What clothes to sew for children this summer?
In hot weather, it can be hard to know how to dress children to keep them comfortable and cool.
Materials, patterns, clothes… Here are a few ideas for preparing your vacation wardrobe!
UV-resistant clothing
If you’re going on vacation by the sea or have access to a swimming pool this summer, you can plan to sew a UV-resistant t-shirt that can be worn with a swimsuit or everyday.
All you need is a pattern for a long-sleeved t-shirt, like our model – which is normally sewn with jersey and can be reused this winter – and a coupon of UV-resistant fabric. It’s usually sold with swimsuit fabrics as UV-resistant lycra or UV-resistant jersey.
To work with this material, use a round-ended stretch needle and prefer the zigzag stitch or any other elastic stitch indicated in your sewing machine manual.
A linen top
There’s nothing like a linen garment to beat the summer heat. When in doubt about which fabric to use, always opt for natural fibers. Cotton, linen and bamboo are much more breathable than their synthetic counterparts such as viscose or polyester.
Linen has the advantage of absorbing moisture and being thermoregulatory: it helps lower body temperature. It is therefore particularly pleasant to wear, for children and adults alike.
To sew a linen top, you can base yourself on our Foudjou blouse. It’s quick and easy to sew. Its wide shape means children won’t feel too tight in their clothes.
Choose a light linen, plain or printed.
Cotton shorts
One of the most pleasant fibers to wear in summer is cotton, which is breathable and soft. In hot weather, lightweight, wispy fabrics such as poplin or cotton voile are ideal for children. Cotton that’s too rough or thick can be a real pain to wear when temperatures rise.
For models, prefer elasticated waistbands, which are very comfortable for hot weather and prevent children from being too tight in their clothes. For example, you can sew our Figuette shorts. Suitable for girls, they can be easily customized by using a cord tie, sewing on contrasting pockets, or choosing a colorful, printed cotton.
A jersey dress
Even if they are worn close to the body, jersey garments can be good allies in hot weather. Because they are stretchy, they follow children’s movements and are very comfortable to wear every day.
To ensure that jersey garments are breathable and don’t retain too much perspiration, we prefer cotton jerseys to polyester ones. The composition is systematically specified on the product sheet if you buy online. And on the roll if you buy in-store.
To sew a jersey dress, you can follow Atelier Adriette’s Mini-Sandy pattern. You can sew this pattern in one or two colors, depending on your preferences and those of your children. It’s a very simple pattern that’s accessible to beginner sewers. If you’re new to jersey and want to get to grips with this stretchy fabric, it’s a good place to start!
An all-terrain tank top
When temperatures rise, it’s nice to have an assortment of tank tops in your closet that the kids can change into every day.
Atelier Adriette’s Mini-Roxana pattern lets you sew this wardrobe basic for children and adults alike. Bonus: it can be made in different lengths and necklines, always using cotton jersey. Don’t hesitate to adapt it by comparing it with a tank top already in your children’s closets, to make sure it fits perfectly.
No particular difficulties to report here, as there’s no ribbing at the neckline. A super-simple model to be declined in several colors, so you’ll always have a clean tank top for the kids!
What do you like to sew for children in summer? Do you prefer one fabric over another?
