Children are the best people to sew for. They do not mind a wobbly seam, they wear their favourites until they fall apart, and a dinosaur skirt or a jungle pillowcase can make their whole week.
Quilting cotton suits children's makes perfectly. It is easy to sew, survives constant washing, and the prints are far more fun than anything in the shops.
Prints children love
Dinosaurs and letters
Alphabetosaurus
KES 1,000 a half metre
A Robert Kaufman collection of dinosaurs and alphabet letters, in dinosaurs, black and two bright designs (1, 2) that all go together.
See Alphabetosaurus
Jungle animals
Rainforest Friends
KES 1,000 a half metre
Monkeys and jungle friends in a lush rainforest. Pair them with Tiger Skin and a green Kona solid.
See Rainforest FriendsAlso look at ABC Dance, a print of dancing animals, Girl Friends, and the Build Bang Boom fat quarter bundle, nine coordinated prints for little builders.
What to make
| Project | Fabric | Skill |
|---|---|---|
| Drawstring bag for PE kit, toys or library books | 0.5 m makes one bag about 35 x 40 cm | Beginner |
| Cushion cover for the bedroom | 0.5 m | Beginner |
| Bunting for the bedroom | 1 m makes about 3 m | Beginner |
| Pillowcase with a contrast band | 1 m body + 0.5 m band | Beginner |
| Gathered skirt, age 4 to 6 | 1 m | Beginner |
| Baby quilt | 7 fat quarters + 1.5 m backing | Confident beginner |
| Dresses, shorts and pyjamas | Follow your pattern | Improver |
The easiest skirt in the world
A gathered skirt is two rectangles and a piece of elastic. For an average four to six year old:
Cut two rectangles 70 cm wide and 40 cm long. Measure your child from waist to just above the knee and adjust the length, allowing 4 cm for the waist channel and 3 cm for the hem.
Sew the two 40 cm sides together to make a tube, and zigzag the seams.
Fold the top edge over 1 cm, then 3 cm, and stitch, leaving a 5 cm gap to thread the elastic.
Cut elastic 2.5 cm wide to the child's waist measurement, thread it through with a safety pin, overlap the ends and stitch them firmly, then close the gap.
Turn up a double 1.5 cm hem and stitch. Done in an evening.
The crispness of quilting cotton makes the skirt stand out in a full, twirly shape, which is exactly what most children want from a skirt. For a bigger child, make each rectangle about one and a quarter times their hip measurement.
A drawstring bag in 30 minutes
Cut two rectangles 37 x 47 cm. Sew the sides and bottom with a 1 cm seam, stopping 6 cm from the top, then fold the top over 1 cm and 3 cm on each side to make channels. Thread a cord through both channels from opposite sides and knot the ends. Write the child's name on a strip of iron-on name tape and press it inside.
Safety first
Pre-wash fabric for anything a baby will touch, to remove the mill finish. Avoid small buttons, beads and loose ribbons on items for babies and toddlers, as they are a choking risk, and keep drawstrings out of clothing for young children.
Let them help
Children from about eight can sew straight seams on a machine with an adult beside them, and choosing their own fabric is half the fun. A pillowcase or a drawstring bag is the perfect first project. For hand sewing and embroidery, our children's classes are a good place to start.
Bring them fabric shopping
Let your child choose their own print at our shop at Muthaiga Mini Market, or browse the prints online together.
Shop the printsOr message us on 0798 316 860
Prices correct at the time of writing.
