Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Other subjects
Original poster

dressmaking for kids??

60 replies

sprout · 31/01/2003 13:19

At the risk of sounding like a domestic goddess from the wrong decade (or century?), does anyone out there make their children's clothes? I mean, assuming you can sew OK, does it work out cheaper?

OP posts:
happydays · 31/01/2003 13:20

I do not sew or make clothes, but i get alot of clothes from george (asda) and find them really cheap that i can not believe that they can be made cheaper.

Frieda · 31/01/2003 13:40

I made ds a dressing gown, which took ages, my seams are a bit wobbly in places and the whole thing worked out more expensive than buying a lovely towelling one in the White Co sale, not even factoring in the time, stress-levels or anything else. Which makes me really depressed, as I know there are loads of places you can buy really nice, reasonable quality kids clothes at a quarter of the price, but I do worry about where they're made and who's making them at that price. Perhaps some of the logos should be subtitled "made for kids, by kids". (Not saying the White Co falls into that catagory, btw)
Having said that, I've just bought some lovely green corduroy, which will probably fester gathering dust under the bed before I work up the energy to fashion it into a trendy pair of trews. Which ds will probably refuse to wear in favour of his action man ones. Ho hum, triumph of hope over experience yet again.

SueW · 31/01/2003 13:59

Er, I don't make make clothes for DD (well have made her a couple of dressing up things) but...

My mum makes a lot of clothes for DD and my niece. It doesn't work out cheaper than we could buy clothes for but we couldn't buy clothes of the same quality for the same price IYSWIM.

Mum makes fleece skirts which cost about a fiver in material and take about an hour start to finish. She also makes them gorgeous cotton dresses for the summer, nightdresses, cotton tops and skirts, etc. There's no chance that a seam will come undone or that a zip will start to come out or that buttons will fall off.

She also knits (Rowan wool, Debbie Bliss designs - I think Debbie Bliss used to design a lot fo Gap's knitwear). Again these don't work out cheap but similar jumpers in Little Badger or Boden are just ridiculously priced.

She would never factor in the cost of her time since she knits when she would otherwise be doing nothing e.g. when watching TV at night.

I keep telling her she should go into business.

And most of the time what we get is unique. I've started customising clothes e.g. buying cheap tops from Asda and sewing on trimmings.

Frieda · 31/01/2003 14:04

Yes, SueW, my mum knits too, and some of those Debbie Bliss patterns are wonderful. And, like you say, you can have exactly what you want in the fabric, colour, etc that you want, which is great. As far as dressmaking patterns go, I've used New Look ones, which are really simple to use and some of the designs are quite nice.

helenmc · 31/01/2003 16:56

I do a bit of sewing - things like fancy dress, school concert stuff, party dresses (especially when I found out a little bridesmaid dress was going to cost over £100). But no it doesn't work out cheaper, unless you get bargains ( I did get some Laura Ashley print for £1 a metre). But the kids love it - choosing the pattern and then the material.

jac34 · 31/01/2003 17:11

When my DS twins went from cots to beds, I tried to keep the cost down by making my own duvet covers. I bought plain fitted sheet and pillow case sets quite cheaply. Then bought cotton, at about £1.00 to £1.50 a metre.
They worked out alot cheaper( as I needed a good few sets), and I found some great designs, the best is a bright yellow with space ships, stars and silvery moons on.

GillW · 31/01/2003 18:31

I do fancy dress (or adaptations of ordinary things for fancy dress) that's all. I'm not good enough at it to do it quickly, so it usually involves a lot of broken needles and swearing at the sewing machine.

SueW · 31/01/2003 21:19

Frieda, I think Debbie Bliss and co have brought a different meaning to 'hand-knitted garments from grandma'!

bettys · 31/01/2003 22:20

I knit, and have made loads of Debbie Bliss jumpers for ds. I find it very relaxing and the designs are really simple. The cost works out at about £15 per jumper, which isn't bad, but I have to start knitting them a size bigger as sometimes I don't have much time and he grows so quickly. It's very satisfying and people are so amazed that you can knit. Apparently Gwyneth P and Madge are into knitting.
I sew things with straight lines like curtains and duvet covers and the odd bit of fancy dress as I won't pay the prices in the Disney shop.

pipsqueak · 31/01/2003 23:14

I fancy having a go at some knitting as I'm giving up smoking and work on the basis that I'm not clever eonough to knit and smoke at the same time! I had a look at the Debbie Bliss website and there are so many books. I wondered which ones you would recommend for kids. I like gap/next/ mini boden/ jojo maman bebe type styles. Any the suggestions much appreciated.

