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Patterns for 11 year old beginner Teaching her to sew
DebbyS Intermediate MD USA Member since 2003 Posts: 438	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 1/21/12 11:46 AM Hi, All, I'm teaching a friend's 11 yo daughter to sew. She is very excited about it and pictures herself on Project Runway some day. I'm having a hard time finding pattern that would be suitable for her. She is in her last year of elementary school and will go to middle school in the fall. She does not dress like a Holly Hobby doll. Her measurements put her in either a girls 12 or junior 5/6. The girls patterns are for the most part too juvenile, and I can't find anything in a junior size in patterns. The misses 6 could probably work with alterations but very few patterns come in this size. I'm very frustrated since this is the age that I learned to sew (in Home Ec) but the lack of patterns is giving me a headache. Suggestions? TIA! ------ ~ Debby
jadamo00 Advanced NY Member since 2006 Posts: 450	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 1/21/12 12:18 PM Butterick 5153! Kicky shorts and floppy pants! She will have such fun choosing crazy fabric! j. -- Edited on 1/21/12 12:22 PM --
DebbyS Intermediate MD USA Member since 2003 Posts: 438	Login to reply to this post In reply to jadamo00 Like this post Date: 1/21/12 12:21 PM Well, yes, I have a few pajama type patterns I bought for her, but I'm looking ahead to when she can sew real clothes. ------ ~ Debby
jadamo00 Advanced NY Member since 2006 Posts: 450	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 1/21/12 12:26 PM Butterick 4722! j.
Clareew   Intermediate UNITED KINGDOM Member since 2006 Posts: 713	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 1/21/12 12:27 PM I started my daughter on simple bags, she decorated fabric and did straight seams, I sewed the tricky bits. This meant she got quick gratification. The first garment she made for herself was pyjama pants. She chose the fabric to match a t-shirt (an old fave which was too worn to wear out for best). We used pattern Kwiksew 3589. My daughter is now nearly 14, I have a few patterns which you may be interested in. Pm me if you are. I also had a great book Sewing Machine fun for Kids. There is also a book about modifying t-shirts Generation T which may satisfy the project runway desires. Last summer we entered the alternative materials competition, it was a great summer doing this, even is Beth didn't sew the actual garment. Popcorn Dress ------ Clare Machines: Juki F600, Juki 654 serger, Bernina 550 for art work, Janome Coverpro 1000cp barely used
jadamo00 Advanced NY Member since 2006 Posts: 450	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 1/21/12 12:28 PM McCalls kids has some cute stuff, too.
minggiddylooloo   Intermediate VA USA Member since 2005 Posts: 1512	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 1/21/12 12:40 PM I have been posting so many links to Silhouette Patterns lately on PR, I'm not affiliated at all, I just have been finding Peggy Sagers to be so helpful with all of her advice, free webcasts, and also her line of sewing patterns geared towards teaching younger sewers! She is having a current promo deal for patterns geared towards the younger generation. I think it's great! Edited to mention that the patterns on sale are specifically geared towards teaching kids how to sew their own pattern. -- Edited on 1/21/12 12:47 PM -- ------ I'm finally a blogger! sewming.blogspot.com
marjoriekh   Intermediate VA USA Member since 2010 Posts: 480	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 1/21/12 12:43 PM I have a 9-year-old I am teaching to sew. We check etsy for OP girls' patterns, which didn't used to be so uncommon in the 7-14 sizes. Recently we bought McCalls 9369 to make some shorts and tops for the coming summer, inspired by this review. (We bought size 7-8-10, but the link is to size 10-12-14, and a search will bring up multiples of this pattern. If you find a pattern you like, be sure to run another search for the pattern number. There are often multiples, and you may find a better price or one in better condition.) A search for 'girls pattern 12' on etsy gets 2,150 hits. I'm sure you can find something there that will be suitable for a beginner, and that your daughter will like. Aren't the 70s back in?? Hip-huggers and midriff top size 12 (Not an endorsement of the above pattern ) ETA: I forgot to mention that you can further refine your search by tacking the word 'skirt,' 'shirt,' 'dress' or whatever to the search terms 'girls pattern 12' at the top. These patterns go back to the 30's and 40's, so there will be a lot that seem too young for a size 12 now, but there are plenty of 1970 - present patterns in there too. -- Edited on 1/21/12 12:50 PM -- ------ marjoriekh
sewinggeek   Intermediate UT USA Member since 2006 Posts: 490	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 1/21/12 12:44 PM I would check out New Look skirt Another new look skirt These two skirts start at a size 4. I also saw a few other patterns that start at size 4. I would also check out Jalie. They sell patterns here on Patternreview. They come in a broad range of sizes. ------ Patti in SLC Brother 4000D, Brother 1034D, Kenmore 117-841, Franklin, Singers: 401A, 500A, 15-91, 66, 221
marjoriekh   Intermediate VA USA Member since 2010 Posts: 480	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 1/21/12 12:53 PM Oh, how did I forget Jalie! The Jalie patterns are mostly for knits, though. If you're comfortable starting her out on knits, a simple Jalie T-shirt would be a great no-fail choice, as long as you stick to the recommended fabric stretch. I'm going to wait awhile and work on simple cottons and other easy wovens with my daughter before graduating to knits. ------ marjoriekh

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