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I sew for my 5 grandchildren. I use a wide satin stitch at the top of the back seams. They know that this is the back & can dress properly. On the T-shirts, the ribbing seam is always center back. They know to "feel" for the bump in the fabric.
From Robin:
The Tigger pattern that I am making for my son (2 1/2 yrs.) called for using wire in the tail in addition to the fiberfil. I was afraid that it would come throught the fabric and poke him. I decided to go to Lowe's (home improvement store) and get some tubing. They have this wonderful plastic tubing that was 7 cents/foot that worked perfectly! You can heat it with a hair dryer and form any shape. When it cools, it retains it's shape! And best of all I don't have to worry about it hurting my son!
From Karen:
When sewing for older kids I make shorts/pants/skirt out of a print and make a top out of a solid coordinating knit. Then add a pocket out of the print used for the bottom and cuffs on the sleeves, both long and short (sleeeves). I have also added cuffs out of the knit to the shorts/pants. Matching hair scrunchies for girls are always a hit too!
From Barbara:
I have an easy way to mark the back of children's garments -- while sewing the casing in the back of pants or the facing in the back of shirts, jumpers, overalls, etc., just fold a piece of seam binding or bias tape in half and sew the raw edges into the casing or facing. The extending tab marks the back of the garment. (Helps us big kids, too!)
From Chris:
When my 3 girls were little; I found out it was hard to remember what size I had made the garment when it came time to hand down to the next child. So I embroydered the size on the inside back of the garment. It also enabled them to find the back of the garment so it made it easier for them to dress themselves--an added bonus.
From Barb:
Just wanted to let you know about a favorite new time saver I just found. SewBaby has a web site where you can order really cute little iron on and sew on patches. I recognize some of these from OshKosh and Health Tex. They are great Quality and only $10 for 50. Makes your garments look like ready to wear.
From Karen:
When I mark pants and want my son to try them on, I use safety pins. That way he isn't afraid to try them on because he won't get stuck by pins.
From Gerry:
* My 3 year old son wanted a pair of overalls, but I was concerned about him getting them down in time. So I made him a pair of pants with stretch suspenders. I measured the elastic on him from the front waistband to the opposite back. Then I cut a strip of fabric twice as long and twice as wide. I stictched the longs sides together to form a tube. Insert the elastice. The ends can then be sewn to the waistbands or Buttonholes and button can be used to make them removable. He loved them and they are very easy for him to get up and down himself.
From Sharon:
*To give children's clothing a designer look, don't make the entire garment out of the same fabric. Use contrasting fabric for the facings, collar, pockets or even sleeves. Small gingham prints coordinate with a surprising number of children's solids and prints.
From Sharon:
*Need a last minute baby shower gift? Just find a fabric scrap in the appropriate color and cut out a square or rectangle at least 20" x 20". Turn the edges under and it's an instant baby blanket. The size or shape is unimportant, so just go by the size of your fabric. If you use a solid color, applique or embroider a decorative design in the corner or middle. If you have terry cloth scraps, make a changing pad and matching wash cloth. Again, decorate it with trims or appliques and they make a perfect gift to throw into the baby bag for diaper changes.
From SewMommy:
*To turn an ordinary girls dress pattern into an extrordinary formal dress, just cut out all the pieces out of a solid colored piece of fabric as usual. Then cut out the bodice and skirt out of a lace panel as well (you can buy lace 44" wide off the bolt). Then stay stitch the lace to the regular bodice and the lace skirt to the top of the regular skirt and then construct the garment as usual.
From SewMommy:
*When sewing children's over-alls or jumpers with suspender straps, use a safety pin to pin on the buttons rather than sewing the buttons on. This way it's a lot easier to adjust the buttons as your child grows.
From Brittany:
*For a fun kid's shorts outfit, use a print fabric to make the shorts. Then buy or make a solid t-shirt and make an applique from the shorts fabric. If the fabric doesn't naturally lend itself to an applique, just cut out a big square and decorate the edges with paint, rick rack, or other trim.
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