Wednesday 28 October 2015

Autumn: Kids Clothes Week

Happy half-term, sewing friends! Wow, I hadn't realised it had been so long since my last post, never mind. Hope you are all well. Last week was 'Kids Clothes Week', the initiative that encourages you to sew an hour a day for seven days, solely for the little people in your life.



This year, the theme was 'Disguise'. I had lots of ideas, but in the end I went with a button-up shirt for my eldest. The headache-inducing fabric was chosen by the lovely boy himself, and it would work well if he ever chose to disguise himself as a zebra!!! 
 

I have never made a shirt before; even though it's not my finest work, I really enjoyed sewing it.  Oops, just noticed in the photographs: I haven't removed all my basting thread on the shoulders - will rectify that when the boy takes it off.


The plackets caused the most bother; I unpicked and re-stitched several times, but got there in the end.  I even got to use my button foot to sew on the buttons by machine! Cool.


This was also my first attempt at a rolled hem; again, I used a specialist machine foot. It worked fine on a single layer of fabric but as soon as I came to a seam the foot did not want to play ball. But it'll do. It was good practice, and I now want to put rolled hems on everything!

 

The pattern is Design Q from Sew Chic Kids. I love this book and have made several items from it. I find the illustrations and list style instructions easy to follow.  I recommend it if you have kiddos to sew for between 2 and 10. My scrummy boy is 9 and a half; this is the age 8 size but it should fit him for a long time to come.


My favourite feature is the cute pleat on the back yoke; made me feel very accomplished making it.  Always a good feeling!


I am tempted to try again on this pattern now I understand how all the pieces fit together; it should be much easier and quicker next time round. I have a huge list of things to make for ME, though, so it's unlikely to happen for a while! So that's my contribution to Kids Clothes Week. Have you made anything for Autumn KCW?

17 comments:

  1. Making clothes for kids can be satisfying - and it certainly looks very professional from here (even the basting thread! I have found some tailors tacks years later). I love that he chose the whacky cloth himself. Lovely.

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    1. Thank you, trouble is its gone down so well he wants another!

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  2. What a cool little shirt! I bet that fabric caused a headache as it has an optical effect on the eyes.
    Looks like your hard work is fully appreciated by your son though - he looks totally chuffed with his zebra shirt!

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    1. Actually it wasn't too bad to sew but pressing it before cutting out made my eyes swim.

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  3. Louise, good for you on tackling that shirt. Your boy seems happy with it and that makes it all worth it!

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    1. Thank you, I was a little worried I'd bitten off more than I could chew but it has worked out beautifully.

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  4. The pleat on the back is really smart, great little shirt. I've got the it's cut out for some kids trousers but I'm still waiting for the husband to put some power sockets near my machines so I've had to give this one a miss!

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    1. The pkeat is my favourite bit. Hope you are sewing again soon.

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  5. What a fun shirt - I bet he loves wearing it. And I don't blame you for putting sewing for yourself ahead of making another version -"selfish" sewing is the best sort of sewing!

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    1. He adores wearing it. He wore it three times in half term. I had to wrestle it into the washing machine!

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  6. Oh wow! I am so impressed! It really looks fab!

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    1. Thanks Su, I am impressed with myself too.

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  7. This looks so smart! Fabulous job Louise - I hope I can make Oscar some things he'll happily wear when he's older :)

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    1. Thank you Jen, it's so fun seeing your little one in your makes.

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  8. He has great taste, I love the print a lot! and the shirt looks fantastic, beautifully made. Well done!

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  9. I thought that cute little pleat at the back makes him like a little man! Lovely pattern and I think he likes it so much, too. It gave me an idea what to make for my nephew’s 5th birthday as my next DIY for your homeproject.

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  10. Hello! Not sure how I missed this when you posted, the shirt looks great! I love the fabric he's chosen and it looks really well made. I might have to add that book to my Christmas wish list!

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