SueW · 31/01/2003 23:54

I should see my mum over the weekend so I'll ask for her recommendation. I can't see the one I think was the last she bought called 'Style your own kids' knits'. It has the basic instructions for sweaters of various styles (necklines, sleeve and body shapes etc) then in the back has knitting instructions for pictures you can insert e.g simple animals, vehicles, stars, hearts etc. I think

bettys · 01/02/2003 12:19

Pipsqueak, I've got 5 Debbie Bliss books, but the best are Nautical Knits For Kids, Quick Baby Knits, and How To Knit. I f you can do basic knit & purl any of these are fine, and all the styles are great, especially for boys, very Gap/Boden. I've just bought the Step-By-Step Knitting Workbook which has basic instructions but covers a the whole range of knitting for adults & children. The first 2 books I listed have loads of designs for all children's ages, so these might be your best bet. Don't substitute cheaper wools for those specified tho', as they won't knit up the same, and always do a test tension square, boring as it is, as how you knit affects the size. I've ended up with jumpers that are too long in the arm and short in the body through not doing a tension swatch. Ds still looks cute in them tho!

ANGELMOTHER · 01/02/2003 12:42

Knitting Debbie Bliss has helped incredibly since quitting the dreaded Fags and as I'm undergoing a surge of friends and new babies, believe I am saving a fortune in presents... I must have knitted those bootees 5 times by now

ANGELMOTHER · 01/02/2003 12:48

Pipsqueak just noticed your post ( really should try reading entire thread before blah ing)
Smoking v Knitting is a great idea as it's those hours in the evening where you need something to do with your hands where knitting helps. I've knitted from the Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino which is the softest most adorable collection I've seen by far but Rowan yarns and Jaeger do other good ones. The Big wool from Rowan can make for a fun knit for yourself too which goes up quickly enough........Good luck

Tinker · 01/02/2003 13:52

Oh this has inspired me to start knitting again. But does anyone know wher you can get good patterns for adults. Just simple but fashionable. I see loads of things in the shops that I know I could knit if had the pattern but just never see nice patterns for women. Ta

pipsqueak · 01/02/2003 20:41

Thanks for the tips. I'll definitely try and get one of the books.The pictures on the website look fab.........probably no chance that mine will turn out like that though! I'll let you now how I get on.
Cheers

RosieT · 01/02/2003 20:55

Could anybody direct me to the Debbie Bliss website, please?

ANGELMOTHER · 01/02/2003 21:24

Sorry can't do the link thing but www.sunflowerfabrics.com does debbie bliss wool by mail and I think Books too. Also try englishyarns.co.uk

I usually try to get to a John Lewis when getting started ......Good luck girls but one word of warning as soon as you start knitting the little things you get very broody...believe me now pg as I had to have a reason to knit more of those bootees

SueW · 01/02/2003 21:52

Debbie Bliss website

SueW · 01/02/2003 21:57

I saw Mum today. The Style Your Own Kids' Knits book I mentioned is by Kate Buller.

There's a review here

and you can order it from amazon.co.uk for 11.99 insteado fo 14.99.

RosieT · 01/02/2003 22:20

Hey, thanks everyone ? they do look gorgeous
. I'll have to hunt for my knitting needles now.

GRMUM · 02/02/2003 10:28

I did a lot of knitting for my 3 each time I was pregnant and still do for any friends who are expecting.I also used to make dresses for my daughter but shes now 12 and wouldn't be seen dead in anything I made!
A year ago I took up smocking and love making smocked dresses for my god-daughter who is nearly 2.They are time consuming though and not as cheap as many things you can buy.They are unique though..

bettys · 02/02/2003 10:32

Tinker, Debbie Bliss also does adult styles. I'm dying to start her funnel-neck jumper from the Step-By Step Workbook but have promised to do jumper for dp next, which will take me ages. Rowan also do some nice stuff but a bit more fussy.

pipsqueak · 02/02/2003 14:31

Thanks sue W for the info on the books you use. I've just checked my local library on line catalogue and they appear to have most of the Debbie Bliss books so I might have a look before I decide which to get.

Marina · 02/02/2003 18:52

I love Debbie Bliss too - and I'm a self-taught and not very confident left-handed knitter. Ds now has a nubbly but beautiful Guernsey and I am just finishing a slipover for my godson.
Pipsqueak, I just had to say that as well as DB, Rowan Yarns publish books on children's knits and a recent title was "Pipsqueaks". Nice patterns too...

Swipe left for the next trending thread