Antique and Vintage Heirloom Baby Clothes and Patterns

There is something magical about vintage baby clothes. Lace trimmed bonnets, frilly dresses and nightgowns, and soft leather boots bring to mind a kinder, gentler time when babies could be rocked for hours without the distractions of cell phones, blackberries, and laptop computers. Antique prams (strollers), vintage baby bedding and vintage baby clothing and nursery decorations are enjoying a comeback, as are old fashioned baby names such as Isabella, Olivia, Emma, Emily, and Ava. Until the mid 1800's, baby and children's clothing was simply made as a smaller version of adult clothing, and unisex baby clothing such as nightgowns and dresses made it difficult to tell infant baby boys from girls!With the exception of diapers and swaddling cloths (flannel blankets wound tightly around babies), infants wore miniature petticoats, stays (rigid bone-like bodices to encourage good posture), pantalettes and even boots. By the late 1800s newborn baby clothes were becoming simpler, and nightgowns with ties at the back were routinely part of a baby's layette, while stays were discarded. Throughout the late 1800s and through the 1900s, hundreds of knitting, crocheting, cross-stitch and sewing patterns for baby clothes were printed, and mothers and grandmothers produced thousands of baby clothes. It is these baby hats and bonnets, sweaters, matinee coats, baby flower girl dresses, pantalettes or diaper pants, christening gowns, baby bedding and blankets, and birth announcements that are in such high demand as vintage baby collectibles and gifts for baby showers. They can be difficult to find, but with these tips, tricks, and suggestions you should be able to find a vintage christening dress or an antique pram for your grandchild or your own little bundle of joy.

The most unique antique baby furniture and vintage baby nursery decor are to be found at country auctions and estate sales. Of course this is the most time consuming method of finding your vintage items, but it can also be the most rewarding. Here are some tips:

• check local papers of nearby rural towns for upcoming auctions and estate sales.
• look for items such as antique baby changing tables, rocking horses, cradles, high chairs, cribs, prams or perambulators
• be sure to arrive early for the viewing prior to the auction. Check the lots that have boxes of miscellaneous items. This is the way to find old-fashioned baby rattles, wooden pull-toys and also wooden puzzles. I once found a package of antique baby shower invitations tied with a faded ribbon in such a box.

Not everyone views old baby clothes as vintage treasures - some people can't wait to clear out their attics, basements, and garages. Make sure your family and friends know that you would be interested in any of these finds. You may have elderly relatives or in-laws who are ready to part with an old family baby keepsake, knowing that you will take good care of it and value it.

When someone gets the urge to re-organize their home, or move to a new home with less stuff, second hand stores are often the recipients of years worth of family clothing. Second hand clothing stores are a great spot to find cheap vintage clothes and old fashioned style baby booties, bonnets, and sweaters.

Buying your vintage baby items online is yet another option, though you will have to exercise caution. Sites such as myvintagebaby.com are a good source of newly produced vintage baby things. Are you buying an authentic vintage item, or a reproduction of a vintage item? That could, in fact, be a better option, as new items (especially anything like a high chair, cradle, or crib) based on old designs should have up-to-date safety incorporated into their patterns. There is cheap online vintage clothing, as well as new clothes based on vintage baby sewing patterns and antique baby fabrics are becoming increasingly popular and items can be shipped directly to your door. Reproduction antique baby furniture is a lovely gift for a new grandchild.

Have you looked at Craigslist, eBay, or Kijiji? Search used baby items, with the terms antique, old-fashioned, and/or vintage. Any number of items will pop up. Be prepared to check each item carefully. As with baby items bought at auction, you may have to repair, strip old paint, and re-varnish, and update if you are planning to use an antique baby item for a new baby. Remember, safety standards have changed a great deal over the past 200 years!

Vintage craft patterns for making baby clothes and afghans are one of my favourite collectibles. After 30 years of knitting, crocheting, and cross-stitching, my friends and family know that I am a willing recipient of their old patterns. I have knitting patterns for baby items that were printed in England in the 1930s, Canada, and the United States. One of my most prized patterns is for the baby blanket that my grandmother knitted almost 70 years ago when she was expecting my father. Every couple of years I will get a phone call or an email letting me know that an elderly relative or acquaintance has passed away, and do I want her "needlework things?"

Not only are the patterns neat to have, they are also very practical. I have made many knitted sleeping bags with arms for my babies, sewn drawstring flannel nighties, and cross stitched nursery samplers that will be family heirlooms. If you can't find the vintage baby item you are looking for, search out a pattern and make it yourself. Once again, go to estate sales, auctions, family and friends, check online, and even try the library to find some old fashioned baby patterns.

If you have a genuine vintage cloth baby item, be very careful in handling it. Wash it by hand using a soap for delicates (ie. Ivory Snow, Zero, Woolite), and lay flat to dry. If it is stained, try sprinkling a little lemon juice or vinegar on the stain and set it outside to dry in the sun, (sunlight will also help fade the stain). Once it has been hand laundered, consider whether you want this item to be used or displayed.