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DRESS
MAKIN
Lesson 1

  G9
Designs of Children’s Wear

In choosing the designs for the children’s dress, there are special sewing hints that we must always remember.

CHILD
Special sewing hints for children’s dress
1. For durability, substitute machine for hand stitches wherever it is practical and not unsightly to do

RENS
so baste down facings.
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; also check the care requirements of white or
pastel
WEAR
colors. Although cottons and synthetic blends are usually the first choices for children’s garments,
washable wools are also suitable.
5. To please the child, pick bright colors and lively prints. Large designs can be overwhelming.
6. For convenience, always provide a pocket or two. Children like places to keep small possessions.
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. Also consider changing the garment style; could a dress with sleeves be made
into a pinafore for the new owner?

Lesson 2  Characteristics of a Well-fitted Children’s Wear Selection

When selecting clothing for young children, toddlers’ and preschoolers always consider the physical characteristics
and the comfort they give to the children.

A. Toddlers
1. Look for soft, unstructured styles that allow maximum freedom of movement, such as one-piece
garments that fall from the shoulder. These are also practical because toddlers wear diapers and
have-not developed a waistline.
2. Leg openings with snaps on toddlers’ pants help make changing diapers easier.
3. For necklines, select collarless styles or flat collars, such as Peter pan and convertible collars.
4. Avoid collars that may bind or restrict movement, such as a high button collar.

5. When toddlers are first learning to dress, pull-on garments with large neck and armhole openings
are the easiest to manipulate. Because the toddler is always on the move.

6. Design features should be functional as well as decorative. For example, shoulder straps should
crisscross in the back to prevent them from sliding off shoulders.

7. Shoulder tabs on shirts are another way to secure straps.

B. Pre-Schoolers

1. Look for styles that allow preschoolers to move and jump about freely. 

2. Pockets are important features because preschoolers need places for the treasures they collect.
3. Shoulder tabs on shirts are still valuable.
4. When selecting a garment with long sleeves, avoid buttoned cuffs that restrict movement.
5. Jumpsuits are practical garments for preschoolers because they allow for mobility and will
maintain a neat appearance.
6. Preschoolers can also wear pants and skirts with elasticized waists because their waistlines have
become more defined.

SPECIAL FEATURES
A. Growth features - are important because children grow rapidly. Children tend to grow faster
in height than in width; therefore, the length of waist, arms, and legs will change more quickly
than the width of shoulders, chest, and hips. Select clothing that allows for growth.
B. Look for features such as one-piece garments without a waistline; raglan, kimono, or sleeveless
designs; adjustable shoulder straps; and elasticized waistlines.
C. Two-piece outfits and wrap styles will also allow room for growth.
D. 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.
E. Select or adapt closures that are easy for young children to manipulate.
F. Zippers can be easy for a child to operate if a charm or string is added to the pull tab.
G. 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.
H. Avoid buttons with irregular edges as these are more difficult than smooth, round buttons
to manipulate.
I. 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.
J. Gripper snaps are easier to manipulate than regular snaps.
K. Safety features should also be considered when selecting clothing for children.
L. Avoid styles with long, flowing skirts; tie belts; drawstrings; or very full sleeves that may
cause children to trip or get tangled.
Lesson 3 Types of Fabrics Suited for Children’s Dress

Children’s safety and comfort is best considered when buying and choosing the clothes they wear. Some
people, especially mothers prefer to buy fabrics for their children because they think it is cheaper
and they can choose the best quality fabric for them. are varieties of fabrics to choose from.

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 wear 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

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.
Lesson 4
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. The following are the accessories used in dresses

1. Bands – strips of fabric, ribbon or bias applied to edges or set into garments to finish or decorate
2. Bracelet –ornamental chain for wrist and arm
3. Brooch - a large ornamental pin placed in front or shoulder arm
5. Handkerchief – a piece of cloth cotton, linen or silk usually square and decorated with lace and
embroidery.
6. Hat– a shaped head covering, having crown and brim
7. Hosiery – consist of hose and stockings.
8. Shoes – high-heeled or flat-closed footwear fitted for comfort, freedom and style

Trimmings
 are the ornamental addition to the bare fabrics or a finished garment. This is also used to enhance
or emphasize the beauty of the apparel.

Common Trimmings Used in Dresses

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. It may be worn short or long. Sleeves maybe cut together with
the bodice or cut separately. The pattern and design of the sleeve connotes fashion in dress.

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.
3.Set-in Sleeves is the foundation of all types of sleeves and usually cut to fit the armhole to the desired length.
4.Puffed 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.
5.Butterfly sleeves is a type of sleeve that flares out over shoulder resembling like wings of thebutterfly.
6.Angel sleeves either gathered or plain at the shoulder tip and tapers down to the arm.
7.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 Collars
1.Sailor 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 in1905 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 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 neck line in the Victorian era
and resurrected in the 1940s
6.Mandarin collar - is a short unfolded standup 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.
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. Such skirts go only with slim and skinny figures as they emphasize the
hips and the derriere ( buttocks)
5. Tube Skirts -Simply the longer versions of the pencil skirts, Tube skirts fit at the hip and taper at the hem. The
visible difference is that they go down below the knee. It suits slim figures.
6. Pleated Skirts - Pleated skirts appear best in short length, just above the knees. The flare of this skirt is
reduced by pleates, and it fits the waist. It looks nice on both, slim and a little plump figure.
7. Sheered 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.
Lesson 4.4

Facings and Interfacings

1.Facings

are pieces of cloth attached at the edge of the garment to prevent from raveling, for
reinforcement, for decoration, and for special purposes.

Types of Facings

 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. This can be used in straight edges
for decorative purposes and reinforcement of fabric edge.
 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.

2.Interfacing: 

fabric sewn or fused especially between the facing and the outside of a garment (as in a collar or
cuff) for stiffening, reinforcing, and shape retention.

Types of interfacing:

 Fusible- Convenient to use as there is a heat-activated adhesive on one side. ...

Patch pockets are flat pockets sewn to the exterior of a garment. They are typically unfitted, andcan 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 thegarments.3.

Welt pocket is a small, flat pocket that is commonly used on the exterior and interior breast on aman's suit jacket, back
of men's trousers and en's suit jacket