Diapers and thin sheets
The simplest product for a newborn is a diaper. No special skills are required in sewing this part. Typically, diapers are made in two versions - warm and thin sheets. The fabric should be soft, natural and with a soft pattern.
An ordinary diaper is a rectangle measuring 90 by 120 cm. The dimensions can also be 110 by 80 cm. To sew a dozen diapers, you will need 12 meters of fabric. For thin items, it is better to purchase chintz. To sew warm sheets, use flannel or flannelette fabric.
To sew diapers, a piece of fabric is marked with a pencil into 10 parts. Next, the material is cut and the edges are processed. Use a zigzag or overlock for this. It is better not to use hems at the edges of diapers for newborns. When the diapers are ready, it is recommended to wash them again and iron them on both sides.
Transforming a sundress into a children's dress
I really loved this sundress - it was light and was simply irreplaceable in the subtropics. But I caught the hem somewhere, and a hole formed in it.
Therefore, the transformation began with cutting off the hem and top.
Then from the whole part of the hem I cut a “top”, i.e. top of the sundress. It was flipped over (the finished hem seam was on top, so no finishing was needed on the top of the top). Then I reduced the straps.
When sewing it to the top, the skirt had to be slightly pleated. Make sure that these folds are the same distance from each other.
I sewed this product on a machine. There were three seams: the bottom one, at the waist and the side seam on the top.
In total the work took about 2 hours.
Give new life to old things
Sewing from old things for children allows you to use not only adult things. Most often, a favorite skirt, sweater or trousers become short, but in volume they fit the child absolutely normally. Pants can be lengthened by adding cuffs made of contrasting fabric, a skirt can be made with ruffles, and a sweater can be made very fashionable by adding piping to increase the length of the item itself and the sleeves. And what a wardrobe you can create for your favorite doll!
Soft fur toys
Fur is an excellent material for sewing yourself, because compared to other fabrics it has one important advantage - it is very easy to hide seams among the long hairs of fur. And even if they turned out imperfect, no one will notice. In addition, it is also not necessary to work out very small details on the pattern; very small “protrusions” will still be lost in this material. At the same time, the larger the finished product, the easier it is to work with patterns, since sewing small parts will require some pains, especially at the beginning of work.
Many needlewomen refuse fur because it tends to fray, leaving small hairs everywhere, causing irritation in the eyes of some. In addition, some skill in cutting will be required.
Instead of scissors, it is recommended to use a special tailor's knife or a sharp stationery knife. Cutting movements should be short, avoiding deep penetration of the tool into the fur, so as not to damage it.
This material also requires special care, since most types of fur will need to be washed very carefully, or not at all.
Transforming a tunic into a children's dress
It all started with this tunic. It has a very simple cut: just a flared tunic with straps, no darts, etc. So I simply sewed it in on the sides (not to the very bottom, but somewhere in the middle (to my daughter’s waist). I removed the old straps and made new ones from cotton lace. The result was a very light and spectacular dress.
Transforming a T-shirt into a children's dress
This oversized tank is designed to be worn over a T-shirt. But now her time has come to become a child's dress.
I cut off all these long straps. Then I gathered the neckline at the front with an elastic band. This neckline was my daughter’s idea. The elastic must be measured correctly: the head must fit into it. At the back, the remaining straps were gathered into one bun and sewn to an elastic band. The side seams were sewn in according to my daughter’s figure down to the drawstring.
This is her favorite dress! She says she feels “ethereal” in it.
How to take measurements from a child
Most children are standard sizes for their age. This is especially pronounced in children under one and a half years old. In this situation, it is convenient to use standard tables. If necessary, they can be adjusted, but it is better to do this as a last resort. Typically, patterns are published for standard sizes, and if you do not need to adjust them, you can use them without making your own edits.
You might be interested in this. Useful information about computer-controlled sewing machines
For older children, measurements are taken as follows:
- Neck circumference is measured at the bottom.
- To obtain the girth of the chest, measure where the most voluminous part is. In this case, the protruding parts of the blades should be covered.
- Young children do not have a clearly defined waist. It is recommended to determine it approximately, tie it with a centimeter and let the child move. When the centimeter sags, take this measure as the girth. If the baby's belly protrudes, then the measurement is taken at the widest point.
- To girth the hips, take the most protruding points: the buttocks and the edges of the thigh bones.
- Chest width is the distance between the armpits. The width of the back is measured in the same way.
- To determine the circumference of the head, the centimeter is wrapped at the widest point.
For your information! Based on the measurements taken, a pattern is created, with which you can sew comfortable and beautiful clothes for children.
Sports jacket pattern
Selection of materials and accessories
Newborns are fragile and delicate creatures, so clothes for them should be as comfortable as possible. In the first year of life, it is preferable to use soft and always natural fabrics for sewing.
Babies should choose thin cotton fabrics. It’s also a good idea to get some things made of flannel and terry. For mobile and active children over one year old, it is more practical to sew clothes from knitwear. Of the connecting materials in newborn clothes, it is preferable to use soft Velcro. Let the small buttons wait until they are a year old.
Slippers are always useful
There is another win-win option for those who love sewing from old things - slippers. These can be booties for tiny feet, cute animals for older children, and comfortable models for an adult family member. They are all very simple to do. The main thing is to take the correct measurements and cut out the base for the future product. If these are slippers for an adult, you simply trace the foot and cut out the top with the necessary seam allowances, and it’s very easy to make a pattern for the booties yourself. Decorated according to the taste and desire of the creator, they will warm you on cold evenings much better than those bought in a store, and you can use suede clothes, old sheepskin coats, faux fur coats, hats, and knitted sweaters to make them.
Children's dress made from a T-shirt and flounce from an adult dress
One day it seemed to me that my dress was too long, and I tore off the lower flounce. Then we took our daughter’s “boring” T-shirt and sewed this flounce onto it, greatly shirring the fabric.
It turned out very lush and not boring at all! The main thing is that the colors match.
The dress gets a lot of compliments!
What tools will you need?
When creating patterns for children's clothing for beginners or experienced craftsmen, you need to prepare the following materials and tools:
- Fabric for sewing.
- Scissors.
- Crayons or soaps for transferring the pattern onto the fabric.
- Needles, threads, pins.
- Paper for drawing and cutting out patterns.
- Sewing machine.
- Ruler.
- Set of patterns.
For your information! Clothing for boys and girls is usually made simpler than for adults. It is more accessible for making by novice craftsmen.
Types of sports jackets for boys
