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The Sew What’s New Archive

This archived content is from Mary Wilkins’ sewing and quilting message board “Sew What’s New,” which was retired in August 2007. It is being provided by “Sew What’s Up,” which serves as the new home for many members of “Sew What’s New.”
From: MissKittyDillon
Date: 09-30-2005, 08:16 AM (1 of 19)
I am new to this sight and have learned some really neat new things, thanks, by the way. But as I have been reading I have noticed one thing nobody talks about sewing for boys. So that got me to thinking. Does anyone else out there have boys to sew for? I have 2, ages almost 3 and 6 1/2, and they love it when Mommy sews for them. Now a real sewing question: My 3 yo wants to be a "fire fire man" for halloween. I don't want to make his costume out of vinyl, like most firefighter costumes are (too hard to sew on). Besides I want it to look "authentc", any ideas on what type of material to use? I have found Butterick pattern 3244 to use. Thanks!! :smile: :dave: :nc:
Marci
User: MissKittyDillon
Member since: 09-28-2005
Total posts: 33
From: MaryW
Date: 09-30-2005, 09:18 AM (2 of 19)
Hi and welcome to Sew Whats New. I used to love sewing for my son. I now have 5 grandsons and none of them are the least bit interested in my sewing for them.

How about yellow pants or coveralls with rubber boots and a barn type jacket with wide black tape for stripes. Then the fireman's hat to top it off.
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005
Total posts: 2542
From: toadusew
Date: 09-30-2005, 09:38 AM (3 of 19)
I sew for my grandson, who is almost 21 months old. I've made him quite a few matching shirts and shorts sets. I just finished a cute camp shirt and a do-rag for him. Until my daughter had a boy, I had always sewn for girls so sewing for little boys is new to me. I still prefer to sew for girls, but as I made more shirts, that started to be quite a bit of fun, too. :smile:
User: toadusew
Member since: 01-08-2005
Total posts: 369
From: paroper
Date: 09-30-2005, 10:20 AM (4 of 19)
My twins are girl/boy. When they were younger I often made him suits to match her dresses. He was always very vain about my sewing for him though so as he got older, that was out. He still likes it when I make vests and ties to match his girl friend's prom dresses and he likes it when I embroider his initials on things.
pam

Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch)
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004
Total posts: 3775
From: Jayde877
Date: 09-30-2005, 11:11 AM (5 of 19)
I have a boy, he's 8 (9 in November) I don't sew much for him, partly because I can't sew button holes very well. I wouldn't mind getting a button-up shirt pattern for him. I just recently got a new sewing machine and it has an actual button hole stitch so I may give it a try. Then I can sew up some nice shirts for him. I don't make him any pants either because an elastic waist pant on him makes him look younger than he is and I don't like it. I haven't tried any jeans or dressy type pants because I'm not sure I could do a fitted waistband. I am not exactly new to sewing, but my expierience is limited. If you want a set of scrubs, I can whip those up no problem, but the more detailed things I haven't tried, or had a chance to try yet.

Charity
User: Jayde877
Member since: 07-27-2005
Total posts: 106
From: Pudge99
Date: 09-30-2005, 12:17 PM (6 of 19)
I sew for my boys ages 7 and almost 3. They really like neckties and elastic waist corduroy pants and flannel sleep pants. My seven year old has expressed an interest in regular button and fly pants but I have yet to attempt them. Maybe this year for Christmas. :nervous:
Sorry I don't have any suggestions for Holloween. I mostly sew things I know I can get a lot of use out of.
Holloween costumes are dirt cheap after the holiday and I always pick up an assortment for them to choose from for the next year.
Gina
Pictures of my successes and failures
Pfaff 2040
Janome Mylock 134D
Singer Futura CE-100 w/ Autopunch
Husqvarna Viking 3D Sketch
User: Pudge99
Member since: 10-30-2001
Total posts: 1375
From: esrun3
Date: 09-30-2005, 12:23 PM (7 of 19)
Hi MissKittyDillon! Welcome to the boards. I sew occasionally for my grandsons ages 7 & 1 1/2 but the oldest one doesn't want anything but pajamas and the little one's mother complains I don't make enough stuff for him but then she never puts him in any of it either so.........I mostly sew for my granddaugter these days altho I always sewed for my boys when they were younger. Can't help you with the halloween costume-I always bought them. Hope you stick around and enjoy your time with us!

