dressmaking for kids??

[sprout]

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?

I've bought a Rowan pattern book today but Rowan wool is soooooo expensive. Does anyone know if it can be substituted successfully for other makes? This is Big Wool and Biggy Print (I know...) Thanks

You don't need to use Rowan wool, the best thing to do is to try and find a proper knitting shop, we have a great little old fashioned place hiding at the bottom of our high street (when I'm in the Uk) and in there they will tell you which wools you can substitute for others. I have a Debbie Bliss pattern book my mum sent me, and of course I can't get Rowan out here, so I bought wool in the bazaar and knitted a tension square (as per the instructions in the book) and then switched to bigger or smaller needles (as it tells you) I love knitting things for my ds, only problem is he grows out of them so fast. One warning about Debbie Bliss, I made something of hers that said 3 months, and when I got it out I realised it was 0-3 months, and not 3-6 months, so it was already a bit small, so now I always double check the finished sizes against other patterns in the book that say 3-6 or 6-9 instead of just 6\months.

Hello Tinker, I think that although it's possible to use alternatives for most Rowan wools, I'm not aware of any that would knit up anything like Big Wool. They had to bring out special needles for it (which feel like knitting with broom handles). There are various Rowan sales on at the moment, this site has some discounted, though it's still pretty expensive, I agree! You could also try your local John Lewis, maybe?

Thanks steppemum and tamum. Have asked at both Rowan shop (yes, went all the way to Holmfirth) and John Lewis and both said you need to use the real thing. Was just hoping someone knew a cheat's way. Looks like I'll have to buy a ball of wool a week. But it is gorgeous stuff

Just looked at that link properly tamum - it is a bit cheaper. Hmm, tempted now.

Go on, you know you want to

I could talk about knitting all day, I'm afraid. I noticed some Big Wool on eBay today, but it's no cheaper than the link I gave you, I think. Incidentally, I noticed further down the thread that you were asking about patterns. I've heard (alright, I admit it, on the Rowan knitting board website) that there's going to be a new magazine starting in September and coming out every two months with patterns by people like Brandon Mabley, Debbie Bliss. More money down the knitting drain....

Erm, I was checking ebay last night for Rowan wool!!!

(Why did I put an apostrope in 'cheats'

Because you meant "way of the cheat" ie it's possessive.

Tinker, my mum was at Homfirth this weekend getting another Rowan fix. She loves her weekends away.

Tamum, you probably know my mum who is a regular contributor to the Rowan website boards.

Ooo, SueW, I'll have to try and work that one out. She didn't buy quite a lot (7 to be precise)of ready-made jumpers this weekend by any chance did she??? She wrote a very funny post about it if so, which is why it stayed in my mind

Small world SueW - was she at the Duck Race?

Thanks SoupDragon - have been pondering about it all evening. Well, not all evening but..

Tamum - if she did she didn't 'fess up when I spoke to her today. It's not likely though. She did buy one I think though.

Tinker - again no confessions about the Duck Race! I think she was too busy with her pins

I only came across this thread whilst searching for an ebay thread. Some names I do recognize from the current threads but others are perhaps changed.

I will answer or input on some queries.

sprout, sometimes it is cheaper, all depends what you price your labour at. I do sometimes copy a style of a garment, esp. for sizing but finish the seams where it is more hard wearing and thereby the garment would cost more than the original and sell for more because the quality is upgraded. For example a serged seam as opposed to a french seam (where no raw edges are showing).

Some garments are made more unique by hand decorated stitches and for certain I know only my child will have a garment as such since I designed it.

Something are cheaper to make such as blankets or things that require little sewing or the cost of fabric is cheaper than purchasing one already made. Example bed linens.

GRMUM ... I noticed you said that you smocked. How fast can you do it or how long would it take you to smock say for instance a child's bodice about 7 inches wide by 4 inches deep? I don't smock, have a book that illustrates it, but think it would take more time for me to do it than someone experience in it. Would you take it up like a contract work? Can we do an item to see how long it takes or shall we talk about it.

I am a stay-at home mum, prefer to work at home therefore self-employed, business up and running at a very slow speed or speed baby allows me to. All this is to change though as I am pushing to start a children's line with the bits I have done already. The goal is 1 baby's garment a week and 2 adults. I have an outlet for the babies clothes already.

Anybody willing to take up knitting cute cuddly furry type wool/yarn into collars or cuffs or the like. You won't be rushed off your feet I can assure you, but it is better to know who can do it.

I am glad I found this thread well, will be happier if I get responses tooo.

Any ideas please let me know and start a new thread if you wish.

I'd love to do a course in sewing children's clothes! Talking about just that with a friend this afternoon and though it wouldn't work out cheaper after you factor in time and materials, I like the idea of making something for her.
I make her duvet covers and bed sheets and have made her curtains (roman blinds). Have made different dress up clothes (badly!) but I really enjoy it. Am trying now to make clothes for her dollies but they are turing out very crudely....I'm not working from a pattern, Anyone have a link or name for sewing doll's clothes?

GenT - do you know how copyright works? For example, if I were to use a Debbie Bliss pattern to make a baby jumper, could I then sell the jumper? I don't know how this works....

Oakmaiden, I don't know specifics, but I have quite often used knitting patterns that specfically state that you mustn't use them commercially. Having said that it would be very easy to make enough minor alterations for it not to be noticeable, especially if you sell locally.

Hana, I have a few sewing patterns for dolls' clothes that are hanging around doing nothing because I'm in a knitting "phase". Get in touch if you'd like them, you could always let me borrow them back when you've finished if I ever get round to doing anything! Get in touch if you like, and I'll describe them a bit better. eBay is quite a good source, too.

Did I mention getting in touch?

GRMUM ... where are you?

Oakmaiden, I am not up to speed with Debbie Bliss patterns. I know of Simplicity, Vogue, Butterick, Sew Easy and then there are those knitting patterns etc.

I know that those patterns are produced for consumer use only and shouldn't be used for commercial purposes.

If Debbie bliss is one, you cannot sell the jumper. Also, if you intend to sell children's clothes, whether you get them made or make them yourself, you must get business insurance. It is bl**ming expensive I tell you too.

I should mention too, Oakmaiden, there are companies out there that hire people just to spot copyrighted work, which is a nasty business. Be careful.

For instance I know some people in the jewellery trade that incorporated the Nike logo into a design. Nike took them to court for it because they didn't have the permission to use the logo. They were a small business and these people's profits surely couldn't dampen Nike's. But it increased as this little business was making money. There are principles.

I suspected that that was the case - thanks for confirming it. I'll have to invent my own patterns then!

By the way, GenT - WHY do you have to have business insurance? Or do you mean that you have to state to your household insurer that you will be using the property for business purposes, and that increases the premium?

If you make children's clothes you have to have business insurance incase of accidents with your clothing.

I had to take out buiness insurance just for that fact. For instance, I make a garment that has buttons on the front. Although it will be securely fastened when it was made, it may come off in time or the child manages to take it off and somehow swallows it causing the child harm. That consumer can take me to court. The insurance covers that process and any expense it incurs in finding out if it was my fault. It is better to be covered than not I believe.

Hm, hadn't thought of that. Can I be nosey and ask approx how much that costs?

£400 minimum, I can't even imagine what big companies pay.

That money could buy a lot of fabric I think.

Hm, have to consider carefully then.... Thanks a lot.