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I completely forgot about the choking hazard! There are strict rules about what you can put on children's clothes. Small things that can come off are a choking hazard and you can't use drawstrings anymore either. You might want to stick with the closed casing for the kids.
1 comment
by boo305
23 Jan 2010
yeah i work at target actually and we had to remove all the little buttons that were on catriona rowntree's designer clothing as the buttons on them would be a choking hazard.. i think i perfected the elastic this morning.. however i will see if someone fits it .. thanks very much for your kind help :-)
463417I like using buttonhole elastic too but one way to get an average is to look up the size charts for sewing patterns.
1.McCall's is updating it's site at the moment but here is a link to someone that has their size chart.
2.Simplicity on the 2nd link.
www.nerybethcrafts.co.uk[2] http://sewingpatterns.com/simplicity-charts2.html
sewingpatterns.com
2 comments
by boo305
23 Jan 2010
thanks.. thats a good idea.. didnt think of that. only because the pattern i have just says to measure the childs waist.. :-|
by sewmom
23 Jan 2010
Measuring is the best way. I did skirts for several girls and they were all so different yet they were the same age. Slim fit, heavy girls, average. Same problem for the length.
463417I use buttonhole elastic - most fabric stores have this. This way if the child grows, the waist can be adjusted very easily. I start at 22 inches for a four year old - 24 inches for the younger children - due to diapers and baby fat.
5 comments
by boo305
23 Jan 2010
awesome. thanks heaps for your help.. how do you adjust the elastic on button hole? do you have to undo casing each time?
by sewmom
23 Jan 2010
You do not sew up the side seam on the inside of the casing. The opening would start about 1/8 inch from the top of the fabric (if you have a fold over casing) and be as long as the width of the elastic. When you sew the side seam you sew the long part and stop for the opening and then start again to the other end. I hope that makes sense. So there is a little opening inside that you can use to adjust anytime. Sew the button just inside this slit onto one end of the elastic and stitch it all the way through the fabric so it doesn't move. The other end is the the adjustable part. You can leave about 4 inches of extra elastic, be sure to fray check the end of the elastic so it doesn't ravel. If you are worried about the elastic pulling into the casing and being hard to get out you could sew through the fabric and elastic at the other side seam also. Make it so only the back of the waist is adjustable.
by sewmom
23 Jan 2010
You also want to stitch around the little opening with a zigzag or small straight stitch so it doesn't pull, stretch, or ravel. That is the part of fabric that will get rubbed by pulling the elastic in and out.
Another way to do this is like the ones I see at Target or The Gap. They only put elastic in the sides for a few inches. The button is attached to the outside of the casing. It's a little harder for me to explain.
by sewmom
23 Jan 2010
The 5 inch reduction of the waist depends on the stretchiness of the elastic. But I think you have the right idea.
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