Where are all the sewing patterns for "tweens"?!

Try Violette Field Threads website. There are patterns for different age groups - I'm just moving up to 'tweens' (10 - 16 years) for my granddaughter but have made several dresses in the smaller sizes. She and I made one together last summer.

You download and print off the patterns on A4 paper, sticking the sheets together and cutting out the size you want - easier than it sounds!

Trisha have you looked at Lekala <https://www.lekala.co/catalog/girls/dress> Their patterns are custom size, quite a lot are free and others priced quite low, however you do need to print them at home or the local copy-shop.

I selected girls so the link will take you straight there, but you might find other options as well.

The will be other free downloads, just do a google search. Sorry I don't have any recommendations as I don't need to sew for that age group any longer, but often download patterns to make clothing for myself. Actually came across an elusive blouse pattern a couple of hours ago which I thought I would have to self-draft, but instead found a freebie. Gotta love that!!

Hope this helps?

jaycotts.co.uk/collections/patterns_kids/products/nl6445-easy-girls-kimono-knit-top-and-leggings

If you have a look through the Jaycotts patterns website they have a big Children's section which has a number of patterns suitable for tweens. The one above is from New Look which does a tween range. Some Burda and McCalls girls patterns go up to age 14 too

The foldline, patterns from very many companies as well as indie designers.

thefoldline.com/

Thank you all for your suggestions. I'm going to be busy this afternoon looking up all the sites!

To be blunt teens even young ones are so into ‘label's’ to be in the in-crowd that they probably would prefer not to have home made ones however well done I know none of mine would have welcomed them

Bought paper patterns have double lines down and across them, so you can alter a pattern by taking it in, or augmenting it along these lines.

The easiest way is to make a copy of the pattern, as otherwise you have to cut it and then won't have the original size without fiddling around afterwards.

If you are adapting a woman's size for your granddaughter, you probably will only need the vertical darts and not the horizontal ones that form the bosom . You may also need a shallower arm-hole and to gather the shoulder seams slightly.

Cut a trial pattern out of a worn sheet or something similar and tack it together than get the girl to try it on. You can then adjust the pattern until it fits before cutting it in the cloth you want for the blouse or top.

BlueBelle

To be blunt teens even young ones are so into ‘label's’ to be in the in-crowd that they probably would prefer not to have home made ones however well done I know none of mine would have welcomed them

I agree with bluebelle, that last outfit I made for dgd was a very puffy beautiful frozen dress and she was seven. Part of growing up is going out with her mum, to look through rails of clothes,it is about the mother /daughter bonding as well as choosing something that she can try on and that they both like

I have made clothes for and with DGD since she was a baby. She is 14 and still wears some of the garments we made.

More to the point she now makes her own tops and skirts - and makes them without patterns and has done since she was 12.

So Trisha let her choose the pattern with you and then get her to help you and you will soon have an activity you can enjoy together as she gets older.

MOnica, I always show her any patterns that I am thinking of buying so that she can give her opinion. So far, she has been more than happy to wear the leggings, jeans, sweatshirts and T-shirts that I have made, and also the "special occasion" dresses. What she said she wanted were some cotton tops, short fluttery sleeves and with maybe a peplum bottom to wear in the summer rather than plain T-shirts. Her description of a peplum, by the way, was "a sort of sticky-out bit at the bottom"! When I drew a simple sketch for her, she shouted "That's IT Nanny!!"

She's not into labels so far (nor are her close friends). She has her own little sewing machine here and uses it to make drawstring and envelope bags for various possessions. Her next project is going to be a pair of shorts as she was already growing out of those she wore last summer. Fingers crossed!

grandtanteJE65 - thank you for those tips. I normally use carbon paper under the tissue pattern to make a copy on brown paper in the size I will use. I learnt that very early on when I cut out the correct size from the original tissue pattern and then my GD had a growth spurt and I couldn't use it any more! I get huge rolls of brown paper fairly cheaply on ebay.

I must get into the habit of making a trial run first. As I'm still a bit of a beginner it takes a while for me to make things, but I know that a "toile" (is that the right word?) is always advised. If I buy more expensive material for a special project I will certainly do that in future!

I enjoy my new hobby very much. My stash of fabric is growing at an alarming rate! An old bookcase has been pressed into service as storage for all the bits and bobs. Next project for myself is a jacket/coat - the Cocoon pattern from Sew Simple using a boucle material that I bought recently - 3 metres for £12! Wish me luck!!

Trisha I think there are lots of teenagers that aren't label and trainer obsessed. Yes, they love clothes, but style is more important to them than names. DGD has recently discovered the joys of charity shops.