or feel funny about wearing anything that you create for them - with the trends that are coming in and out of fashion - do we need to get our digitizers working on something for our kids clothes or not? You tell me what you think - OK?

Shirlene I always look at Sales Ads from Pennys, sears, wal Mart, K mart all leading brand selling stores to get ideas. Another way sit in the Mall for about 20 mins. on fri. night or Sat & just watch the kids filing by. What has happened to modesty? *

With two Gdaughters, ages 7 and 4, you would think this would be an easy question.... NOT!!! The 7yr old only wants shorts or pants, no dresses or skirts, and Tee's. Any thing on them as long as it is not Babyfied. The 4yr old is just the opposite. Dresses, Dresses and more Dresses or skirts or skorts. Dresses for school, going somewhere, in the mud, she doesn't care, just give her a dress. She's so prissy...And she likes anything on it as long as it's a dress. My Gson, who is 5, is a whole nutter world. If it's not BOXERS, he doesn't wear anything (and I think that if he could get by with out wearing clothes, he would). No shirts, will wear shorts if we make him, no shoes (heavens NO) absolutely no socks (thats a sin). He does put on clothes if we go somewhere, but as soon as he gets home, the shirt goes one way, the shorts another, and the shoes never make it out of the car. You would think this child was raised in the jungle somewhere... But if you make him a blanket, that is the happiest child in the world. He loves for you to make him pj's, but will not wear them or if he puts them on to go to bed, so help me, he will wake up in the middle of the night and take them off. The boy needs help, but he is MawMaw's boy. I once ask him why he didn't like clothes, and he said their hot and they choke me. Ok, I guess thats good reasoning. Even in the winter time, he hates to put on clothes in the house. You would think he would get cold, not him. The girls get a little angry cause they have to wear a shirt.....Ya, know you can't explain "double standards" to 7 and 4 year olds.

Report On My Boys' Clothes. By sewmom.
We live in suburbia about 30 miles east of San Francisco.
19 year old college student. Levi's or cargo shorts. Plain t-shirts, T-shirts with skateboard or firefighter logos (he is a firefighter in training). Embroidery only on the college logo shirt I was asked to make (with permission). His wardrobe hasn't changed much for several years except for size! Embroidery from me on his towel, his girlfriend's blanket present, and I will soon be doing her dorm towels.

My 21 year old college student. (I know he's not a teenager but he still dresses like one.) Khaki cargo shorts or pants. Plain or striped tees (blue or else I'm wasting my money LOL). Any t-shirt with his favorite anime characters on it or silly sayings about playing too many computer games. Embroidery from me on a gift, towels, and years ago on his Harry Potter robe costume.

The teenage boys at my girls' schools dress pretty much the same as my boys. Some go a little more extreme like goth or saggy pants (officially not allowed in school). Also some logo shirts of upper priced stores.

I used to put their names on their sweatshirts but I'm not allowed to do that for any of my kids now because it's not cool. Backpacks, I'm allowed to put first initial and last name (it's not too uncool.)

Hi grand loves anything I make especially with Dora, animals, dinos, but she is only 2 and 1/2. so easy to please. Daughters like earings necklaces fsl.

My girls are 8 and 10 and I can still pretty much count on "if it is pink and/or purple and sparkly" it's usually a winner!! I think it depends some on the area you are live, and the kids themselves - one of my 10yrs mixes things in all sorts of strange combinations that strangely work - She is an individual, she never wants to go along with 'the pack'. The other 10yr wears very simple styles, and always the same favourites.

1 comment

by sewmom 06 Aug 2009

I loved the pink and purple stage! Did you have the twirly dress stage around age 3-5?

Does anyone know what teenage boys are wearing

2 comments

by simplyrosie 06 Aug 2009

That's a good question Gayle... I'll have to keep my eyes open and take notice. I know that long hair is definitely in style, levis, tshirt and flip flops. But again, I live in a beach city where anything goes.

I'll be up in LA on Friday and at the beach this weekend... I'll take notice and report back.

by gayle950 06 Aug 2009

thanks, they can be very fussy too

I just checked in with my 13 year old and she says cute saying on tees are OK.

