CHILDREN’S

WEAR
 DESIGNS OF CHILDREN’S WEAR
• SPECIAL SEWING HINTS FOR CHILDREN’S DRESS
1. FOR DURABILITY, SUBSTITUTE MACHINE FOR HAND STITCHES WHEREVER IT IS PRACTICAL AND NOT UNSIGHTLY
TO DO
2. FOR EXTRA STRENGTH, STITCH AREAS OF STRAIN, SUCH AS ARMHOLES, TWICE.
3. FOR EASE IN HANDLING REALLY SMALL GARMENTS, ATTACH THE SLEEVES BEFORE CLOSING THE UNDERARM
SEAM.
4. FOR EASE OF CARE, CHOOSE FABRIC THAT ARE WASHABLE
5. TO PLEASE THE CHILD, PICK BRIGHT COLORS AND LIVELY PRINTS
6. FOR CONVENIENCE, ALWAYS PROVIDE A POCKET OR TWO.
7. A GOOD SAFETY PRECAUTION IS TO HAVE REFLECTIVE TAPE STRIPS TO OUTER GARMENTS, ESPECIALLY IF THEY
ARE DARK IN COLOR.
8. TO MAKE HANDED-DOWN GARMENT DIFFERENT FOR THE YOUNGER BROTHER OR SISTER, ADD A SPECIAL
APPLIQUÉ, POCKETS OR MONOGRAM.
 CHARACTERISTICS OF A WELL-FITTED CHILDREN’S WEAR
A. TODDLERS

1. LOOK FOR SOFT, UNSTRUCTURED STYLES THAT ALLOW MAXIMUM FREEDOM OF

MOVEMENT
2. LEG OPENINGS WITH SNAPS ON TODDLERS’ PANTS HELP MAKE CHANGING DIAPERS
EASIER
3. SELECT COLLARLESS STYLES OR FLAT COLLARS
4. AVOID COLLARS THAT MAY BIND OR RESTRICT MOVEMENT
5. WHEN TODDLERS ARE FIRST LEARNING TO DRESS, PULL-ON GARMENTS WITH LARGE
NECK AND ARMHOLE OPENINGS ARE THE EASIEST TO MANIPULATE
1. DESIGN FEATURES SHOULD BE FUNCTIONAL AS WELL AS DECORATIVE
2. SHOULDER TABS ON SHIRTS ARE ANOTHER WAY TO SECURE STRAPS

3. B. PRE-SCHOOLERS
4. LOOK FOR STYLES THAT ALLOW PRESCHOOLERS TO MOVE AND JUMP ABOUT FREELY
5. POCKETS ARE IMPORTANT FEATURES
6. SHOULDER TABS ON SHIRTS ARE STILL VALUABLE
7. WHEN SELECTING A GARMENT WITH LONG SLEEVES, AVOID BUTTONED CUFFS THAT RESTRICT MOVEMENT
8. JUMPSUITS ARE PRACTICAL GARMENTS FOR PRESCHOOLERS
6. PRE-SCHOOLERS CAN ALSO WEAR PANTS AND SKIRTS WITH ELASTICIZED WAISTS

