Hoodie to fuel make believe
September 6, 2011 6:35 AM Subscribe
Parents (or others who clothe children) of Mefi - I need your help. Solid colored hoodies, unadorned, for small children/toddlers? Sizing question as well... please help a crafty non-parent?
I have a good friend who has a daughter. We hang out fairly regularly, and the daughter has an astounding imagination. We were talking (the five year old and I) and she likes to pretend she's a variety of animals - cats, dogs, bears, etc... it's starting to cool down in these parts, so I would like to take a store bought hoodie, and make her a variety of ears (out of felt/fleece) that she can snap/velcro/button on and off at her whim to suit her make believe.
I've talked to her mom about this, and she's on board. The hitch is finding solid colored, unadorned, kids' hoodies. I'm incredibly inexperienced in clothing shopping for children (beyond the token infant sized baby gift), and am frustrated. At this point I'm not picky about color, though orange would be ideal (she's not a girly girl, and white would be right out). Her mom doesn't have suggestions either, it appears all of the hoodies in our area are already decorated/branded in some way. I'm also a bit confused about size, because her mom said a 5T, and that doesn't seem commonly available? (At least if Target.com and Amazon are to be believed?)
TL:DR - solid colored, unadorned hoodies for a 5 year old girl. Online preferred, but willing to do brick & mortar. Please and thank you! :)
I have a good friend who has a daughter. We hang out fairly regularly, and the daughter has an astounding imagination. We were talking (the five year old and I) and she likes to pretend she's a variety of animals - cats, dogs, bears, etc... it's starting to cool down in these parts, so I would like to take a store bought hoodie, and make her a variety of ears (out of felt/fleece) that she can snap/velcro/button on and off at her whim to suit her make believe.
I've talked to her mom about this, and she's on board. The hitch is finding solid colored, unadorned, kids' hoodies. I'm incredibly inexperienced in clothing shopping for children (beyond the token infant sized baby gift), and am frustrated. At this point I'm not picky about color, though orange would be ideal (she's not a girly girl, and white would be right out). Her mom doesn't have suggestions either, it appears all of the hoodies in our area are already decorated/branded in some way. I'm also a bit confused about size, because her mom said a 5T, and that doesn't seem commonly available? (At least if Target.com and Amazon are to be believed?)
TL:DR - solid colored, unadorned hoodies for a 5 year old girl. Online preferred, but willing to do brick & mortar. Please and thank you! :)
American Apparel is where I have solved this problem, previously (with all normally attached caveats re: company's marketing and culture). Often, third party Amazon AA sellers have nutty deals on the children's basics (5-10.00/per). Their kids' hoodie is great and comes in a rainbow of plain.
posted by rumposinc at 6:40 AM on September 6, 2011
posted by rumposinc at 6:40 AM on September 6, 2011
American Apparel is a traditional source for solid colored anything. Their list of kids' sweatshirts and outerwear may have something useful.
This sounds like an awesome project. Have fun!
posted by rebekah at 6:40 AM on September 6, 2011
This sounds like an awesome project. Have fun!
posted by rebekah at 6:40 AM on September 6, 2011
Jinx, TPS, as far as AA sizing, they sell by age and if the little girl is within the bell curve of other 5 year olds, the 5T will work well--size 6 for more growing room.
posted by rumposinc at 6:41 AM on September 6, 2011
posted by rumposinc at 6:41 AM on September 6, 2011
Have a google for "t-shirt printing" in your area - they normally carry a big stock of plain coloured garments including hoodies, and could probably be persuaded to ship you one unprinted if you ask nicely.
posted by emilyw at 6:43 AM on September 6, 2011
posted by emilyw at 6:43 AM on September 6, 2011
There were solid hoodies at my local Joann craft store within the last few months. I checked online and couldn't find any, so YMMV.
As for sizing, I think your best bet is to get a size 6 and have a little room to grow.
posted by TooFewShoes at 6:43 AM on September 6, 2011
As for sizing, I think your best bet is to get a size 6 and have a little room to grow.
posted by TooFewShoes at 6:43 AM on September 6, 2011
Best answer: BlankApparel.com is a bulk clothing distributor. They buy blank clothing in bulk, you can buy one item at a discounted rate. It's where I go when I get t-shirts for stenciling.
