How to make a taggie square

1. Materials & tools

Materials (one 20 cm square)

• Outer (double gauze) — about 25 × 25 cm
• Lining (toweling or terry) — about 25 × 25 cm
• Ribbon, 1–2.5 cm wide — 6 cm × 8 pieces (mixing types is more fun)
• Hand-sewing thread

Tools

• Sewing machine (or needle and thread)
• Fabric marker or pencil
• Ruler and scissors
• Iron
• Pins or clips

2. Make the pattern (auto-generated in Katagami)

With the Katagami pattern tool, you just enter the finished size and it drafts a seam-allowance-included pattern, tiled to print at actual size on Letter or A4.

1. Open the tool
   Open the pattern tool and choose “Baby” → “Taggie square” from the tabs at the top.
2. Enter the size
   Enter the side length, the corner radius and how many tags per side. Presets cover small, standard and large.
3. Set the seam allowance
   Use the slider at the bottom (beginners: 1.0–1.5 cm / about 3/8–5/8 in).
4. Print
   Press “Print (actual size)”, then in the print dialog set Scale = 100% and turn “Fit to page” OFF. Check the 50 mm calibration box on the first guide sheet with a ruler.

3. Cutting the fabric

1. Trace the pattern
   Lay the pattern on the wrong side and trace both lines.
2. Cut the pieces
   One outer, one lining.
3. Transfer the notches
   Mark the tag positions on each side — two per side, eight in all, at the standard setting.
4. Cut the ribbon
   Cut 6 cm lengths and seal the ends with a flame or fray stopper.

4. Sewing

4-1. Pin the tags

1. Fold each ribbon in half to make a loop.
2. Lay the loops on the right side of the outer, pointing inwards, with the cut ends level with the fabric edge.
3. Pin or baste at the notches. Eight in all.
4. Get the direction wrong and the tags end up inside after turning. Check that every loop points towards the middle.

4-2. Sew the two layers

1. Lay the lining on top, right sides together, and sew around, leaving about 7 cm open along the bottom.
2. Backstitch two or three times over each tag so it cannot pull out.
3. Clip the rounded corners.

4-3. Turn and topstitch

1. Turn right side out and check that every tag is on the outside.
2. Fold the opening's allowance inwards and topstitch all the way round.
3. Running a second line over the base of the tags makes them stronger still.

✏️ Babies put their whole weight into pulling on the tags. Backstitch over each one when you sew the seam, then catch them again with the topstitching. Seal the ribbon ends too — once they fray, they split from there.

5. Tips & variations

• Mix the ribbons: satin, grosgrain, lace. Different textures keep it interesting.
• Different face each side: gauze and toweling is the classic pairing — it changes as it is squeezed.
• Clip it to the pram: make one tag longer (12 cm) and you can thread a clip through it so it never hits the floor.