
Little Kiwis Closet Blog
11 FOLLOWERS
My name is Lydia, the designer behind Little Kiwis Closet. I live in New Zealand with my husband and my 3 children; Brylie, Elijah, and Portia who are the inspiration behind every single one of my patterns. So I decided to make her another pair myself, this started me on the journey of learning how to draft and grade patterns which have been exciting and challenging.
Little Kiwis Closet Blog
2y ago
LittleKiwisCloset women’s patterns are drafted for the height 163cm (5’4″) however it is easy to adjust for your height even if you are shorter or taller.
The ladies patterns include a lengthen/shortern line which is what you will use to adjust to the height.
A good rule of thumb for adding or removing length add or subtract 1.25cm (1/2″) for every 2.54cm (1″) over or under the drafted height. To ADD length
This example uses a 5’6″ women where extra length is needed.
Cut on the lengthen/shorten line.
Spread the piece apart the desired additional length needed. For this exa ..read more
Little Kiwis Closet Blog
2y ago
Don’t you just love all the different leaves and flowers.
My kids just love creating clothing from these.
Here are a few that my 13 yo daughter did.
Download this nature design body shape and get designing yourself ..read more
Little Kiwis Closet Blog
2y ago
With summer in full swing in New Zealand it was time to make Brylie a new swim suit.
She still loves wearing rash vests (which is perfect because the New Zealand sun can be brutal) but is at that stage to need another layer underneath.
So…I made her a crop length top from the Sunshine Set but added a zipper to the front.
This is really an easy hack and the only difference you need to make to the pattern pieces is on the FRONT piece. You need to add 1 cm to the cut on fold edge, but cut it in half so you have 2 fronts rather than 1.
See below
Next step is to sew the crop as per t ..read more
Little Kiwis Closet Blog
2y ago
Quick and Easy Food Covers
Its this time of year that you want some easy little gifts to fill those stockings…These food covers are super fast and very effective.
You will need:
This amazing pattern!! Quick and easy food covers
– Or you can draw up your own circles. (diameter 45cm, 37cm, 30cm, 20cm) (17 1/2″, 14 1/2″, 11 3/4″, 8″)
*100% cotton (65cm by 112cm) (26″ by 44″)
*bias binding (roughly 4.5 meters/5yards)
*6mm/1/4″ elastic (2meters/2.2 yards)
1. Cut out your circles.
2.With wrong side of the circle facing up place the right side of the bias binding face down and fold the e ..read more
Little Kiwis Closet Blog
2y ago
Convertible Drawstring Hat
By Kristin Wilson
My friend Kristin contacted me asking if I would put her convertible drawstring hat on my blog as she doesn’t have one and didn’t want to create one for one little tutorial. So here it is.
“purchase” for FREE and download here.
  ..read more
Little Kiwis Closet Blog
2y ago
If you have ever wanted to hack the OTT into a nursing top, then you have to read this blog post over at TinyKnightNz ..read more
Little Kiwis Closet Blog
2y ago
Snuggly Warm Dressing Gown
Today was day 2 of our 4 weeks of quarantine in New Zealand, and today I did some sewing with my oldest daughter Brylie (11yrs)
I’ve had cuddly fleece in my stash for a while now (ok, so maybe over a year) that I was going to make dressing gowns for last winter!!
Well we are in to Autumn now, and stuck at home so I thought “there is no time like the present”.
It’s a simple design with an oversized hood, and snuggly long sleeves and I thought, hey, every one else is stuck at home too, maybe they want to make one also.
So here is the pattern free for you ~ please note ..read more
Little Kiwis Closet Blog
2y ago
Sandy has done it again, here is a tutorial on how to do an FBA on a top/dress with princess seams. Thank you Sandy for all the work you put into this, I know there are many people who will value this.
1. Hold the Front up against your body and mark an approximate bust apex on the pattern piece.
2.Place the Side Front alongside the Front and make a mark indicating the same height as the bust apex on the Front.
3.Draw a vertical line (ensure the line is at right angles with the hem line) from the hem to the marked point on the Side Front.
4.Mark the 1cm seam allowance around the armsc ..read more
Little Kiwis Closet Blog
2y ago
Elijah has been begging for a t-shirt with wings, he even drew me a picture of what he wanted. so when I go this lovely scale fabric from For Fabrics Sake I knew what it needed to be used for.
Get the pattern pieces HERE for free
Now because I’m so busy drafting and testing a various number of patterns, (you have no idea how many WIPs I have on the go – its embarrassing) I thought I would do a quick tutorial here on the blog so that you can get your hands on the pattern pieces way quicker than if I developed it into a fully formatted tutorial.
The pattern pieces have been drafted for the OTT ..read more
Little Kiwis Closet Blog
2y ago
Children’s Size Chart
How to measure your child?
Measurements are best taken in tight fitting undergarments so that you can get a correct measurement without the extra of bulky clothing.
CHEST ~ Is to be taken at nipple height. do not pull tight but you must not let the measuring tape be loose either.
WAIST ~ Is to be taken at NATURAL WAIST unless stated otherwise in the pattern, this is pretty much inline with their belly button. make sure they are standing as they naturally stand, with out sucking in their belly, this will give you a false measurement. Make sure you do not pull the measure ..read more