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Buying Clothing for Children that Lasts by Nikki Willhite Children quickly outgrow their clothes. However we want them to last as long as possible, and potentially be passed down to younger siblings or sold at a garage sale. So how do you tell which items of clothing will last? There are a lot of elements in garment construction, from the fabric to the way the item has been constructed.   Here are some things to look for when buying clothing for children: - Look at the stitches in the seams. There should be about 8-10 stitches per inch. Any less than that and the seams are going to break open, possibly tearing the fabric. - Seams should also be locked with a overlocked, serged stitch. - Buttons should be sewn on with heavy duty thread. - Pockets should have extra stitching. - The stitching should also be reinforced at the areas of the garment that receive the most pull, such as the elbows, knees, and under the arms. - Look for fabrics with a cotton and polyester blend. That will give you some of the best characteristics of each fiber. - Look for fabric that has been preshrunk. - Buy heavier weight fabrics for the bottom of the body, such as denim and corduroy. - Avoid al fabrics with a low thread count that seem flimsy or that you can see through. - Avoid stiff fabrics that are made with inferior fibers and finishes. - When buying a knitted fabric, look for a tight knit. Make sure that the fabric hasn't been starched to look stronger by running your fingernail over the fabric to see if any starch comes off. - Check to see if patterned fabric is just printed on the front, or goes through to the back. If you can see the pattern from the back, it is woven into the fabric. If you can only see it on the front, it will peel off. Clothes that are poorly made can fall apart after one washing. You are much better off paying a little more money and buying an item that sill stand up to repeating washings and wear well. Learn to recognize quality. It is your best buy, especially when you can find it on sale. About the Author: Nikki Willhite, mother of 3 and an interior design graduate, has been writing and publishing articles on the topic of frugal living for over a decade. Visit her at www.frugalhappyfamilies.com - where you will find hundreds of frugal living tips and articles. Frugal Happy Families- more than just money!

 

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