SPECIAL FEATURES
A. GROWTH FEATURES - SELECT CLOTHING THAT ALLOWS FOR GROWTH. LOOK FOR FEATURES
SUCH AS ONE-PIECE GARMENTS WITHOUT A WAISTLINE; RAGLAN, KIMONO, OR SLEEVELESS
DESIGNS; ADJUSTABLE SHOULDER STRAPS; AND ELASTICIZED WAISTLINES. TWO-PIECE
OUTFITS AND WRAP STYLES WILL ALSO ALLOW ROOM FOR GROWTH.
 TO PROMOTE SELF-DRESSING AND PREVENT BATHROOM ACCIDENTS, CLOSURES SHOULD BE
ON THE FRONT OF GARMENTS SO CHILDREN CAN SEE THE FASTENERS AND MANIPULATE THEM
EASILY.
 SELECT OR ADAPT CLOSURES THAT ARE EASY FOR YOUNG CHILDREN TO
MANIPULATE.
 ZIPPERS CAN BE EASY FOR A CHILD TO OPERATE IF A CHARM OR STRING IS ADDED
TO THE PULL TAB.
 BUTTONS THAT ARE LARGE OR HAVE A SHANK ARE EASIER TO GRASP. MANY
TYPES OF DECORATIVE BUTTONS ARE AVAILABLE TO ADD INTEREST TO
CHILDREN’S CLOTHING. AVOID BUTTONS WITH IRREGULAR EDGES AS THESE ARE
MORE DIFFICULT THAN SMOOTH, ROUND BUTTONS TO MANIPULATE.
 HOOK AND LOOP FASTENER TAPE IS EASY TO MANIPULATE AND CAN BE USED IN
PLACE OF BUTTONS OR SNAPS. IT IS AVAILABLE BY THE CENTIMETER OR INCH, IN
PRE-CUT SHAPES, AND IN A VARIETY OF COLORS.
 GRIPPER SNAPS ARE EASIER TO MANIPULATE THAN REGULAR SNAPS.
B. SAFETY FEATURES SHOULD ALSO BE CONSIDERED WHEN SELECTING CLOTHING
FOR CHILDREN. AVOID STYLES WITH LONG, FLOWING SKIRTS; TIE BELTS;
DRAWSTRINGS; OR VERY FULL SLEEVES THAT MAY CAUSE CHILDREN TO TRIP OR
GET TANGLED.
 TYPES OF FABRICS SUITED FOR CHILDREN’S DRESS

• 1. SEERSUCKER - A THIN, ALL-COTTON

FABRIC, COMMONLY STRIPED, USED
TO MAKE CLOTHING FOR SPRING AND
SUMMER WEAR, SUITS, SLACKS AND
CHILDREN’S CLOTHING.
• 2. COTTON - A SOFT, STAPLE
FIBER AND BRINGS COMFORT
TO CHILDREN BECAUSE IT IS
BREATHABLE.
• 3. RAYON - USUALLY
COLORFUL AND EASY TO E.G.
BLOUSES, DRESSES, JACKETS,
LINGERIE, LININGS, SCARVES,
SUITS, TIES, HATS, SOCKS)
• 4. PIQUE - A MEDIUM
WEIGHT, COTTON-BLEND
FABRIC WHICH IS
CHARACTERIZED BY RAISED
PARALLEL CORDS OR FINE
RIBBING THAT RESEMBLES A
CHECK.
5. LINEN - A TEXTILE MADE FROM THE FIBERS OF THE FLAX PLANT. . IT IS VERY
ABSORBENT, BUT WRINKLES EASILY UNLESS BLENDED WITH MANUFACTURED
FIBERS.
6. ORGANZA - A THIN, PLAIN-
WEAVE, SHEER FABRIC IS
TRADITIONALLY MADE FROM
SILK, THE CONTINUOUS
FILAMENT OF SILKWORMS.
• 7. SILK - A NATURAL PROTEIN
FIBER, SOME FORMS OF WHICH
CAN BE WOVEN INTO TEXTILES.
SILK IS SMOOTH, GLOSSY AND
BEAUTIFUL. IT IS ALSO STRONG
AND VULNERABLE TO FADING
AND STAINS.
• 8. TULLE AND NETTING - A
LIGHTWEIGHT, VERY FINE
NETTING, WHICH IS OFTEN
STARCHED. IT CAN BE MADE OF
VARIOUS FIBERS, INCLUDING
SILK, NYLON AND RAYON. TULLE
IS MOST COMMONLY USED FOR
VEILS, GOWNS AND BALLET
TUTUS.
• 9. CHALLIS - A TYPE OF PLAIN-
WEAVE FABRIC, USUALLY MADE
FROM COTTON, WOOL OR
RAYON, OFTEN PRINTED WITH A
DESIGN, OFTEN FLORAL. USED TO
MAKE DRESSES, SKIRTS AND
OTHER ARTICLES OF CLOTHING.
• 10. CHIFFON - A LIGHTWEIGHT, PLAIN-
WOVEN, SHEER FABRIC. CHIFFON IS
MOST COMMONLY USED IN EVENING
WEAR. LIKE OTHER CREPE FABRICS,
CHIFFON CAN BE DIFFICULT TO WORK
WITH BECAUSE OF ITS LIGHT AND
SLIPPERY TEXTURES. IT SHOULD ONLY
BE HAND-WASHED.
 ACCESSORIES AND ACCENTS FOR CHILDREN’S WEAR

