JOURNAL: CLOTHES FOR KIDS
Jess Bennett of Rock Salt Plum has plenty of experience designing for little ones and shares her practical tips for making wearable garments
Originally I started designing and making crochet garments for babies after producing some pretty disastrous cardigans for myself. I thought that baby clothes would be much quicker to make and use less yarn, so they would be a good way to learn how to crochet better garments. I had also recently given birth so had my own little model who could go through the learning process with me. Through trial and error (lots and lots of error) I have discovered a few things about making clothes that are lovely to look at but are also practical and wearable. The last thing you want to do is spend lots of time making something and then it never gets worn.
KEEPING CLEAN ISH
I know that you can machine wash wool jumpers if you use the right setting and detergent, and if you have a good system for separating out and washing woollens, I salute you. This isn’t always easy, especially as small children generate lots of laundry. I try to make sure the yarn I use is machine washable so tops can get covered in mud, paint or pasta sauce without too much worry. If in doubt, make up a swatch, write down the measurements and throw it in with your normal wash. If it’s the same size and you are happy with the way it looks when it comes out then you can go for it.
It is also a good idea to avoid using pale colours around the cuff and neck as these areas can get especially grubby. The same goes for using dark colours on the yoke of a top for a newborn (for obvious reasons). You could add a few rows of a different colour yarn in these places.
SIZING
As with patterns for adult’s clothes, there can be real differences in sizes for children’s garments. The ages stated in a pattern are based on an average and might not fit the child who is going to wear your creation. For getting the right size, my suggestion is to get a jumper that fits well and use this as a guide. If you choose a pattern size with the closest chest circumference to your guide jumper, you can then adjust the number of rows/rounds in the arms and body to make them longer or shorter if needed. My advice is, if in doubt, go for a larger size; this will be cool and baggy for summer garments and big and cosy for winter ones and can be grown into.
To get the most wear out of a garment it is worth thinking about the seasons. Children grow fast and a jumper that fits well one winter often won’t fit the following year. With that in mind it helps to think about how a garment will be worn as
Avoid pale colours around the cuff and neck – add rows of coloured yarn in these places
they grow. A chunky jacket for a newborn to wear in autumn will work as a warm cardigan under a snowsuit in winter. A big baggy cotton jumper in spring can be worn into autumn and winter as a more snug top.
YARN AND STITCH CHOICES
It is also useful to think about the seasons when choosing your yarn for a project. You probably don’t want to make something out of Merino wool in May that will be too hot to wear in the summer. You don’t have to use a specific baby yarn but use something that is soft if it’s going to be worn next to the skin. If you are making a jacket then I’d look for yarn that is more durable.
I would avoid using stitches that are too open as little fingers will get caught in the holes. I made a lovely jumper using a crossed treble stitch but it’s such a faff to get on that it’s been worn about three times! I would also suggest thinking about give, especially around the neckline, cuffs and bottom. If a garment is difficult to get on or tight to wear it probably won’t be very popular with little ones. I remember a hand-knitted jumper I had as a child that I really disliked because the neck was too tight and it felt uncomfortable to wear. You can use a looser tension if you are worried about this or add a stretchy rib.
None of these are hard and fast rules and I regularly don’t follow them. Crocheting for babies and young children should be creative, relatively quick and, most importantly, fun! Follow Jess on Instagram at @rock_salt_plum and find her patterns on Ravelry and LoveCrafts as rocksaltplum
Think about give, especially round the neckline, cuffs and bottom