Nathan has been going to sleep early most nights lately, and even though Toby doesn’t let me have much time to myself at night I have still managed to do quite a bit of sewing. I feel like my sewing is done in rushed, stolen, moments. I guess that could explain the enormous amount of unpicking I have to do at times, though it gets less the more practice I have.
I started a few months ago by making a mei tai to carry Toby in. I totally love this carrier and have plans to make myself more. It has become my most valued carrying and sleep tool so I take it with me everywhere I go. When I finished making it, a friend (who was a pregnant at the time) really liked it so I decided to make one for her. That’s when I discovered how hard it is to choose fabric for something you make for someone else. Eh, it’s often hard enough for me to choose what I want without worrying about whether someone else will like my choice. Thankfully my friend loves her carrier and says her new baby sleeps well in it. I also whipped up a little mei-tai-like carrier for Nathan’s teddy bear, since Nathan had been trying to use my carriers for Arthur.
After about a year of wondering what the Ottobre patterns were like and how easy they were to sew, I finally got a magazine to test drive. Nathan decided he wanted me to make him overalls, and he got very excited when we went fabric shopping and he got to choose the material for the lining. The overalls turned out quite well (even though I made some mistakes), so I decided to take the plunge and get a subscription.
Committing so a subscription really cemented my desire to make the kids some clothing. I really can’t work out what the attraction of sewing their clothes is. Well, I hate shopping, so maybe that’s a part but there are so many cute kids clothes around that shopping for them has never been too stressful. There are, however, lots of clothing that have characters from TV and/or movies plastered all over them and that is not the sort of clothing We want for our kids. I’ve found that making some of Nathan’s clothes allows me to use fabrics that have designs that interest him without pushing some branded garment. I also find it a challenge to make each item of clothing well, but when something I make looks great then I feel very pleased with myself.
After the overalls I made some black jeans that are no longer black…they look more blue than anything else, due to the colour running or wearing off….and a t-shirt. Next on the list were some pajamas for Nathan. I made another pair of overalls for the birthday of a friend’s son, then some brown cords and another two t-shirts for Nathan.
So I’ve now made Nathan the majority of his current wardrobe, though he has pretty much grown out of the jeans already. There is something satisfying seeing your child dressed in home made clothing that looks pretty much like it came from a shop (particularly if you don’t look toooooooo closely). Now I just need to get onto some new bibs for Toby, some training pants for him, my second mei tai, some more things for the kids to play with (I’ve been making some felt food and have other projects planned) and, of course, more clothes.
oh your sewing is awesome!!!
Our overalls have washed and worn really well and everyone comments on how beautiful they are!
So much better to be able to sew kids clothes – especially boys clothes cause the stuff in the shop is all so bland and boring for boys… or, like you said, covered in characters or inappropriate slogans.
I must find time to get out the sewing machine again… oh and did you have a pattern for the mei tei or did you just wing it?
Chris, this sewing is awesome! Everything looks so good. You could do this for a business (although it might take away the enjoyment!)… there are so many people selling and made clothes online and none look as nice as yours!
Well done!