ACCESSORIES ARE ARTICLES THAT MAKE THE OUTFIT PERFECT AND

BEAUTIFUL. CHOOSE ACCESSORIES THAT WILL EQUATE AND GO WITH
THE AGE OF CHILDREN.
 GARMENT ACCESSORIES

BAND
• STRIPS OF FABRIC, RIBBON OR
BIAS APPLIED TO EDGES OR SET
INTO GARMENTS TO FINISH OR
DECORATE
•
 BRACELET

ORNAMENTAL CHAIN FOR

WRIST AND ARM
 BROOCH
A LARGE ORNAMENTAL
PIN PLACED IN FRONT OR
SHOULDER ARM
 FAN

A FLAT DEVICE MOUNTED

ON FRAME PERMANENTLY
 HANDKERCHIEF

A PIECE OF CLOTH
COTTON, LINEN OR SILK
USUALLY SQUARE AND
DECORATED WITH LACE
AND EMBROIDERY.
 HAT

A SHAPED HEAD
COVERING, HAVING
CROWN AND BRIM
 HOSIERY
CONSIST OF HOSE AND
STOCKINGS.
 SHOES
HIGH-HEELED OR FLAT-
CLOSED FOOTWEAR
FITTED FOR COMFORT,
FREEDOM AND STYLE
 GARMENT TRIMMINGS

• 1. APPLIQUÉ – A SEPARATE
DESIGN FOR PETALS, LEAVES OR
FIGURES WHICH IS CUT AND
APPLIED TO ANOTHER SURFACE
• 2. BINDING – A BIAS STRIP USED
TO DECORATE AN EDGE
• 3. BUTTONS – PIECES OF BONES,
METALS, GLASSES OF VARIOUS
SHAPES HAVING SHANK OR
HOLES
4. COLLAR – BANDS ATTACHED
OVER NECKLINES, SOMETIMES
THEY ARE CUT AS PART OF THE
FRONT BODICE
5. EMBROIDERY – AN
ORNAMENTAL NEEDLEWORK
CONSISTING OF DESIGNS, WORK ON
FABRIC BY HAND OR MACHINE
6. FROG - LOOP FASTENING MADE
OF BRAID OR CORDING
7. GATHERS – FULLNESS SHIRRING
CONSIST OF THREE OR MORE ROWS
OF GATHER.
8. LACE – OPEN WORK FABRIC
MADE WITH BOBBINS, NEEDLES OR
HOOK AND CAN BE HAND OR
MACHINE MADE
9. LOOP – A FASTENING WHICH
EXTENDS BEYOND THE FINISH
EDGES USED ON CLOSINGS WITH
NO LAP
• 10. POCKET – A PIECE OF FABRIC
APPLIED TO A GARMENT TO
FORM A CONTAINER
11. RIBBONS – A NARROW FABRIC
OF SILK OR VELVET USED FOR
TRIMMING
12. RICKRACK – A FLAT WOVEN
ZIGZAG BRAID IN MERCERIZED
COTTON OR RAYON
13.RUFFLES –STRIPS OF CLOTH
GATHERED TOGETHER OR
PLEATED AS A TRIMMING TO
FINISH EDGES
14. SCALLOP – AN EDGE FINISH
MADE UP OF A SERIES OF SEMI-
CIRCLES
 SLEEVES

SLEEVES ARE PART OF THE GARMENTS THAT COVERS THE ARM.