Gina, good to see you posting-haven't seen you for awhile and was wondering about you the other day (or I just haven't looked real hard).
Lyn
User: esrun3
Member since: 12-02-2004
Total posts: 2345
From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 09-30-2005, 12:39 PM (8 of 19)
I still make my grandsons tees and boxers and pj long pants for winter, but other than that nothing else , since they are now teens.. I will have to keep the vests and ties to match prom dresses in mind for next couple of years..
I , like Gina, always buy halloween costumes after the fact for next yearsince they got older. I made them when they were pre-schoolers. Batman, Barney, Ghosts, Warlocks, etc...
Sew With Love
Libby
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002
Total posts: 2022
From: patti2
Date: 09-30-2005, 04:08 PM (9 of 19)
I have boys ages 24, 23, 21, 8 and 9 and a 6year old grandson. I make all of their shorts, flannel pj's for the younger ones and sleep pants for the older ones. I also found a great and pretty easy hawaiian shirt pattern for the younger ones and had great fun with wild fabric this summer. Ottobre designs always have unusual and very boy friendly patterns. My boys always seem to like what I make them. So much so that last year the two younger ones volunteered me to make all of the costumes for their nativity play at school!!
User: patti2
Member since: 05-28-2005
Total posts: 78
From: mommydionne
Date: 09-30-2005, 07:38 PM (10 of 19)
I have 3 boys (8,3 and 10 months) and one girl (6), here is my latest work from the fall ottobre for the three year old, their patterns are great and they have lots of neat things for boys.

http://ca.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/jeanettedionne/album?.dir=/d145
Jeanette
User: mommydionne
Member since: 01-08-2004
Total posts: 838
From: MissKittyDillon
Date: 10-01-2005, 12:31 AM (11 of 19)
Wow! Thanks for all the responses. mommydionne, that jacket is beautiful! My sewing skills are not up to that yet, I've only been sewing for about 3 years. My mother-in-law taught me how and bought me my very first sewing machine. I just bought my serger about 6 months ago. I love it! Some times I wish I had little girls to sew pretty things for, but jammies and shorts are quick and easy! I have gotten really good at the one seam-ers! :smile: Thank you all for making me feel welcome. :up:
Marci
User: MissKittyDillon
Member since: 09-28-2005
Total posts: 33
From: TupJane
Date: 10-01-2005, 09:11 AM (12 of 19)
When my oldest was born I had a ball sewing matching shorts and jacket outfits for church. PJ's too. My husband even had the boys picture taken in matching cowboy shirts that I made and embroidered.When his brother came along I didn't have time to do much sewing. I remember doing a few costumes over the years.
I did a great deal of sewing for my husband back in the years when polyster stretch slacks for men were "in." I got pretty good at making mens slacks. In fact, we lived with the Cuna Indian tribe on the San Blas Islands in Panama for a year in the early 70's and the women wanted to know how to make pants for their men and boys. I must have made or helped to make 50+ pairs of pants that year. Conclusion: mens pants with a zipper placket aren't too hard...it just takes practice.
What was really gratifying was about 5 years ago when my oldest got married. The wedding theme was Hawaiian with lots of color. I made all the groomsmen matching Hawaiian shirts and my son wore a matching vest and bow tie. Oh and my other son married a wonderful girl who sews constantly for her three children - clothes, costumes, PJ's, curtains...etc. I taught her to sew when she was expecting her first child.
You know who I don't sew for?....Myself. Just getting back to it after 35 years of marriage. Sad.
Jane
See Jane Sew
User: TupJane
Member since: 02-04-2005
Total posts: 55
From: sewingrandma
Date: 10-01-2005, 09:50 AM (13 of 19)
Kwik Sew has a cute pattern for a jean's type jacket and jeans. Instructions very simple, easy to follow. I'd never made a jacket like it before and it turned out great. Made one for each of the grandsons. The Kwik Sew book, "Sewing for Children" the basics in it for T-shirts, pants, shirts, but it also shows you how to change the basics into something different, polo shirts, hoodies, joggers, jackets. It also gives you ideas for the use of color block to make the basics look special. The book is well worth the extra money. I don't work for Kwik Sew just love their product.
Brockie
User: sewingrandma
Member since: 03-06-2003
Total posts: 432
From: KayTee
Date: 10-01-2005, 12:03 PM (14 of 19)
Hi,
My 'boy' is 25 and happily accepts boxers, flannel 'house' pants, bathrobes, and even dress shirts. I sewed a lot of things for him as he was growing up including t-shirts. And once, I sewed a bag to carry his papers/books etc. to school and he loved it. During his early teen years of course, most of the sewing efforts were only worn at home but they just go through that.
KayTee
User: KayTee
Member since: 12-06-2002
Total posts: 98
From: patti2
Date: 10-01-2005, 04:46 PM (15 of 19)
Brockie, I have the Kwik sew for babies and love it. I will have to order the one for kids. The patterns and directions are so easy to follow. I made several play and sleeps and several kimonos for my soon to be born grandson.
User: patti2
Member since: 05-28-2005
Total posts: 78
From: pucktricks
Date: 10-01-2005, 06:05 PM (16 of 19)
There's a fabric I found a couple of years ago at Hancock's that would probably have the look of vinyl, the version I bought was somewhat leathery (and I bought it during Halloween), the problem being I bought it a few years ago so I can't tell you what it was. It was wonderful to sew with. It felt like a knit in that it didn't really have a weave to it, but didn't really have a lot of stretch, maybe it was some version of ultrasuede. I don't know, but it was the most wonderful fabric and of course now I wish I had more to make a few more things with it, but oh well....
Oh, and I have two boys that are almost seven months old (on Tuesday), and I haven't really sewn for them much, mainly because they seem to outgrow it before I could actually find the time to sew anything. I'm looking forward to actually getting a chance to sew something for them.