Also, dyeing is very simple. If you find plain white hoodies in the style you want at a good price, you can always dye them. Rit is really cheap, available pretty much everywhere, and is really easy to use. (I'm thinking if you tie-dyed one in orange, it would make for a pretty rockin' tiger costume.)
posted by phunniemee at 6:52 AM on September 6, 2011 [4 favorites]
Also, dyeing is very simple. If you find plain white hoodies in the style you want at a good price, you can always dye them. Rit is really cheap, available pretty much everywhere, and is really easy to use. (I'm thinking if you tie-dyed one in orange, it would make for a pretty rockin' tiger costume.)
posted by phunniemee at 6:52 AM on September 6, 2011 [4 favorites]
Are you crafty enough to make the hoodies yourself?
posted by brujita at 7:10 AM on September 6, 2011
posted by brujita at 7:10 AM on September 6, 2011
People do this a lot for Halloween costumes.
American Apparel has the most colors - but they run really small. Also try Target.
I'd suggest buying elsewhere and dyeing them if you can.
posted by k8t at 7:25 AM on September 6, 2011
American Apparel has the most colors - but they run really small. Also try Target.
I'd suggest buying elsewhere and dyeing them if you can.
posted by k8t at 7:25 AM on September 6, 2011
Best answer: Carter's often carries a basic hoodie (fleece lined hood) in that size, pink or purple. Carter's stores or Kohls should have them.
posted by fingersandtoes at 7:25 AM on September 6, 2011
posted by fingersandtoes at 7:25 AM on September 6, 2011
My girls love wearing these and sadly losing these. We get them at Target.
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 7:30 AM on September 6, 2011
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 7:30 AM on September 6, 2011
Check at a craft store near you. They almost always have a big selection of plain tshirts and sweatshirts in different colors for people to do craft projects with. JoAnn Fabrics or Michaels are the two best places to check.
posted by MsMolly at 9:02 AM on September 6, 2011
posted by MsMolly at 9:02 AM on September 6, 2011
Best answer: This is a lovely idea. +1 Lands' End, especially if you go to retailmenot.com first for a coupon code. A "little girl" (but also check the boys' section; Lands' End is very big on gendering for mysterious reasons) "medium 5-6" should work. I fit kids' sizes and, uh, am a dork, so sometimes buy stuff to match my 4yo's, and can vouch for their fleece being thick and soft and washing well. Here is a lined one that comes in a dark orange.
LL Bean's kids' hoodies are really nice, but the selection looks pretty limited right now, and they are a bit pricy compared to the Lands' End.
posted by kmennie at 10:56 AM on September 6, 2011 [1 favorite]
LL Bean's kids' hoodies are really nice, but the selection looks pretty limited right now, and they are a bit pricy compared to the Lands' End.
posted by kmennie at 10:56 AM on September 6, 2011 [1 favorite]
Lands' End gear can also be found in Sears nowadays, so you might be able to check out your local mall.
posted by maryr at 1:31 PM on September 6, 2011
posted by maryr at 1:31 PM on September 6, 2011
Jiffyshirts.com is where I get blank shirts for my kids. They ship fast and are pretty cheap.
Here's a youth hoodie that comes in orange. I only glanced at their hoodie selection, but looks like there's a good one.
posted by pyjammy at 1:39 PM on September 6, 2011
Here's a youth hoodie that comes in orange. I only glanced at their hoodie selection, but looks like there's a good one.
posted by pyjammy at 1:39 PM on September 6, 2011
On the the rarity of 5T: 2006 apparently was something of a baby boom year in the U.S. I can confirm that it's been tricky to find clothes and shoes for my little girl in three different states.
posted by moira at 3:59 PM on September 6, 2011
posted by moira at 3:59 PM on September 6, 2011
Response by poster: Thanks everyone. I happened to be at an outlet mall over the weekend, with a Carter's Outlet. Went with a 6 for a bit of room to grow, and had a few colors to chooose from. Now to consult with my little friend to determine what color her "cat ears" are this week. (Though in a recent discussion, she's very pro-dinosaur/lizard, so I'm thinking about figuring out horns or spikes as well...)
posted by librarianamy at 5:16 AM on September 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by librarianamy at 5:16 AM on September 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 6:40 AM on September 6, 2011 [1 favorite]