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Wisdom From the Professionals A collection of Articles Back to School - Sewing for Children! By: Victoria - The Secret Workshop email: workshop@netidea.com As a child, August was always a wonderful month for me - not only because it was still summer holidays but also because it meant my mother would soon begin making our new clothes for back-to-school. With four children to sew for, she always started early. Back then, the variety and style of fabrics and patterns was somewhat limited. Sergers were never found in the home and notions that were available were basic - nothing like we have available today. Today's home sewer can find and use a variety of fabrics and tools to make garments comparable to or even better than those available in the ready-to-wear market. Here are some tips and ideas to help with your back-to school sewing projects. Before you begin to cut and sew, spend some time and decide what clothes will best complement an existing wardrobe. Take a good look at the clothes your child is already wearing and ask yourself some questions. What is it your child really needs for the fall? Plenty of pants but short on shirts? Do they need a bit of everything? Look at the colors of the clothes in the closet and work from there. It is not very practical to add a color that does not coordinate with anything else in the closet. Consider what your child really needs, but remember to leave some room for FUN - choose something that isn't really necessary but would be fun to make and fun to wear. I have a weakness for jackets and hats and I always seem to be making one or the other. Before picking out fabrics and patterns, be sure to plan ahead. Make garments that will be good for both fall and winter or even spring. Clothes that can be layered with a variety of colors and styles work great. A polar fleece vest can be worn with a short sleeve shirt in the fall or a long sleeve knit top in winter. The same vest can also be worn under a jacket for added warmth in the winter. By making a few good basic items, you are able to mix and match to achieve a different look. Layering garments with different textures and shapes will give lots of variety and opportunity for children to "express" themselves. Once you have a good idea of garments that are needed, involve your child in picking patterns and fabrics. Doing this can only end in a winning situation. If kids don't like something, they won't want to wear it - better to get it right the first time! Start by looking through pattern books, magazines and even department or chain stores to come up with design and sewing ideas. Many of the fabrics used by large manufacturers are available to the public. You might need to search a bit, but it is probably worth the time. After learning what the child would like and finding some patterns, sit down and decide what to do first. Each year, I start out with great expectations of the many projects I will complete. More often then not, I run out of time and some projects are left unfinished. Plan your sewing time, considering the time you have available to sew and the amount of time it will take you to construct each garment from start to finish including pre-washing, cutting and all those little finishing touches. You'll probably want to start by sewing those items that are needed the most.

When planning for back-to-school sewing, don't lose sight of how quickly children grow. They grow FAST! The last thing you want to see is that the jacket or pants you just spent many painstaking hours putting together no longer fits. Before you cut out the pattern, consider these questions. Do you need to add a few extra inches on a rolled cuff to allow for growth? Can you add a knitted cuff to the shirt after the sleeves have become too short? Do you need to lengthen the body of a dress or shirt to give a little bit more room. Knowing how you can adjust a garment for growth before you start works better than trying to figure it out after you are finished.

Now for something I come back to time and time again - when shopping for fabric and notions for your children, always buy the best quality you can find and/or afford. Why put so much time, money and love into a garment that won't survive the first wash? Have you ever wondered why two apparently similar fabrics have a huge price difference? Often, that difference is due to quality. The original plain fabrics used to print on may have been of differing quality. The inks and the dying process used might not be the same. The fabrics may look very similar on the bolt but the difference will become apparent after washing. Better quality fabrics really are worth the money!

When buying fabrics for kids - make sure the fabrics work well with their lifestyle. Fabrics that require a lot of special care are usually not well-suited for kids. Kids generally need clothes that can be washed and worn, and are highly durable. Fabrics that do not require ironing, knits for example, are great because they do not crease and still look good at the end of the day. With all the back-to-school sewing for the big kids, don't forget your little ones! Just because they are not going to school doesn't mean you can't sew for them too. This is a great time of year to make something in the toddler or baby department. I find that after spending hours making something for my eldest, it is so nice to put together a simple play suit for my youngest. The pieces are a lot smaller, the whole project goes together quickly. And remember, a ten month old won't complain about what you have made, in fact, she'll probably just drool over it!!

When sewing for back-to-school, it is easy to forget about all the other great accessories you can make. Accessories can be quick projects and are great ways to use up all those small pieces of fabric. Make scrunchies to go with girls outfits but don't just stop there. Hats are a great addition to an outfit and are always great to wear. Hats help keep the sun off in summer and the warmth in during winter. Other uses for scraps include bags, backpacks and lunch bags.

With all this said and done - HAVE FUN!! There are no fashion and sewing police out there so enjoy what you are doing and try something different. Mix and match buttons, combine two different color separating zippers together to make a new zipper combination. Don't feel that you have to follow the pattern exactly - take a chance and you might be surprised how well the whole thing turns out!! Sewing for back-to-school is great.

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Tips for Sewing for Children

Fabric Preparation
When you arrive home with your new fabric, pre-wash and dry it if necessary. This way, when you have a few moments you can start your project right away without waiting to wash and dry the fabric. The practice of only placing washed fabric in your sewing room helps to avoid confusion down the road as to what fabric is ready to go and what is not.

Pattern Size
Choose a pattern which suits your sewing ability and can be reused. If I am sewing a size 4, I often look for a pattern that would offer a size 4-8 so I can use the pattern for future projects. It is a good idea to trace the pattern pieces rather than cutting them out, so that you can later reuse the pattern in a different size. If you find a pattern you like, stick with it. Years ago, I found a pant pattern for my son that fit him really well. I am still using that pattern for him. Because I am now very familiar with the pattern, I can add creative details like pockets or color-blocking to make each new version unique.

Age-Appropriate Clothing
Be sure to make the clothing appropriate for the age of the child. For an infant, install snaps in the legs to make diaper changes quick and easy. It doesn't matter how great an outfit looks, if you have to pull it over a crying baby's head six times a day, you will pick a different outfit next time. For young children, make the clothing simple so they can dress themselves without difficulty. Use elastic waist bands rather than fly zippers and buttons to reduce frustration during those mad dashes to the bathroom when potty-training.

Allow for growth
Children grow so fast and they are hard on their clothes. Since you are putting a lot of time and creative energy into making their clothes, you will want to ensure that they last. To allow for maximum wear, try some of the following ideas:

1.Add length on pants and sleeves by making roll-up cuffs in a contrasting color.

2.Make dresses for girls longer with drop waists allowing them to last another season.

3.If cuffs on a long sleeve shirt wear out, shorten the sleeves and make it in to a T-shirt.

4.Lengthen straps on overalls and use overall clips to allow for adjustment.

5.Consider sewing the next size up.

6.Reinforce seams that will take the most abuse (e.g. crotch seams).

7.Reinforce knees with a double thickness of fabric.

8.Sew garments which are age-appropriate. A dress for a crawler is not a good daily wear item because it will only frustrate the child and make crawling difficult.

9.Make items reversible, thereby getting two items in one.

10.Look at the colors in the child's closest and buy fabrics that co-ordinate with what is already there. This makes outfit selection easier for your child (and you!)

11.If there is a hole, cover it with a patch or an original pocket.

12.Install buttonhole elastic in waistbands to allow for growth. Consider using unisex patterns and fabric to allow for greater flexibility at hand-me-down time.

Sewing for kids is great fun. No one will look cuter in your handiwork than your own children and nothing will give you more satisfaction than overhearing your child say "My mom made it."

Victoria - The Secret Workshop email: workshop@netidea.com Fabrics & Notions for Kids http://www.secretworkshop.com