Ticia who really wishes she had more time to come on this site, and more time to sew, heck just more time all around.
User: pucktricks
Member since: 03-31-2004
Total posts: 570
From: bridesmom
Date: 10-02-2005, 03:55 AM (17 of 19)
I have a 4 yr old grandson to sew for and a 29 yr old 6'5 son-in-law plus a 26 yr old 6'2 son that love terrycloth robes, shorts and boxers.

As far as fabric for the halloween costume, what about a nylon fabric that is used to make jackets out of (you can get different weights or thicknesses) I got some recently to make my DH a rain/wind suit for the motorbike that is brilliant yellow (he looks like bigbird on a bike!)
Laura
Tickled pink with my Innovis 4000D
User: bridesmom
Member since: 01-21-2004
Total posts: 2026
From: LadySloPokes
Date: 10-08-2005, 08:59 AM (18 of 19)
I never sewed for either of my kids while they were growing up, except to repair hems and replace lost buttons. Now that I am teaching myself how to sew all over again, my new 10 month old grandson is my immediate inspiration and motivation. I've made him a pair of sleepers, 3 blankets and have planned new sleepers and blankets for him for Christmas and birthday. I have some new flannel and fleece, I'm planning on making him a fleece throw blanket and 2 new flannel blankets for his crib. His older half-brother will be getting the same thing, except his fleece throw will be for his twin bed-wow, 2 sleepers and 4 blankets--I better get moving! :bolt:

Oh, and for the fireman costume, keep in mind that the outer coats they wear come in black with either yellow or orange striping; yellow with black striping, or tan with either either bright orange or bright yellow striping. My other half is a firefighter, and his department was black with bright orange. Good luck with the costume-hope you can post some pics of it! :wink:
Cookie
LadySlo...yes am I, but hey, I'm gettin' there! Are you sure it's supposed to look like this?! Proud owner of Singer Quantum Decor 7322 & Singer Quantum Futura CE 200.. "A balanced diet is having chocolate in both hands!"
User: LadySloPokes
Member since: 08-15-2005
Total posts: 198
From: MissKittyDillon
Date: 10-08-2005, 09:41 AM (19 of 19)
Thanks so much for all of the help with the costume, but he has since changed his mind. He wants to be a "deer hunter, like Pop". :re: Well, I guess that makes it easy for me, the only thing I have to make now is the bright orange safety vest. :nah:
Although, he may change his mind yet again when we go to the fire station tomorrow with big brother's Cub Scout Pack. :bluesmile We'll see
Marci
User: MissKittyDillon
Member since: 09-28-2005
Total posts: 33
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