pattern size

Charlotte Henson scrawled in bright red lipstick:

nope... kids pattern sizing is hideous IIRC... plus there is no such thing as an average kid. If you can't measure him, snag some of his clothes and measure them. Be sure to allow lots of grow room ( elastic at waist, big hems) if these have a chance of becoming favorites.

Penny S

Hey Penny, You wanna run down and measure him? :) He and his clothes are in Oregon.

Sigh.

Can do on the big hems, already planning the elastic waist, the two pieces include a tunic with slits at the side.

Maybe his Grandma has a better idea what size he is and won't rat me out if I don't get it done...

Thanks!

-Charlotte

ask gabrielle. ;-)

When I sew for my nephews I just ask my SIL what size ready to wear they are wearing now (i.e. little boy size 4). I compare the measurements in the JC Penny catalog for that size to the pattern measurements on the envelope and choose what size pattern to make from that. I usually use a Stretch and Sew or Kwik Sew pattern to sew for my nephews and this works pretty well. Pajamas are pretty forgiving - I'd say go for it - I'm sure he would love them.

Nancy

Never, except *possibly* for a newborn, but maybe not even then.

Every single one of my children went into a size 2 at 4-5 months of age.

If you can get the child's height and weight, you might be able to better guess at their size if they still have height-and-weight charts to go by.

Oh and thank you so much for making the Bob the Builder song get stuck in my head.... LOL Now I will have to exorcise that with something as far removed as possible....perhaps an hour of The Clash will do. heh heh

Ok. Here's whacha do... Discreetly, ask what his height and weight were at his last Dr. appointment. If you can get that far, you will have something to work with. Also, I agree with others that you need to ask what size RTW he's in. My kids were in 5T's when they were 3. And they were pretty much in line with all the other children around here. (we grow 'em big in Indiana. Hence the term "Southern Indiana Cornfed child." lol) If you can find out what size he is in RTW clothes, it would be really easy to go to the store and measure a pair of pants and a shirt. Then all you have to do is compare that to the "finished garment measurements" on the pattern and/or pattern envelope.

IME, the children sized patterns tend to run big. Although I mainly have used Butterick and New Look for my kids. Too big is always a good thing in children's clothing though. That means it can be worn longer. :) So if he's in a 3T, and you make a pattern size 3, it may be too big.

There's no rule of thumb when it comes to kids' patterns I'm afraid.

Sharon

Uh oh. 3T is smaller than 3? It's true, there is no rhyme or reason!

I'm thinking the best thing will be to get a general idea from Grandma and then make PJs too big. I'll make them with big facings so he can cuff them, and it will be close enough.

I know nothing about Bob the Builder but happened to get two coordinating fabrics, one in blue with larger Bob/girl/construction equipment on it, and one in orange checks with smaller Bob-related images on it.

I realized after I got home that Bob wears blue overalls with an orange checked shirt and a yellow tool belt. So now I'm planning to make the PJ pants in blue and the body part of the top in blue, with orange sleeves and an orange collar. If I can find yellow elastic he'll get a yellow belt (which will help if they're too big) and he can *BE* Bob, not just be near him!

This is fun!

-Charlotte

Actually, Charlotte, there is a "rhyme and reason" to it. The "T" stands for Toddler. Toddler sizes are usually bigger through the hip and rear end to accommodate a diaper. The regular sizes (like just a plain 3) are designed for a child who is generally the same size as a

3T, (or maybe taller; I haven't compared lately) but does not need a diaper, and so does not need the extra room in that area. Otherwise, you're right, sizes often make little sense.

Donna G. Michigan's Upper Peninsula

Re: pattern size snipped-for-privacy@cetinvalid.com (Penny=A0S)

Not the big pattern companies, but the Kwiksew ones are closer.

Get Kwiksew's Sewing for Toddlers or Sewing for Children books. You won't be sorry.

Ack! I won't be sewing for him much at all, and don't have any plans for children while still living in my tiny tiny one bedroom apartment smaller than my mother's foyer... Did I mention it's tiny? Can't keep even excellent sewing for children books around, not now. I'll save this message though, and track one down when I have a toddler or child to sew for more regularly.

This is how people get into quilting. So much simpler if you don't have to worry about fit!!!!

Sigh, Charlotte

Ask his parents what size he takes in RTW and look them up in a catalog fitting chart- like Penney's, Sears et. al. You can compare those measurements to the pattern envelope. Michelle

sure he could sit still long enough