The Best and Worst Fabrics for Children. If you survey the fabrics best for making children’s clothing, most will probably answer only natural ones.
But it is not so. Mixed and even synthetic materials are used for children’s sewing products.
The main thing is that they are safe and comfortable. Understanding which fabrics are suitable for sewing children’s clothing, like baby bibs, is necessary not only for those who sew.
This is also useful for mothers who choose ready-made outfits for buying their babies.
Basic Requirements For Fabrics for Children
The rules for choosing materials suitable for sewing children’s clothing are determined by the physiological characteristics of the child’s body.
Firstly, the child’s skin is delicate and sensitive, especially in the smallest.
Secondly, the unstable thermoregulation of the child’s body is worth noting, which means that children overheat and over-cool more easily, unlike adults.
Thirdly, children are most often very active and move a lot.
The purpose of clothing and seasonality also determines the choice of fabric.
In addition, the age category is an essential factor in determining the characteristics of the material for manufacturing children’s wardrobe items.
After all, the fabric used for sewing products for newborns is not suitable for producing school uniforms.
Clothes for babies (undershirts, bodysuits, diapers) and linen knitwear are in close contact with the baby’s delicate skin.
Therefore, first of all, the hygienic indicators of such materials are considered: they must pass air and water well and not cause allergies. Natural fabrics, primarily cotton, meet these requirements.
For older children, mixed fabrics manufacture light clothing (blouses, dresses, skirts, shorts).
Moreover, for the smallest, the composition of the materials includes 20% of synthetic fibers, and for older children – already 30%.
By adding chemical impurities, the performance properties of materials are increased while maintaining their hygienic performance.
For the Cold Season, Dense Fabrics that Retain Heat are Chosen
Of particular note is school clothing, which must be wrinkle-resistant, durable, and wear-resistant and at the same time have good hygienic properties.
In this case, woolen and cotton fabrics with an admixture of synthetics up to 60% are suitable.
Fabric for children of all age groups should be primarily breathable, regardless of whether it is made from natural or synthetic fibers. In addition, it must have the following qualities:
- beautiful appearance;
- comfort;
- hygiene;
- wear resistance;
- safety.
Consider what materials are suitable for the manufacture of children’s clothing.
Cotton
Among the fabrics for Children made from natural fibers, cotton comes out on top in terms of its characteristics.
Chintz
This material has excellent hygienic properties and cannot accumulate static electricity.
But at the same time, it wrinkles, sheds, burns, and shrinks a lot. Chintz is used for sewing products for newborns, nightgowns, and summer dresses.
Satin
It has a low thermal conductivity, which ensures the ability to maintain body temperature and keep cold out. A practical option for sewing summer wardrobe items.
Poplin
Thin dense fabric with a “ribbed” cut. It has several positive qualities: it does not peel, fade, or wrinkle. Choose for tailoring summer dresses, skirts, shirts, and blouses.
Flannel
This version of cotton materials is soft with a bit of fleece. Its positive characteristics are hygroscopicity, excellent heat-shielding properties, and comfort.
But simultaneously, the flannel dries for a long time and shrinks after washing. They sew shirts, bathrobes, pajamas, and clothes for babies.
Blended Fabrics for Children
Adding synthetic fibers to the composition of fabrics improves their performance. Due to the elastane, the extensibility of the material increases.
Viscose resembles cotton but is more hygroscopic. Lavan is resistant to abrasion and has high elasticity. At the same time, no worse than wool, it retains heat well.
Synthetic Fabrics for Children
They do not pass air and water well; they are not suitable for children’s clothing that is in direct contact with the child’s skin.
Used for sewing windbreakers, jackets, down jackets, and overalls. Such things are durable, worn long, and keep their shape well.
What Fabrics are Not Suitable for Children’s Clothing
It is impossible to answer in monosyllables and categorically that this or that type of fabric is unsuitable and even dangerous for a child.
The seasonality of clothing and the layer for which the material is used is essential.
Thus, viscose, which cannot be called entirely natural, is not suitable for children’s clothes of the first layer but is often used in the manufacture of lining for wool and cotton products.
Some manufacturers use polyester to manufacture children’s clothing as the first layer, even when sewing underwear.
Such products quickly roll down and fail and harm children’s skin and the body as a whole.
And clothes made entirely of polyester can cause irritability, increased fatigue, and worsened sleep in a child.
Children will be comfortable wearing clothes made of polyester but with a cotton lining and high-quality modern insulation.
So is it worth buying children’s 100% wool or cotton clothing? Not at all.
You can choose products from mixed and synthetic fibers, considering the item’s purpose, the child’s age, and level of activity, and paying attention to the materials’ quality and the brand’s integrity.