There is no secret that I love to sew for the kid. Her appreciation for what I make is mixed. Which I hear is totally normal for 5yr olds. But still feels rather like being slapped in the chops when a slaved over garment gets the old ‘no, I don’t like it’.
This make is a teeny tiny size 1 for a friends little girl. It is a Pixie coat from the genius of Big Little. It’s a pattern that I’ve sewn a number of times now and one I really love. Its simple, well written and comes together beautifully
One thing that comes up quite a lot is how to make garments look ‘handmade’ rather than ‘homemade’. Neither is wrong, obviously. And there are a fair number of clothes in the kids closets that I’d rather you didn’t look to closely at. That are very definitely ‘homemade’, and we love them for that.
But there are a few things that can really make the difference (I cannot, hand on heart, say I always do these thing .. truth) but they really do help.
Iron as you go. Actually, steam the s&*t out of every seam and fold. Seriously, iron that thing.
TOP STITCH. Top stitch.
There are instances where you wont need or want to – for example the hem of this coat isn’t topstitched. But round the hood, the front – where you want a crisp clean line. Dress bodices, skirt waistbands. Top stitch – if your feeling really adventurous invest in a double needle
Thread match … actually I’m horric at this – I’m lazy. But do it. Spend 5 minutes winding a bobbin with matching thread. Dig through that box to find the closest match. You’ll be so pleased you did afterwards. Spend time choosing the right buttons/trim/lining. Often its the little details that give it away. Or make it amazing.
Did I mention ironing? Steam that sucker.
Sleeves with hidden or inner seams (often known as the drainpipe method) can make the garment look great. Some coats look so nice with a little underfold of the outer fabric into the sleeve. When you fold them up it’s a lovely detail.
I am really pedantic on clipping my corners and curves too, it just really helps things to lie nicely, sit well.
Preparation. Cut slowly and carefully.
French seams take a super easy skirt from average to amazing. The same for a good chunky hem. Don’t scrimp on the turn up, nothing helps a skirt or trouser hang better than a little weight at the bottom.
A little tag at the neck is functional for hanging and also for little people to recognise the back from the front. The kid gets extremely cross if I don’t tag skirts and trousers.
For me a part of keeping on sewing things the kid loves has been making sure that what I sew has a purpose. Making things that she needs as well as wants. The truth is that our lifestyle doesn’t really suit multiple pretty dresses made from amazing woven cottons. One or two will do.
And thats where patterns like the Pixie Coat come in, I prefer to sew one coat that gets lots of wear and love. Also biting the bullet and learning (rather under duress) how to sew knit and jersey fabric has opened up a world of comfy and easy to wear clothes for a picky 5 yr old.
Look at whats in trend in the shops. What are the kids wanting. How close can you get to that while still maintaining that individuality.
And Topstitching where the instructions say to? … It’s been added in there for a reason 😉
lovely!!! she’ll be adorable with that coat, with so little cute details.
Some great tips in there, some of which I’m pretty good at already – like the ironing and top stitching! But others I do need to pay bit more attention to – like clipping my corners and curves! And I’ve never thought about putting in a tag at the back, great idea, I’ll have to do that.