How to Make a Hospital Gown
Posted on 16. Jul, 2010 by Trish in Tutorial
As I sit around and wait and wait and wait for this baby to come I try to keep myself busy making things. One of the things on my list was a cute hospital gown. I’ve seen them around but there is no way I want to pay the $50-$95 they cost. I was more looking for something to wear in the hospital after the baby comes so when people come and visit I actually look somewhat cute.
I found a free pattern online from Lazy Girl Designs that has a pattern for adult hospital gowns and children’s hospital gowns. It doesn’t come with any pictures of the finished product, so I honestly had no idea what it would look like. I kept putting it off and decided I really didn’t one, but then yesterday I was so antsy I needed something to keep me occupied. I decided to go ahead and make one and see how it turned out.
I did make a few changes to it, such as instead of a button and velcro for the top of the sleeves I used some snap tape I had. I figured that would be easier to do up and wouldn’t accidentally come undone if I pulled it getting in or out of bed. Then I used bias tape around the neckline and the sleeves just to add a little more contrast. Then I decided it was too short, so I added a ruffle at the bottom to make it a little more feminine. After I tried it on I decided the back gaped open a little more than I was comfortable using just the two ties the pattern recommended. I added one more in the middle and that seemed to help a lot. The last change I did was to add a removable ribbon around the waist which helped a TON. Otherwise I felt like I was just wearing a regular old hospital gown that is one size fits all and is like a giant bag. This added some shape to it and made me feel a lot better about wearing it.
This is the finished product. To give you an idea, I am 5′10 and added about a 4 inch ruffle (before hemming and sewing on) so it hits me about mid kneecap. I do think it was a little big and I would have preferred a little more fitted, but I had no idea what the fit was before I started making it. Please ignore the bad picture of me. It was late at night, I was using a timer on my camera, and I’m just a few days shy of being 39 weeks pregnant.
Here is the back, showing the 3 ties. The pattern only calls for the top and bottom one, but I decided it needed another one in the middle. I also moved the bottom one over about an inch to give me a little more coverage, but I could have moved it over even more for someone my size. There was plenty of material in the back to do so.
Here it is without the tie, so you can see how it looks like a genuine hospital gown. I believe that was the intent of the pattern itself, so they did a great job making it. Oh, I forgot to say that I took out the pocket because I didn’t really see the need of it for a maternity visit.
So there you have it. My homemade hospital gown that I can wear so I don’t feel so frumpy after giving birth. Now if only this kid would arrive so I can try it out. 
Patience, right?
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29 Responses to “How to Make a Hospital Gown”
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ashley
30. Jan, 2012
i need help. is their any way you can make a step by step tutorial on making this gown i printed out the pattern and got my supplies but to be honest i dont know how to read patterns very well. i am not understanding what to cut first where to sew what to what……
Jenni
05. Jan, 2012
I just wanted to say “Thank you” for posting all your wonderful updates to the lazy girl pattern. I had never even heard of snap tape before and the ribbon around the waist is much more flattering. It’s far more useful now. I did make mine out of flanellette because I am always cold and I have to say, I love how soft this made it. Thanks again!
Shannon
11. Oct, 2011
Hi Trish! I was actually looking online for patterns to make gowns to donate to our local children’s hospital. I found the same pattern you referred to at Lazy Girl Designs, but you made it 100% better! What little girl wouldn’t LOVE the ruffle and ribbon trim-especially those stuck in the hospital feeling yucky, right?
I think you are correct about adding the extra tie. Even kids are modest about having their behinds showing. I will keep the pocket piece. When my boys were little, I always had to check every pocket before doing the laundry, they were always carrying something around in them. Thanks!
Shelby
17. Aug, 2011
Trish — super cute! Thanks for the inspiration. I was thinking about making a gown with two small back pieces (instead of one big, one small), solely for the purpose of aesthetics and symmetry. Did you like having the extra room and coverage that the one large back piece? Or do you think the large piece was unnecessary?
PatternShmattern
13. May, 2011
That is really cute. Thanks for the idea!
Jacylin
21. Apr, 2011
I actually printed out this very same pattern and was like oh boy (Im not a sewer at all, but need something to do in the last few weeks of this pregnancy to keep me busy) so Im really thankful that you made one that I can see I love the ribbon around the mid section
and the ruffle is super cute, I doubt that I am going to be adding a ruffle since I have no idea how to do that??!?! any pointers? but I am glad I could put a visual to this, just curious what would this gown cost in fabrics and what not?? I am just wondering thats all (if you dont mind sharing)
Trish
12. May, 2011
Honestly, I have no idea how much it cost since I already had all the supplies on hand. Sorry I couldn’t be more help!
Trish
12. May, 2011
Oh, and as for a ruffle, just google how to make a ruffle and lots of tutorials are out there.
Rochelle
21. Apr, 2011
Did this work out well for nursing? If you didn’t nurse do you think it would? Love your additions of the ribbon and the ruffle! I am going to whip myself up one soon! Thanks for sharing
Trish
21. Apr, 2011
It did! The snaps in the shoulders made it super easy.
Rochelle
21. Apr, 2011
Thanks Trish!
Lindsay
23. Mar, 2011
Sorry, I have one more question. I have a friend who is pre-preggo about a 14/16 and about 5′2″. Shortening I can handle no problem ( and I know how to take it in in the middle for smaller frames), but do you think I would need to make it bigger, and if so, how?
Trish
23. Mar, 2011
Well, I honestly have no idea if it would need to be made bigger. I want to say that some people have used 2 of the larger back pieces (I can’t remember which one it is) instead of the one big one and one small one. I would think that you could also cut the pattern piece down the middle, and then add a strip of paper to made it larger. Basically the opposite of taking it in in the middle for a small frame.
Lindsay
23. Mar, 2011
Hi! I just wanted to check (because I am new to sewing), how much bias tape will I need, and is it double fold, and what width? I have been thinking I could make one of these for some time now, and I found the same pattern, but your tips and even just having a picture are very helpful! I wanted to do snaps instead too…how does the snap tape work? I feel like I can picture it, but…
Trish
23. Mar, 2011
Well, if I remember correctly, I used less than one package of bias tape. I just grabbed some out of my stash, so I honestly have no clue how much it was. It was the double fold, and you could use whatever width you would like. Snap tape is basically like a ribbon with snaps already installed on it. So all you have to do is sew the “ribbon” on instead of trying to put each snap on. It’s super easy to do. Good luck!