I would not claim to be a garment maker, I'm a quilter. But, that said, I do make garments, and I do buy fabric, kind of a lot of fabric, that I intend to make into garments.
And I'm a mom, as many of you are. And as a mom who sews, who has a mom who also sews, who has a mom who has made clothes for me and my sisters, it's in my genes to make the occasional object for this or that child, who will invariably wear it once or twice, then forget it exists.
My older child and I have a difference of opinion on color and style, or maybe, when I make clothes I like making dresses, because they're comparatively simple, generally don't require much fitting, and she does not wear dresses unless under duress.
Having recognized my error, but still having a need to make things for her, I turned to what she does wear, that I could manufacture, and decided on shorts. I'm working up to shirts, I swear.
Then I went to Pink Castle Fabrics and picked up an adorable, and yet not super girly, oxford:
Now I have made skirts, and intend to make shirts, too, out of quilting cottons, but for something pants-like, that is stressed and scuffed about, I prefer the slightly heavier weight of an oxford. That said, I will probably still make shorts out of quilting cotton because I love prints above everything, but, still, in a perfect world, I would choose the oxford.
If you haven't actually held an oxford, they are just a
hair heavier than the heavier quilting cottons. They've got a texture
like the linen cotton blends, and a certain innate stiffness, which
makes them great for bags, but they wash up super soft, too, which makes
them great for clothes. They are a bottom weight fabric, more suited to skirts and pants than to shirts. And I have put them in quilts, too, they're
wonderfully versatile. And soft! Much like a lightweight corduroy, but
without, of course, the wale.
The best thing about oxfords, apart from the softness, is the great range of patterns they come in. The one I bought is sold out now, but here are some equally adorable prints that we have in the store now:
And there are many more in the Oxford Collection, including four that are cat themed.
As for me, I made shorts with
contrasting pockets in quilting cotton (this design is from Sarah Jane's line before
last), and an elastic waistband. No problems with the gathers,
because oxford is not particularly dense.
And she wore them. I have proof.
And now I am deciding on my next fabric, because clearly I can't just make one pair. And maybe some parsley pants, too, for the fall? And then something for the other child, as well. At least she likes dresses and skirts, and oxford would be great for both a fall jumper and a classic A-line skirt:
They'd also make great jackets, but I'm not that brave. Yet.
I'm also in the market for a pattern for women's shorts for me, because I have just the perfect oxford picked out, so let me know if you've seen (or better yet, used) a good one! Now that I've made kid shorts, I'm ready to move on to the next challenge.
