Project Runway?

Maybe I've been watching too much TV (again), but after getting more and more frustrated with the trouser patterns I have (too wide, too baggy, random sizing, etc) it suddenly occurred to me that I should get a little bit Project Runway and make my own patterns.  I've only ever made stuff from pre-made patterns and not ventured down this crazy route before, so it was a wee bit of a leap, but hey ho, I'm nothing if not up for a challenge.  So I designed and made a pair of jeans for my 2 year old...

Now, they were not too bad, and the back was fabulous if I say so myself, but there was something about the front that reminded one of an old man wearing a catheter and bag.  It wasn't the look I'd been aiming for.  I could imagine Tim Gunn eyeing them up, tilting his head, putting on the frown and saying "Dianne, I'm worried.  Make it work!"

So I took them off my poor wee model, unpicked my front seam, and trimmed where I thought trimming was needed, then I got Doris The Overlocker back on the job and went for take 2.  And you know what, it worked!  On the second try!  And they looked good.  No, great!  I quickly altered the pattern I'd made, and got it ready to go into proper production for MooAndFlo 

This is the wee fella in said trousers - back view because he's not even slightly co-operative when modeling my wares.  He'd not stand a chance in Top Model (yes I watch that, too)

It may not sound like much - but to see children in clothes I make is exciting enough, but to see them in trousers I have also designed is Very Exciting Indeed :)

Now I've got to do the patten in other sizes and see how I go, but you know what, I'm inspired, I'm giddy, and can't wait to give it a go!

What's in a size?

Most women will attest to the pain and frustration of clothes shopping where you go from elation thinking you've dropped a size, to total despondency at thinking you have gone up a size, then the harrumph or realising you've not changed at all it's just the clothes in the shops are seemingly sized by a random number generator.  But, as adults are such differnet shapes, heights, sizes, etc, I can sort of mayyyybe forgive the clothing manufacturers a little...

However, as younger children at any given age don't actually differ that much, you would think that kids' sewing pattern sizes would be kind of accurate.  You know, if you're making a size 2, then it will fit a two year old, that kind of thing.  Is that asking too much?  Am I just picky?  Because patterns cost an arm and at least one leg, so I thought maybe I was paying for, well, accuracy... but no.  Of the three main trouser patterns I've been using to make trousers size 9 months, 1 year and 2 years, any given age can differ up to 2cm in length and 2 cm on the waist (and that's taking into account any dodgy sewing on my part).  And they're not even totally consistent when the patterns are made by the same company!  So, I've got a new system...

I've saved good-fitting items from Moo's wardrobe for age 6 months, 9 months, 1 and 2 and - as he is of average height and weight according the the charts - I use those as my new yardstick.  Then I re-label the pattern with what I thnk the *real* sizes are.  That way at least my customers and I stand a fighting chance of getting somethig that fits.

Pattern makers, you suck!