I let my grand daughters design their own! Then I do it. Several yrs. ago they didn't want to wear dresses to church, but skirts. So I stopped making those adorable Sun. dresses. (Mom makes them wear either dress or skirt on Sun. morning..thankfully..but lets them wear casual on night & Wed.) BUT if they chose it, then they usually wear it! different parts of the country have different trends. Are the "raggy" appliques still in? You know, where you leave a border & let it ravel!

1 comment

by shirlener88 06 Aug 2009

Kida re so funny - they go through so many different trends - I don't know if the 'raggy' look is in or not.

I don't want to rain on your parade but..... my 13 year old and my 15 year old girls stay far away from designs on jeans, especially the rhinestones. They only want the plain ones and that has been for about a year now, maybe 2. They are OK with designs on sweatshirts and some tees (movie themes).

Yes I absolutely worry about whether or not they will wear it. I don't want to wast my time. I do a lot of accessories and you may have seen the pillows. I also come in handy for them when they need a dress up costume or gifts.

I went straight to the source (my 15yr old daughter). She says tote bags with designs are good but t-shirts are mostly plain.

I wonder if the embroidery on shirts and little girls dresses is still in? I don't have little ones now so I'm out of that loop.

5 comments

by marymoore 06 Aug 2009

oh rain rain rain lol yes teenagers are picky picky picky lol oh i hope they are still in on dresses when i finish this one i am working on i will post it

by shirlener88 06 Aug 2009

my grands didn't wear it in the last couple of years - but they might this year - I think the trend changed, as Teri said.

by daisy530 06 Aug 2009

Oh those teenage girls! Got to love 'em!

by shirlener88 06 Aug 2009

Oh yes, gotta love 'em - they are a hoot.

by simplyrosie 06 Aug 2009

I think a lot depends on region too Shirlene... kids that are from the city are more inclined to lean towards loud things. You should see some of the crap these kids call "fashion". Oh my!

Bling is right! And lots of it. I too, don't want to take the seam out of pants leg, and Simplyrosie's idea sounds like a keeper.

2 comments

by marymoore 06 Aug 2009

yes it does

by shirlener88 06 Aug 2009

It sure does - wonder who has a tutorial on that?

Oh yeah, like MM said, bling is in! I live in San Diego (you know that Shirlene and so does MM, but for others, they may not) and I go to LA all the time, and what is in right now is BOLD, LOUD, and BLING, BLING, BLING. Rhinestones, nailheads and glitter is what kids like to wear. I don't know about rural areas, but I live in a hub of fashion (and money - not necessarily me though! lol), and the kids love this stuff.

Also, bold gold and silver is hip. Use those metallic threads and metallic fabrics to make applique. Kids seem to love the trendy designs you'll see Anita Goodesign put out... like Urban Boho or POSHabilities. Stay away from traditional, victorian, heirloom... kids love to be original.

At least this is my take from what I see, and the interns that work in my dept are wearing... don't have kids myself, but my step kids like this stuff too and they're in their early 20s.

5 comments

by shirlener88 06 Aug 2009

Thanks so much - this sure does help - with upcoming projects for the grands - *4U

by shirlener88 06 Aug 2009

Do you have a tutorital on that Teri, I don't remember that being in with those sets of designs on the tutorials? How do you actually do it - can you give us some pointers??? I haven't been to once of those two day events to learn.

by simplyrosie 06 Aug 2009

I'll IM you tonight and tell you how. Think I may have a tut that will help too.

by shirlener88 06 Aug 2009

great!

by colonies1 06 Aug 2009

How about letting us all know tutorial that is.thank you. We all have grandkids.

ok i have seen a comercial on tv from kmart the jeans are a lot of bling lol as simplyrosie would say embroidery up the legs swirly and bling bling bling lol

5 comments

by shirlener88 06 Aug 2009

Oh Levi's are hard to embroider up and down the leg - but you could just swirl some craft glue around - I guess - thanks! *4U

by marymoore 06 Aug 2009

oh your not kidding i am not one to go tear the legs and then embroider then stitch them back no way lol but they are cute that is why i would love to have one of them jewel things to add them to kids clothes

by simplyrosie 06 Aug 2009

Don't take the levis apart... embroider on fabric and then use fusable web or sew it on... according to Anita Goodesign, that method is VERY in. Don't embroider directly on the pant leg.

by marymoore 06 Aug 2009

well good idea lol is there a tutorial for that

by simplyrosie 06 Aug 2009

I'll IM you tonight... think I have something.