Girl's chemise

Fabric amounts for Chemise:
Size 2-4 body (cut two) 30" by 30". Sleeve (cut two) 18" by 18"
Size 6-8  body (cut two) 31 1/2" by 31 1/2"  Sleeve (cut two) 19 1/2" by 19 1/2"
Size 10-12 body (cut two)  33" by 33"   Sleeves 21" by 21"

Medium to Light weight material.
Cutting instructions, lay the two body squares, right sides together on cutting table, fold over and match bottom and top corners, make sure the fabric is smooth and wrinkle free.
Do the same with the sleeve squares and place on cutting table away from the body pieces.
For size 2-4 measure over 6"  (6-8 6 1/2", 10-12 7") from edge of top corner toward folded center, place a mark.
Measure down the raw edges toward hem, the same measurement.  Using a straight edge draw a line between the two points.
Do the same for the sleeves.

Cut those triangles off of the fabric.

Sewing:
With right sides facing and raw edges even pin sleeves to front and back.  (there will be pictures here after clothiers)  You are just pinning the lines left form the triangle cuts, sew, I suggest sewing them twice as this is a high stress area.

Then remove pins.  it is easier at this time to press a 1" casing around the neck, turning it to the inside (wrong side)  and sew it leaving an opening in which ever place you want the front to be.  Sew it.
If you use a zig-zag stitch you will not need to press under the raw edge and your sanity will last longer.

Then fold the garment, right sides together so it looks like the assembly diagram, pin and then sew.

Press, pin and sew a rolled hem.  After the garment is assembled place on child and pin the hem, baste the deep hem to make it easier to remove and lengthen as the child grows.

Thread a ribbon or tie through the neck casing.  Use a length of like sized elastic securely sewn in the middle of the ribbon.  (ribbon-elastic-ribbon)   for safety's sake.  As the child grows sew additional lengths of ribbon on the ends and let out neck.

This will be a floor length chemise that will morph in to a blouse as the child grows.  I have used the largest size for "ren fair" blouses for adults with skirts.  My granddaughter loved her chemise so much that she wore her size two chemise as a blouse until second grade with mundane clothes.
See the girls over dress entry for something to wear this with.   I will also be posting a skirt pattern soon.

Boys short sleeve t-tunic

Sizes 4, 8 and 12 are given.  The idea is to make it one size bigger than your child is now and belt it up.   Use Medium to light weight material.  As this is a geometric t-tunic patterns could be interesting....so I would stick to no patterns on the fabric.

Size 4 layout. 24" by 42" of fabric is all it needs.  All layouts are shown on 45" width fabric. Lable all the pieces with a sewing pencil before you cut.

Enlargement of under arm layout

Size 8 Layout.

For some reason it will not let me make this bigger, sorry.

 

Underarm enlargement

 

Size 12 layout

 

 

Underarm enlargement

 

Assembly
Assemble the quarters as shown, With right sides together Match center seams and sew, then side seams and sew.   Press a rolled hem in to the neck, sleeves and bottom and sew.
There you have it a Tunic that can be worn over pants or shorts.   Use a long sleeve plain top under it in colder weather.

See the boys pants entry to complete the outfit.

Coming before Lilies war classes, boys cyclas and tabards.

Infant head covering

Hear is a wonderful free tutorial for a beautiful baby bonnet.  When they are a bit older look to the future flat cap entry.

http://www.sewing.org/html/baby_bonnet.html

Simple t-tunic for infants

Pleats and embroidery adjust it's size.

Choose a fabric that is of light to medium weight.  Seam allowance is 5/8" unless otherwise indicated.  Cutting and assembly diagrams are below.

This is often called a geometric t-tunic.  Cutting guide:

Enlargement of the underarm section.

Admission here I have to label the sections with a sewing pencil before I cut them apart or I end up with the wrong side up on some of the pieces.
Mark and cut.  yes you only need a piece of fabric that is 18" by 45"

Assembly guide:

Right front

Left Front

Right Back

Left Back

Assemble the quarters as shown in diagrams, in 4 quarters, then, with right sides facing, sew the center seams of first the front and then the back.

This makes a size 2T tunic.  You have two options for making the tunic small enough. 
1. Lay the garment flat and press and pin equal pleats across the front.
2. Or wait until the garment is assembled and install a casing around the neck, thread a ribbon or tie with a section, in the middle of like sized elastic to gather the neck to size.  (the elastic is a safety measure to ensure that the baby will not be choked.

Then , with right sides together sew shoulder seams.   It is much easier to press and sew a rolled hem in the sleeves at this time.

Sew side seams, press and sew a simple rolled hem.  For small babies leave as is, when they begin to crawl and walk either blouse the extra over a belt or baste in a deep hem, letting it out as needed.  If you decide to embroidery the pleats, they can be snipped equally as the child grows.  If you did the casing just sew addition ribbon on to the ends as the child grows and loosen the opening.

I never bothered to make pants, when they are young this fits nicely over a sleeper, or if it is hot weather just a diaper.   As Walker and crawlers I found that a plain pair of snap pants was the nicest looking and the easiest.  

Boys pants online tutorials

here is one tutorial with a printable pattern, baby to size 5.   http://www.sewjereli.com/2013/05/pj-pants-free-sewing-pattern-and.html

Here is a good tutorial   http://www.simplymodernmom.com/2011/01/simple-pajama-pants-tutorial/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+SimplyModernMom+%28Simply+Modern+Mom%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

Startng

Hello all, I am beginning to load my old handout on to this blog.  Thanks to my nephew all of the images have been saved in a format that can be uploaded here.  I also want us to use this space to share information elsewhere on the internet that will help.  So here is our first post!  making t-tunics pretty!   Check out this talented lady's post.   http://www.untrendylife.com/2012/11/make-tunic-with-yoke.html 
Another post about making tunics.  http://www.untrendylife.com/2012/11/make-your-own-pattern-for-simple-tunic.html

I am putting this here so that when I get to the pants part of the handout you will not have to buy the pj pattern!  Woot!  http://www.theribbonretreat.com/blog/pajama-pants-tutorial.html
 Auntie Alvira

Hello all!

Auntie Alvira here, also known in the Kingdom of Calontir, Society for Creative Anachronism as H.L. Alvira MacDonald.
My best times in the SCA have been teaching and entertaining children and their parents.  This blog will not only hold my entire 19 page handout on making children's garb they do not outgrow by the next event, but lots of ideas culled from many sources on crafts, toys and gifts for historically inclined children.  I invite your questions, comments and suggestions.  No spamming, slamming or being a horses ass.