to be cross at all the high street shops

[sunchild77]

That they don't stock more sizes of kids clothes?
I visited all the usual stores today, looking for age 5-6 girls party dresses and girls welly boots size 11, I also wanted Boys vests age 3-4, and they were impossible to find.

Well there was lots of choice of the dresses, but could I find any in stock in the 3 styles that we liked? NO!

So came home and found a dress on the Next website, was it in stock? NO!

Oh come on! Is it just me????

[MrsMoosickle]

Matalan.....pretty fab!

[MyMamaToldMe]

Totally agree with you OP - so frustrating!

[nickelbangBANGbang]

you'll have to learn to sew...

[mummyofexcitedprincesses]

Matalan don't do age 7-8 at all, it is either too small 6-7 or too big 8-9.

It always seems to be whatever size I am looking for that is out of stock too!

[Linnet]

I have the same problem, I need age 6 or 6-7 and 13 or 12-13 and whatever shop we go to just never seems to have that size in stock. They have plenty of smaller sizes or bigger sizes but not the ones I need.

[sunchild77]

I wish I could sew nickel Is it cheaper though? once you factor in the cost of material, patterns, a sewing machine etc?

Clearly EVERYBODY with kids the ages of mine (5,3) likes the same stuff. SO why don't these shops produce more of it? I think I am being unreasonable to expect to get what I want everytime. But it just drives me insane!

[purplepidjin]

You can get some nice everyday fabrics for about £4 a metre, occasionally cheaper. Corduroy and denim fall into that category. For boys/tomboys, fabricland do a camo print cotton for £1 a metre.

I make a pair of kids plain trousers for £10 (I specialise in SN and this is my "hobby"). It takes me 3 hours and makes about £6 profit. I charge £15 if you want decorative bits and bobs.

It's a great idea if you have the time ;)

[nickelbangBANGbang]

it's probably not cheaper these days, but your kids would always have something that noone else had, and you can repair stuff, too, if you can sew.
and alterations - I buy a few things from charity shops, sometimes in the next size up if I like the style and fabric, then use my sewing skills to alter them to fit (i have small waist and large hips, so nothing ever fits me right!)

and think about fancy dress costumes, too!
how many threads do we have that say "my kid's school wants us to dress DS in a crocodile costume for thursday!" with a bit of sewing skill (and a big box of scrap fabric!), you can make it!

[nickelbangBANGbang]

the big box of scrap farbic is important - I collect nice fabric as I see it, and have a box of different coloured threads, so I normally have something I can use for whatever I need right then (it makes it cheaper, too, if you don't have to find the fabric to match the design)