Planning on sewing for kids? We discuss some differences between sewing for kids and adults, considerations for making kids garments, and special techniques you may encounter in the sewing process. We also share our tips and experience in sewing for young ones.
Love to Sew episodes mentioned:
Helen and Zoya in their matching dresses! (Pattern: Marcel Dress by Chalk and Notch)
Helen’s handmade jumpsuit for Nora (Pattern: New Look 6724):
Resources for sewing kids clothing:
- Sewing for Kids by Sewing Guide
- 13 Types of Fabric Suitable for Baby Clothes & Children’s Clothes by Sewing Guide
- Measuring Baby for a Fitted Pattern YouTube video
Fabric certifications mentioned:
Info on commercial kids sleepwear:
Velcro resources:
Snaps:
- How to Sew on Snaps by Treasurie Blog
- How to Sew Snap Tape by Sewlicious Home Decor
- A Comprehensive Guide to Set-In Snaps by Seamwork
Applique
- Vilene Bondaweb or HeatnBond Ultrahold
- Style Arc has various applique designs too!
- Misha Vest from Blue Darling Patterns
Sewing Pattern Companies mentioned:
- Oliver and S
- Brindille and Twig
- Pauline Alice
- Ellie and Mac
- Love Notions
- Patterns for Pirates
- The Simple Life Company
- Below the Kowhai
- Pattern Paper Scissors
- Fibre Mood
- Made by Jack’s Mum (now Waves and Wild)
- Elemeno Patterns
- True Bias
- Chalk and Notch
- Megan Neilsen Patterns
- By Hand London
Matching outfit inspo:
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Hi,
In your episode on sewing for kids you mentioned Velcro a lot, which made me think of this video made by the lawyers for Velcro. They would have been mortified at your flagrant use of their copyrighted term. 😂
https://youtu.be/rRi8LptvFZY
If the link doesn’t work just search YouTube for “Don’t say Velcro”
Love the show! Keep it up.
Thank you so much for sharing, Stephanie! Wow – this video really gets the point across! Thanks again 🙂
Fun episode! I love Made By Rae’s kid’s patterns for baby to 12yo.
https://www.made-by-rae.com/
Would love some ideas for patterns and sewing for older children. My almost 13 year old daughter doesn’t fit the children’s patterns I can find. She’s too big for kid’s patterns and she’s too small for the smallest women’s sizes. Or are there resources for hacking patterns either up or down? Is one option better than another?
Kerstin, thanks so much for your message! As we mentioned on the show, our experience sewing for kids is limited but often times it is easier to make something larger because you have more room to work with in fitting the garment afterwards. We hope this helps!
great ideas, thanks! outfits for mom and daughter are just gorgeous.
So glad you liked it! Thanks for visiting!
Ooh! i know this is an old episode, but definitely add Twig and Tale to your list. Their kids’ patterns have been awesome in my experience.
Thanks so much for the recommendation, Mia!
I’ve only recently started sewing (January this year) & your podcast has been such a wonderful resource! Just today, I was thinking about making clothes for kids, and I knew you’d have an episode on it. Before I do a deep dive into your pattern list, do you have any recommendations for designers for toddler girls that aren’t dresses or are gender neutral? My toddler is highly active and dresses are a no-go for her. But all I can find are frilly or ruffled dresses that she’ll never wear. Or am I better off just using patterns for boys for bottoms?
Hi Nari! Thanks so much for listening. We are so glad you started sewing this year, yay! Ellie and Mac and Elemeno Patterns both have a lot of non-dress designs that would work well for active toddlers. Boys’ bottoms would work, too! If you’d like to make them more feminine-looking, you can use a fun print. Happy sewing!
Just letting you know that “Made By Jack’s Mum” has rebranded to “Waves and Wild” and can be found here: https://www.wavesandwild.com/
Hi Kiaya! Thanks for letting us know – we’ll make this change right away. Have a great day!