At Fabrics Galore, we love making clothes for children and especially in the Autumn and Winter when we can sew with cosy fabrics to keep the kids snuggly all season.
Sewing for children is so rewarding as you can make unique garments which you know will fit them for the coming season; it is also more cost effective than buying new clothes, especially when they tend to grow out of them so quickly.
Once kids have grown out of the clothes you have made, you can always extend their life by letting down a hem, passing them onto siblings or friends with younger children or even take them apart and use them as fabric scraps for future projects. (One idea we love is to take little ones’ favourite pyjama tops or T-shirts and make them into a teddy bear or patchwork blanket keepsake which they can treasure for years)
With so many children’s patterns available, we thought we really need some expert recommendations. Luckily, Marcela from Team FG is an old hand at children’s dressmaking and has gone through her pattern library to tell us her tried and tested, best children’s sewing patterns for a cosy and stylish winter wardrobe.
Warm and Snug Outerwear Patterns
Outerwear such as coats, jackets and fleeces are a key component of any child’s winter wardrobe and it’s important that you choose warm and weather resistant fabrics with snuggly linings. You also want the pattern to be functional, stylish and in a size range suitable for different age groups.
We love this unisex child/teen jacket from Fibre Mood, as you can make it as a coat or jacket, with or without a hood. They recommend a padded or quilted fabric for extra warmth or even a faux fur, wool or bouclé.
Fibre Mood Child Teen Bobby Jacket and Ready- Quilted Coat fabrics
Comfortable Layering Patterns
Layers are really important for children as they tend to get hot when they’re running around with their friends then cool down quickly afterwards. Hoodies, sweatshirts and fleeces are perfect for children in winter, especially if made in a lightweight warm knit fabric which is easy to pull on and off. These are Marcela’s favourite patterns for cosy and versatile layers which offer ease of movement, adjustable sizing and simple sewing for beginners.
This Raglan Hoodie pattern is a super free pattern for a double hood raglan hoodie for bigger kids and recommends a medium weight jersey or stretch jersey with a lightweight jersey for the lining of the hood and pocket. You can be as creative as your kids will allow with the lining – how about one of our fun novelty prints?
Brindille & Twig Raglan Hoodie and Candy Striped Jersey
Marcela also recommends Lowland Kids for children’s patterns and this Urban Jacket with hood and popper buttons for easy dressing and freedom of movement is another favourite.
Marcela finds that leggings are comfier than jeans in the winter months and provide both ease of movement for all that tearing around as well as washability and cosiness. Lowland Kids has an excellent free ribbed leggings pattern which has three length options as shorts, full length hemmed or full length cuffed from new-born size to Age 9/10.
Lowland Kids Free Leggings Pattern
Hardwearing Top Layers
There’s no doubt that children’s clothes must work hard and be resilient to the endless pulling on and off, messy play and let’s face it, frequent trampling on their bedroom floors! These next two patterns are super for both young kids and teens, hardwearing enough to earn their place in your child’s winter wardrobe but cool enough to keep teens happy too.
Firstly, the Pauline Smock from Ready to Sew which is a classic sailor’s smock pattern with a split collar and two patch pockets for treasure and warm hands. This pattern calls for a light to heavyweight denim or cotton canvas fabric.
Paulin Kids and Teens Smock Pattern and Denim Fabric
Secondly, if you love the idea of matching children’s and Mum’s dungarees, the Waves & Wild Heyday Dungarees for children aged 0-12 and ladies’ version is the perfect pattern designed for medium weight, soft, woven fabrics such as corduroy, denim, linen and twill.
Waves & Wild Heyday Child and Mum's dungaree pattern
Essential Children’s Winter Accessories Patterns
Every child needs to keep the extremities warm, and hats, scarves and mittens are all essential winter accessories – let’s be honest, you need multiples of all these as they are so easily lost or left behind at the park when they get too hot. The good news is that hats, scarves and mittens are easy makes, suitable for beginner sewers and we have found some great patterns which offer warmth, functionality and style.
The Pilot hat from Brindille & Twig is a perfect unisex hat and any knit fabric will work well. Add a fleece lining for maximum cosiness.
Brindille & Twig Unisex Child's Pilot Hat Pattern and Cosy Fleece
We love this combined child/teen poncho, hat and scarf pattern too which is perfect for a beginner dressmaker. Suggested fabrics include medium-weight moderate stretch knits such as fleece or sweatshirt fabrics.
McCalls Poncho, Beanie and Scarf pattern
For little people up to age 4 we don’t think there is anything cuter than the Baby/Child Bidibou hat and mittens sewing pattern from Petits D’om.
Petits Dom Baby Hat & Mittens pattern and Bouclé fabrics
Festive Children’s Patterns
As we head into Autumn and Winter, there are so many events to celebrate such as Halloween, Bonfire Night and perhaps the most exciting of all for children, Christmas. Halloween always requires a costume and you can find fantastic fancy dress ideas and patterns on our bog . The festive season usually involves a party or two and party dresses and outfits might be the order of the day. Marcela recommends Violette Field Threads for the best party dress patterns and in particular this free girls’ dress pattern for 2-10 year olds.
Violette Field Threads Free London Dress Pattern and Serendipity Christmas Cotton
We also love this combined children’s dress and shirt pattern
Simplicity Children's Dress and Shirt Pattern
In terms of fabric choices, cosy cotton jerseys and corduroys are perfect for children’s party dresses while a brushed cotton tartan would make a classic Christmas shirt and can be worn throughout the winter.
Christmas Cotton Jersey Teddies
Eco-Friendly and Sustainable Patterns
We would love to draw your attention to the fabulous range of Zero Waste patterns for children at the Thread Faction Studio which has great patterns for a pinafore dress, sweater dress, utility jumpsuit and joggers. You can really get the most out of your fabric by using a ZW pattern but another great way of using up fabric scraps is to make children’s underwear and this scrap busting free vest and pants pattern for children age 6m – 12 years will use up any stretch jersey fabric leftovers.
Waves & Wild Children's Underwear Pattern and Jersey Fabrics
Another way of contributing to sustainability in your dressmaking is by choosing fabrics which meet OEKO-TEX 100, which means that no harmful substances have been used in their manufacture. This means your fabric is not only better for the environment but completely safe against your children’s skin. At Fabrics Galore we have a huge collection of children’s fabrics which meet OEKO-TEX 100.
Organic cotton, bamboo and linen are all good fabric choices for the environment.
Shop for Children’s Fabrics Online
We hope you liked Marcela’s selection of her best children’s sewing patterns Once you have decided which children’s patterns are suitable, the best bit will be choosing the fabrics and by browsing children’s fabrics online you can involve your child in the selections so you know you are making a garment they will love and want to wear on repeat.
Please share your favourite children’s patterns and makes with us @fabricsgalorelondon or call us on 020 7738 9589 for fabric recommendations.
