and trace it onto the freezer paper. I recommend keeping it simple. This isn’t the time for intricate or multicolored designs. Just something short and sweet. I went with a diamond pattern. My husband later commented that it looked like I was trying to replicate argyle, but that wasn’t what I was going for. Which is good, because if this is supposed to be a representation of argyle I failed miserably.

Step Three
Cut out your design. Using an exacto knife, cut the design out of the stencil and discard the cut out piece. Voila. You have created your very own stencil! (This is also why I recommend a simple design. You have to cut this thing out and too many whirls and curls would be a real bear.)

Step Four
Place the freezer paper, wax side down, on the onesie where you want the design to be. I usually go with the approximate center of the garment, but you can shake it up. When you have it where you want it, iron the paper to the onesie. Just a quick press of the iron to make the waxy part stick.

Step Five

Place a piece of cardboard in the onesie to keep the front and back separated. This will prevent any paint from leaking through.

Step Six
Paint inside your newly created stencil. You may have a steadier hand than I do and want to experiment with multiple colors. If so, go forth and be awesome! I tend to stick to one color per design because I have never excelled at coloring in the lines. The good thing is that the stencil is really good at preventing errors, thanks to the extra wax paper that catches the errant drips.

Step Seven
Let your design dry for at least 24 hours. After it is dry, peel off the wax paper and lightly apply an iron to the paint to set it.

Step Eight
Give it to a baby. Preferably one you know, because just handing it to a strange baby may come off as a little weird, but you do you. Far be it from me to dim your light.

So there we have it! A simple and yet fun baby gift. And fast to make! Which is good, because onesies usually come in multipacks (I assume because babies need more wardrobe changes than Mariah Carey due to the fact that they throw up on everything. Which I don’t think Mariah does. I mean, I don’t know, I haven’t met her. I just don’t think she does.)

Of course, this particular DIY stencil method can be applied to anything if you don’t have a baby in your life that needs a onesie. Maybe you need a new t-shirt, or tote bag, or onesie of your own. Go forth and paint!