Sewing for Kindergarten

 

Our youngest started Kindergarten. I am just going to take a moment and let that sink in….

I am kind of a hot mess about this, as you may already know from my ‘3 ways to make patches post‘. Somewhere along the patch making process, it really hit me. My little man, my baby, my knight in shining armor who still occasionally asks to marry me and wants to be an astronaut when he grows up is entering the public school system. My heart simply cannot handle this! They were supposed to be younger longer! I was supposed to be able to snuggle with him in the late morning and give him 16 kisses every half an hour. His teacher won’t know the right way to kiss his booboo when he gets hurt, or know what he is talking about when he wants to name all the monsters in monster legends! Gah!!!

Obviously I am overreacting, but we were seriously not supposed to be here yet. At least that is how it feels to me. 3 kids in elementary school, it has made me reconsider home schooling.

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MAKE THIS LOOK: SEWING FOR KINDERGARTEN SERIES

 

How does little Mister feel about all of this?

He is super excited about it. He loves taking the bus every day, and he feels like such a BIG boy going to the same school as his older sister. It gave me some consolation knowing that she could be there for him on his first 2 weeks, as she walked him to class and gave him a hug before she went to her own class. He even got the same Kindergarten teacher that his big sister had, and we really loved her. For a boy who struggles with anxiety and change, knowing that his sister loved her KG teacher really helped ease the way. But when asked what his favorite part of the day is, the answer remains the same…the bus ride because he gets to come home :).

In the busy back to school schedule, I didn’t have a chance to sew much in the way of the kids Fall wardrobe. So I am really happy that Mie from Sewing Like Mad is hosting this Sewing for Kindergarten Series, and was honored when asked to be a part of it. It gave me the kick in the pants that was needed to sew for my little man, so that at least he can wear a bit of handmade love – even if I seem to need the reassurance more than he does.

 

MAKE THIS LOOK

Pants:

• Pattern – Tree Climber Trousers
• Fabric – Camouflage-like sweatshirt fabric from Mood (similar HERE)
• Grey sweatshirt fabric for knee patches
• Orange thermal fabric for pocket binding

Pants pattern alterations – Used sweatshirt fabric instead of woven as pattern indicates. Added decorative stitching to reinforced knees and back pocket flaps. Added elastic around the ankle hem, for a more jogger type pants look. To do this, simply extend the hem of the pants by 1.5″, and measure around your child’s ankle. Turn hem under 1/4″ towards wrong side and press. Turn under again 1″ and press. Sew around, leaving a 1″ opening for elastic. Slip elastic (based on your child’s ankle measurement) inside of casing, sew elastic ends together, and finish sewing the ankle hem closed.

 

Vest:

Self drafted – but see below for similar looks.

• Pattern – Aztec hooded vest
• Fabric – Grey / Navy and White double sided sweatshirt fabric from Miss Matatabi

 

 

I really thought a lot about what to sew. I have given up on sewing things that ‘I’ like, as I truly want my children to love what I put so much handmade love and time into. I want them to actually want to wear it. My son happens to love camouflage – he thinks that when he stands in the grass while wearing it, he becomes invisible. LOL – it is a fun game we play, and it always makes me smile.

He also loves to wear comfortable pants, and tries to wear sweatpants whenever possible. I had to pry them off of him this Summer as he grabbed them out of his drawer every morning – regardless of the 100 degree heat outside. Soft material was a no-brainer. Furthermore, he happens to love wearing vests.  I think it is just the fact that he can zip them up himself. SO I made a vest with double sided fabric, and was sure to sew all of the seams down really carefully giving it a super cool effect that can be worn inside out. The other details, like the quilt stitching on the reinforced knees and back pockets were all sewing details that came together while I was sewing.

Taking my time while sewing to really get everything perfect, helped details like these all fall into place…even if our babysitter came over and immediately pointed out one wonky stitch in the knee. Lol

 

THIS BOY = MY HEART.

Thank you so much for having me as part of your Series Mie. Our children only start Kindergarten once, and I feel blessed to have been able to really document it properly.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by, and until next time…

Happy sewing!