 KINDS OF SLEEVES

1. KIMONO SLEEVES IS A TYPE

OF SLEEVES CUT TOGETHER
WITH THE BODICE. THERE IS
NO SEAM JOINING AT THE
ARMHOLE.
2. RAGLAN SLEEVES ARE
PATTERNED AND CUT THAT
EXTENDS TO THE SHOULDER
NECK JUNCTIONS AND
CANCELS THE ARMHOLE
SEAMS
2. SET-IN SLEEVES IS THE
FOUNDATION OF ALL TYPES OF
SLEEVES AND USUALLY CUT TO FIT
THE ARMHOLE TO THE DESIRED
LENGTH.
3. PUFF SLEEVES COMES IN THREE
VARIATIONS: A) FULL AT THE TOP
AND BOTTOM, B) FULL AT THE TOP
FITTED AT THE BOTTOM, AND C)
FITTED AT THE TOP FULL AT THE
BOTTOM.
4. BUTTERFLY SLEEVES IS A TYPE
OF SLEEVE THAT FLARES OUT OVER
SHOULDER RESEMBLING LIKE
WINGS OF THE BUTTERFLY
5. ANGEL SLEEVES EITHER
GATHERED OR PLAIN AT THE
SHOULDER TIP AND TAPERS DOWN
TO THE ARM.
6. BELL SLEEVES IS USUALLY
FITTED AT THE SHOULDER AND
SLIGHTLY TAPERS OUT LIKE A BELL
AT THE BOTTOM. CAN BE WORN
SHORT OR LONG IN LENGTH.
 COLLARS
COLLAR IS A PART OF A SHIRT, DRESS, COAT OR BLOUSE THAT FASTENS
AROUND OR FRAMES THE NECK.
TYPES OF COLLARS
• STANDING OR STAND-UP, FITTING UP AROUND THE NECK AND NOT
LYING ON THE SHOULDERS.
• TURNOVER, STANDING AROUND THE NECK AND THEN FOLDED OR
ROLLED OVER.
• FLAT OR FALLING, LYING FLAT ON THE SHOULDERS.
 KINDS OF COLLAR

1. SAILOR’S COLLAR (FROM

MIDSHIPMAN), A FLAT COLLAR
COMES OF SEVERAL SHAPES IN
FRONT AND ALMOST COVER THE
BACK OF THE WEARER.
2. PETER PAN COLLAR - A FLAT,
ROUND-CORNERED COLLAR,
NAMED AFTER THE COLLAR OF
THE COSTUME WORN IN 1905 BY
ACTRESS MAUDE ADAMS IN HER
ROLE AS PETER PAN AND
PARTICULARLY ASSOCIATED WITH
LITTLE GIRLS' DRESSES.
3. CONVERTIBLE COLLAR - A
COLLAR DESIGNED TO BE WORN
WITH THE NECK BUTTON EITHER
FASTENED OR UNFASTENED.
•
4. FLAT COLLAR – IS SEWN ON THE
NECKLINE EITHER FOR FRONT
ONLY OR FRONT AND BACK OF THE
NECKLINE.
•
5. BERTHA COLLAR - A WIDE, FLAT,
ROUND COLLAR, OFTEN OF LACE
OR SHEER FABRIC, WORN WITH A
LOW NECKLINE IN THE VICTORIAN
ERA AND RESURRECTED IN THE
1940S
6. MANDARIN COLLAR - IS A SHORT
UNFOLDED STAND-UP COLLAR
STYLE ON A SHIRT OR JACKET.
MANDARIN COLLARS START AT
THE NECKLINE AND TYPICALLY
RISE VERTICALLY TWO TO FIVE
CENTIMETERS.
 SKIRTS

