Making Clothes for Your Toddler

Making toddler clothes takes time; but it can save you a lot of money in the long run. You can design shirts, pants and dresses that look very much like expensive clothes by adding frills, applique and iron-on images.

If you visit to your local craft store; you will find thousands of decorative options. These options include images of popular children's characters and cartoons; assorted colors of fabric paint; decorative fringe; sports team decals and so much more.

As a parent; making your own clothes for your children will also guarantee that your child has clothes made out of the gentlest and highest quality materials. A few yards of fabric can make quite a few clothing items for your little one.

There are two simple ways to make this kind of clothing yourself. The first way is to make your own pattern out of inexpensive clothes like undershirts, hand-me-downs and thoroughly washed thrift store clothes. The second way is to purchase patterns; and make your clothes. Do not allow your toddler to help you sew clothes. This is very dangerous. Your child can help you pick out fabrics and decorative details or tell you her favorite colors and designs.

You will need the following:

-a basic sewing machine
-sew on or iron-on Velcro
-at least three yards of fabric
-scissors sharp enough to cut fabric
-thread matching the fabric
-your chosen sewing pattern or old clothes in your child's size from thrift stores or hand-me-downs
-straight pins to attach the pattern to the fabric
-fabric chalk
-applique and fun stuff to decorate the clothing (optional)

Design Your Clothes

1. Cut your pattern pieces out: If you're using a standard pattern; cut the pieces along the lines indicated in the instructions. If you're using old clothes as your pattern; then cut the clothing carefully along the seams.

If you have a poor memory; mark with your fabric chalk where the fabric was sewn together to make the clothing item. On a T-shirt for example, you could indicate with a dotted line the seam above the shoulders and the seam under the arm and down the sides. On a pair of overalls, you could mark where the straps attach to the bib of the jumper.

2. Attach the fabric to the pattern using straight pins

3. Cut the fabric around the pattern: If you're using a store bought pattern, there will be a seam allowance pre-designed into the pattern.

4. Sew the garment with your machine: Thread the machine and bobbin using the instructions that come with the machine; and sew the garment together wrong side out.

If you're using a standard store bought pattern, attach the fabric pieces according to the directions and marks indicated by your pattern instructions.

If you're using old clothes as a pattern, sew the fabric pieces together from memory; or as indicated by the marks you've made yourself. Remember to allow for the 1/4 inch seam allowance between all of the seams you have sewn, and the cut edge of the fabric pieces. Attach straps and sashes to the garment the way they were attached to the original garment you used as a pattern.

5. Turn the clothing right side out and put it on your toddler.

Keep in mind, when using old clothes as your patterns it's easier to create clothes. It's also easier to remember how to attach the clothes together again. When you are just starting out using patterns; they can be a bit harder to follow. They often have excess markings and directions that can be very confusing.

If you're a beginner; it's best to purchase a simple sewing machine. They usually cost about $100 - $140; and can be purchased from most major discount, and department store chains. Simple machines have only one or two stitches that you can use for sewing. They are also easier to learn how to thread and use. More complex machines have a lot of unnecessary stitches and functions that are not needed for the construction of most clothes, (especially toddler clothes that your little one will grow out of in a year or two).

Create clothing that only requires iron on or sew-on Velcro attachments, as opposed to buttons and zippers. This is easy for you to attach when you're creating the garment; and it's easy for you and your child to manipulate when he's getting dressed and undressed.

For toddler clothing, wash and wear fabric is a good purchase. Cotton and cotton blends-with some stretch-are also good for making these types of garments.