Hello!!! Thank you so much for stopping at Heart and Hearth Crafting today! I’m so happy you’re here!
Burda 9828 is one of my favourite sewing patterns for sewing kids jeans. Today I’m sharing my Grow With Me hack that I use to make my kid’s pants fit them for longer as well as looking super cute.
Sewing Your Own Clothes
Sewing your own clothes is a fun and relaxing (if addictive!!) hobby that will allow you to craft a wardrobe that’s as unique as you are. With a few basic techniques under your belt and some clever tricks up your sleeves you can create beautiful clothes that you’ll be proud to wear. Keep on reading for tips and techniques that will help you to master this hugely rewarding skill.
Sewing Supplies You’ll Need
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Batch Sewing
Because I’m sewing up a batch of projects each in different fabrics, I’ve loaded my sewing machine with grey Moon Thread. It’s the most versatile colour to use as it blends beautifully with the vast majority of patterned fabrics. This saves so much time when sewing as you don’t have to change your thread and re-thread your needle between sewing projects.
Another time and money saving tip I use is to load your overlocker with four different thread colours. For dark and bright fabrics I use Brown, Wine, Navy and Bottle Green.
The colours merge together into a muddy mess that blends in with most fabrics so you don’t need to change your overlocker threads between projects.
Whoop Whoop!!!
I honestly hardly ever have to change my overlocker threads and as that’s my least favourite sewing task that makes me soooo happy!!
Adding a Grow With Me Hem
This pattern includes an optional hem facing. There are intended to be an interesting detail but can easily be adapted to make these pants lengthen as the child grows. The extra fabric is folded up out of the way until the child grows a few more inches, then it can be pressed down so that the pants can be worn for much longer.
To extend the leg length I use the pant pattern piece without the hem facing then add the hem facing piece as an extension to the pant leg.
The raw edge of the hem facing seam is finished with an overlocker.
Then pressed with the seam towards the leg.
The facing can be used as an extension to the pant and hemmed in the normal way. Or it can be turned up and stitched in place for a neater finish which still gives an extra couple of inches of extra growing room.
Sewing the Seams
It’s easy to get the back and front of pants mixed up. A little trick I use is to pin my garment label to the centre back before I start sewing.
I double stitch all my seams, first with a conventional sewing machine, then with an overlocker.
Most of my sewing projects are for children so I think it’s really important that they stand up to rough and tumble play.
Finishing the seams with an overlocker also means that they’re all nicely enclosed which gives a really professional finish.
I sew the inside leg seam in the same way.
I love this technique for sewing crotch seams. One pant leg is turned right side out and pushed inside the other pant leg. This allows the crotch seams to meet up perfectly so that they can be sewn easily and neatly.
In order to maximise the comfort of the clothing I sew I generally try to position the garment label half way down the back seam instead of at the centre back. This means that the label sits on the wearer’s underwear instead of irritating the delicate skin at the base of their spine.
Sewing the Waistband
This is my favourite technique for sewing elasticated waistbands.
I start by finishing the raw edges of the waistband with my overlocker.
I join the two ends of the elastic with a zig zag stitch, reversing and re-stitching several times to make sure it’s good and secure.
I used to eyeball my elastic casing but an uneven edge can make it very difficult to catch it consistently when sewing in place from the front. Now I ALWAYS take the time to measure it accurately.
I like to use a twin needle for hems and waistbands as it gives a really professional looking finish.
I insert the elastic and then sew the elastic casing. It is more fiddly to stitch than using a bodkin but it results in a much neater finish and no sewing up the hole – yay!
Sewing the Hems
I like to finish all my hems with my overlocker for a really neat finish.
The hem could be turned up and sewn in place like a normal hem for a longer pant leg that will last through another growth spurt. But today I’m going for a neater finish so I’m folding the hem in half up to the seam. I’m using my sewing gauge to make sure it’s nice and even.
I’m using my twin needle to stitch the extended hem in place so that the wrong side of the hem is neatly caught at the back of my stitching.
I do hope this sewing project inspires you to have a go at sewing your own clothes. Follow me on your favourite social media channel to see more craft projects like this.
Sewing Linky Parties
[Really Crafty Link Party] [Craftastic Monday Link Party] [All About Home Link Party] [Beautifully Made Link Party] [Share Your Style] [Creatively Crafty Link Party] [Link Up On the Edge] [Create, Bake, Grow & Gather Party] [Farmhouse Friday] [Handmade Monday] [Inspire Me Monday] [Dare to Share] [Saturday Sparks Link Party] [Wednesday Link Party] [Spread The Kindness Link Up] [Encouraging Hearts & Home Blog Hop] [Wonderful Wednesday] [Karins Kottage Wednesday Linky Party] [Creative Muster] [Happiness Is Homemade] [183 Senior Salon]
Pin it Now, Sew it Later
A Little Bit About Me . . .
Thank you so much for stopping by my corner little of the interweb. I’m Bridie, mum to two small humans, full time homemaker and full time craftaholic – which totally explains why I’m always short on time!
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Heart, Hearth and Crafting 
I haven’t done much sewing in recent years but I always enjoy it when I do. These look like very helpful directions.
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