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I want to make a shirt for my nephew, who is now a size 4T in ready-to-wear. I want to make it in a size 5T. I’m having trouble figuring out what size pattern to use. It will be a surprise to my sister, who gave me the fabric, so I can’t ask her for Scott’s measurements. Can anyone suggest where I can find typical chest measurements for a children’s size 5T?
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Amy, pattern sizes can be way off sizes of RTW children's clothes, so I'd suggest going by the pattern's measurements instead. My son wears a 4T well, and a 5 is a little big on him; his chest measures 22 in., and his back waist length is...gosh, I don't know anymore! 12 in.?? Figure about 22 in. for the chest, and add a few for ease (4, maybe, or more for a loose-fitting shirt), then use the size that comes closest to your total. Kwik-Sew patterns run closer to RTW sizes than the Big 4 do, but you can use any brand of pattern if you measure first. I've had a few annoying mishaps with sizing (before I had kids of my own to measure): I once made a size 4 vest for a nephew, and when it was done, I could fit into it!! I'm probably a size 6 (adult!), but really, that was way oversized for a kid. Another time I made a size 3 shirt and shorts set for my smallish 2 year old, and the shorts were huge while he could hardly get into the shirt, which was in the same pattern. GO figure. That's when I started to use the tapemeasure a lot more often.
*Thanks for the help Carol! My nephew lives several hours away so I can't measure him..and I don't want to ask my sister because it's a surprise for her as well as for him.
*I sew alot for my little girls . . . And find that measuring the chest is important and the rest kind of falls into place. A size 4 or 5 will work- if he is a skinny kid then I would make the 4. If he is average I would go ahead with the 5. Hope it all works out.
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