SKIRT IS A PART OF THE GARMENTS WORN AROUND THE WAIST

KINDS OF SKIRTS

1. BUBBLE SKIRT IS GATHERED AT

THE WAIST AND PROVIDED WITH
LINING TO HOLD THE HEM AND
GATHER INWARD THE HEM ENDS
TO HAVE A FULL EFFECT.
2. A-LINE SKIRTS - THIS IS THE BASIC
SKIRT THAT HAS BEEN CUSTOMIZED
TO A GREAT EXTENT. WITH SLIGHT
FLARE HAVING ROUGH SHAPE OF
CAPITAL LETTER ‘A’, IT FITS AT THE
WAIST WHILE SLIGHTLY TOUCHING
HIPS AND THIGHS; IT IS BROADER AT
THE HEM.
3. FLARED /BALLOON OR SEMI-BALLOON
SKIRTS- ACTUALLY FLARED SKIRTS ARE
A-LINE SKIRTS, BUT THEY HAVE EXTRA
FLARE WHICH BEAUTIFULLY COVERS
THE FAT OVER HIPS AND THIGHS.
WOMEN WHO ARE THIN CAN ALSO TRY
THIS OUT IN LARGE PRINTS AS IT WILL
GIVE A VOLUPTUOUS APPEARANCE.
4. PENCIL-CUT SKIRTS - HUGGED TO
THE BODY FROM THE WAIST TO
JUST ABOVE THE KNEE, THESE
SKIRTS COME IN STRETCH
MATERIAL AND WITH A BACK SLIT
AT TIMES.
5. TUBE SKIRTS -SIMPLY THE
LONGER VERSIONS OF THE PENCIL
SKIRTS, TUBE SKIRTS FIT AT THE HIP
AND TAPER AT THE HEM
6. PLEATED SKIRTS - PLEATED
SKIRTS APPEAR BEST IN SHORT
LENGTH, JUST ABOVE THE KNEES.
THE FLARE OF THIS SKIRT IS
REDUCED BY PLEATS AND IT FITS
THE WAIST
7. SHIRRED OR GATHERED SKIRT
CUT STRAIGHT FABRIC GATHERED
TO FIT THE WAISTLINE OF THE
WEARER.
8. PEPLUM SKIRT - A SKIRT CUT
FITTED FROM THE WAIST TO HIP1
OR HIP2 THEN COMBINED WITH
FLARED OR PLEATED FABRICS
BELOW TO GIVE FULLNESS FROM
HIP DOWN.
9. CULOTTES IT IS A COMBINATION
OF SHORTS AND SKIRTS USUALLY
LOOSE AT THE BOTTOM
10. TIERED SKIRT TAILORED WITH
TWO OR THREE LAYERS OF GATHERS
OF GRADUATED WIDTH
•
 FACINGS AND INTERFACINGS

• FACINGS ARE PIECES OF CLOTH ATTACHED AT THE EDGE OF THE

GARMENT TO PREVENT FROM RAVELLING, FOR REINFORCEMENT, FOR
DECORATION, AND FOR SPECIAL PURPOSES.
KINDS OF FACING

• BIAS FACING IS A PIECE OF CLOTH CUT

45 DEGREES ANGLE AND ATTACHED
AT THE EDGE OF THE GARMENT
ESPECIALLY IN THE CURVE PARTS LIKE
NECKLINES AND ARMHOLES.
• FITTED FACING IS CUT IN THE
SAME SHAPE AS THE PART TO BE
USED. EITHER WORN INSIDE OR
OUTSIDE OF THE GARMENT
• STRAIGHT FACING IS
SPECIFICALLY CUT FOR STRAIGHT
EDGES FOR SMOOTHER RESULT.
 POCKETS

• POCKET IS A POUCH THAT HAS A CLOSED END AND IS USUALLY

STITCHED ON A GARMENT OR EVEN INSIDE THE GARMENT. POCKET
CAN BE BOTH FUNCTIONAL AND DECORATIVE PURPOSE. POCKET
HELPS IN HOLDING AND SMALL ARTICLE TEMPORARILY. IT IS
IMPORTANT THAT POCKET SIZE, SHAPE, AND PLACEMENT SHOULD
COMPLEMENT THE DESIGN OF THE GARMENT.
KINDS OF POCKETS

1. PATCH POCKETS ARE FLAT

POCKETS SEWN TO THE EXTERIOR
OF A GARMENT. THEY ARE
TYPICALLY UNFITTED, AND CAN
COME IN A RANGE OF SHAPES AND
SIZES.
2. SEAM POCKET IS SEWN ON THE
INSIDE OF A GARMENT WITH ITS
POCKET OPENING SEWN OUTSIDE
OF THE GARMENTS.
• 3. WELT POCKET IS A SMALL, FLAT
POCKET THAT IS COMMONLY
USED ON THE EXTERIOR AND
INTERIOR BREAST ON A MAN'S
SUIT JACKET, BACK OF MEN'S
TROUSERS AND EN'S SUIT JACKET.
•