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Though I still have yet to find a book that addresses boys clothing patterns specifically, here are two recently-published books which focus on girls that are worth mention.

Carefree Clothes for Girls: 20 Patterns for Outdoor Frocks, Playdate Dresses, and More (Make Good: Crafts + Life)

by Junko Okawa

Carefree Clothes for Girls is, first, a dreamy collection of little girls play clothing for every season, and, second, a collection of patterns for you to make for your own free spirit.  Junko Okawa’s designs are both polished – classic colors and embellishments – and unfinished.  The raw hems, layers of gauze, and repurposed doilies turn prim frocks into playful play wear.  What I love most about them is that they have the lovingly handmade look of days gone by:  simple, but with attention to the details that make an item unique.

The book includes 20 patterns, ranging from traditional pants and dresses to whimsical scarves and blouses.  All designs use cotton or linen and a variety of buttons and trims.  Each pattern comes in sizes 4, 5, 6, and 7; finished garment measurements for each size are provided.  For each item, the author provides fabric and notion requirements, step-by-step instructions for making a garment, and illustrations.  General sewing and washing tips are also shared.

The actual-size paper patterns are included at the back of the book.  They patterns overlap and need to be traced onto another piece of paper before using them.  Because the patterns do not include a seam allowance, be sure to add one before cutting the pattern out.

For a preview of the designs, see the publisher’s website.

Hand Me-Ups: Recrafting Kid’s Clothes with Easy Techniques and Fun Designs

by Lorine Mason

When I first read the title, I expected this to be a book about resizing clothing or modifying it to last a child a bit longer.  While this certainly is one of the goals of the book, it is also a book about embellishing kid’s clothing.  The author does a great job of complementing structural changes – like extended cuffs or cropped sleeves – with design flourishes (a matching patch, fabric paint, or other embellishments) so that “hand-me-ups” look like boutique-wear instead of mom’s attempt at making things last.

The 128-page book includes 4 chapters with the following titles: Construction, Denim Do-overs, Jazzed-up Clothing, and Embellished Accessories.  Not only is the Construction chapter comprehensive – Mason shows you how to make ruffles, finish raw edges, use stencils, and more – but each of the more than 25 projects has step-by-step instructions illustrated by numerous photographs.  This approach makes the book a great one for beginners and visually-inclined readers.  The book also comes with a CD that includes the embellishment templates and designs needed for the projects in the book.

Sample projects include t-shirt dresses, a rick-rack pillow-case skirt, embellished spring-time pajamas, a modified-tee jacket with ruffle sleeves and coordinating leggings, fabric-painted pocket and patch designs, and an overall dress.  The projects are fun, colorful, and straightforward.  But, this book – like many which include children’s clothing patterns, focuses on projects for girls.