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Tips and Tricks to Sewing Clothing for Children

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Choosing Fabric
Choosing Fabric to sew clothing for children

Choosing Fabric

Debbie Colgrove, Licensed to About.com
When you are choosing fabric to sew clothing for children you want the fabric to be washable and durable.
  • The Weave -- Take a close look at the weave of the fabric. If you can see light between the fibers the fabric is loosely woven and odds are it will not hold up to the riggers a child will put clothing through. When the fibers are tightly woven they can not shift as easily as loosely woven fibers and dirt can not work it's way in between the fibers as easily which can lead to the fibers being destroyed.

  • Wrinkles -- Consider the wrinkle factors. If you wad a handful of the fabric and squeeze it in your hand, does it create wrinkles that don't relax when you smooth out the fabric? If it keeps sharp wrinkles, it's going to stay wrinkled in the finished garment as your child wears the garment.

  • Avoid Fading -- Clothing for children is going to need to be laundered and after many washings you don't want all of the color in the fabric to be washed out. Look at the print on the fabric, does the dye go through the fibers or is it rolled on and barely saturating the fibers. If the dye is not embedded in the fabric it will probably fade out after a couple of washings.
    Choosing from the fabric shown in the photo, A and C are the best choices. Sample A is a green print on a dyed green fabric and sample b is a solid color fabric which is the same color on the front and back because the fibers are dyed. The B samples are prints on a white base fabric. The print is rolled on to a plain white muslin so the dye is not totally embedded in the fibers and is more apt to fade after repeated washings.

  • Combining Fabrics -- To add details to children's clothing, it is common to combine two or more fabrics within the same garment. Be sure that the fabrics are colorfast before combining them. Colorfast information should be on the end of the fabric bolt but if it is not, you can test it by placing a small scrap of the fabric in a dish of water... preferably in a white bowl so you can really see if any of the color leeches into the water. Always preshrink fabric before sewing a garment. (More information on How to Preshrink Fabric)

  • Comfort -- Canvas is a very durable fabric but is sure wouldn't be comfortable. Choose fabrics which will move as the person wearing the garment moves. Choose fabric that is not rough or irritating on the skin. This can easily be tested by rubbing the fabric on the inside of your wrist.

  • Grow Ability -- In most cases children out grow their clothing before the clothing wears out. If you want clothes that offer a bit more time in a child's wardrobe, remember knits and elastic. The less "fitted" a garment is, the longer it is apt to fit and be worn.

  • Children's Sleepwear -- Sleepwear for children must Children's Sleepwear Regulations. The end of a fabric bolt will state "NOT INTENDED FOR SLEEPWEAR IN THE USA" if the sleepwear fabric does not meet these guidelines.

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