Things got considerably smaller – although not necessarily easier – in the Sewing Bee this week as the remaining sewers took on Kids Week. There were tutus, cuddly creatures, superheroes and enough fiddly little seams to remind us that children's clothes being smaller does not mean they are simpler to sew.
It was a wonderfully playful episode, and one that really showed how much fun you can have when sewing for children. Bright colours, soft fabrics, practical details and a healthy amount of imagination were very much the order of the day.
So, naturally, we've been looking through the Croft Mill shelves for fabrics that would be right at home in a children's wardrobe – from net and easy cottons to jerseys, cosy brushed fabrics, towelling and double gauze.
First up: The Tutu
The Pattern Challenge brought a bit of ballet to the sewing room, with the sewers tackling children's tutus. It was a deceptively tricky start to the week, combining a close-fitting stretch bodice with layers of net and all the precision needed to make the finished garment comfortable enough for a child to actually move in.
Net is one of those fabrics that instantly adds volume without adding much weight, which is exactly why it works so well for tutus, underskirts, costumes and statement overlays. It can be gathered into layers, used over a lining or added in smaller amounts when you simply want a bit more shape.
The challenge also highlighted another important part of children's sewing: choosing fabric that moves with the wearer. Soft cotton jersey is one of our favourites for exactly that reason. Comfortable, stretchy and easy to wear, it's ideal for T-shirts, leggings, dresses, pyjamas and all those everyday clothes that need to survive running, climbing and whatever else children manage to get up to.
Fun Fabrics for Little Wardrobes
Kids Week is a good excuse to forget sensible beige for a moment. Children's sewing is one of those areas where prints, colour and slightly bonkers designs can really come into their own.
Our Qjutie & The Qjutest range is particularly good for this. The collection is designed with children's clothing in mind and includes jerseys, waffle fabrics, towelling and plenty of playful designs.
Then there are our Helter Skelter fabrics. The colourful stripes have exactly the sort of cheerful feel we love for children's summer clothes. They're soft, lightweight and full of movement, making them lovely for dresses, shorts, shirts and easy separates.
Everyday cottons
You don't always need anything complicated for children's clothes. Sometimes a good cotton print and a straightforward pattern are exactly what you want.
Printed cotton poplin works brilliantly for dresses, shirts, skirts and shorts, and it's also a friendly choice if you're relatively new to sewing. It behaves itself under the machine, presses nicely and comes in enough prints to suit everything from dinosaurs and flowers to vehicles, animals and colourful abstracts.
From Fleece to a Rather Unusual Zoo...
The Transformation Challenge was probably the one that brought out the biggest personalities of the week. Instead of making clothes, the sewers were handed fleece and asked to transform it into stuffed animals.
The results were gloriously varied and a very good reminder that fabric doesn't have to become a garment. Leftover fleece, jersey and cotton remnants can become toys, soft decorations, little accessories and all sorts of children's craft projects.
It is also a good way of using those awkward pieces left after cutting out a garment. We are firmly in favour of squeezing another project out of the leftovers rather than condemning a perfectly useful half metre to the bottom of the fabric cupboard for the next six years.
Pyjama Time
Not everything in a child's wardrobe needs to involve superhero capes or several metres of tutu net. Some of the most useful things you can sew are the ones that get worn again and again.
Brushed cotton and winceyette are perennial favourites for children's pyjamas and nightwear. They're soft, cosy and available in some lovely prints, making them ideal for traditional pyjama sets, nightshirts and relaxed lounge sets.
Towelling for Summer Adventures
Towelling is another fabric we think deserves more attention for children's sewing. It's practical, comfortable and especially useful for beach days, swimming lessons and holidays.
As well as towels and robes, softer knitted and jacquard towelling can make brilliant little shorts, tops, cover-ups and relaxed summer outfits.
Double Gauze for Little Ones
If softness is the priority, double gauze is difficult to beat. Its lightweight, slightly crinkled texture makes it particularly lovely for babies and younger children, especially when you want something breathable and gentle to wear.
Think dresses, rompers, bloomers, loose tops and simple summer outfits. It's also one of those fabrics that looks lovely without needing an overly complicated pattern – let the texture do some of the work.
And Finally... Superheroes!
The final Made-to-Measure challenge brought mini models into the sewing room as the sewers created outfits for their own superhero characters. It was exactly the sort of challenge we love on the Bee – technically demanding, but with enough freedom for everyone's personality to come through.
And really, if you're going to sew for children, you might as well have some fun with it. A homemade outfit can be a favourite dress, a pair of much-loved joggers or a superhero costume complete with powers that make absolutely no sense whatsoever. That's part of the charm.
Comfort still matters, though, particularly when clothes are going to be worn by children who aren't terribly interested in standing still. Jersey, sweatshirt fabrics and French terry are excellent choices for garments that need softness, stretch and freedom of movement.
Sewing for Children
Kids Week was a lovely reminder that sewing for children gives you permission to be a little more adventurous. Prints can be brighter, combinations can be bolder and the finished garment can be practical, ridiculous or somewhere happily in between.
It's also a brilliant place to use fabrics you might not immediately consider for your own wardrobe. Cotton poplin for a little shirt, waffle for a summer set, French terry for joggers, towelling for holiday clothes or double gauze for something cool and comfortable.
Most importantly, make something that can actually be worn, played in, washed and worn again. Beautiful sewing is all well and good, but children's clothes have a rather more demanding critic: the child wearing them.
Inspired by The Great British Sewing Bee?
Browse children's fabrics, sewing patterns and creative supplies inspired by Kids Week, or catch up on more of our Sewing Bee articles.
