Sportswear for budding gymnasts
by
She Who Sews
- 12:32
My little girl has been doing gymnastics since she was just 18 months old. She started in a Mummy and Toddler stay and play session, and quickly progressed to drop and leave pre-school sessions, then into the relevant age groups. She was just 4 when she was selected for a rising stars development group, and her skills went on from there.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgbJHaaBNWBcrFXIMaQjImY9Yt2XRjHiVlmAJWsy5EdWa3IEOJktWXq8OJDaATkyG_Utxc7cj7SuOVfdkS4zxOOKedHpjvi1_L6Rijeivpp6sjtfgy7nGEB5f_ve4dp9gv8FqtO3KiEqU/s640/Bralette-6062-2.jpg)
It wasn't until a couple of years ago, that the love of gymnastics grew strong, and with it, a love of all things shiny and stretchy... I'm talking of course, about leotards. I've made a couple, they weren't worth photographing! And I've bought her a couple, but we're not a collector of brands. She is growing out of her current ones though, so I might have to try again for her. Here she is on her birthday last summer, in a beautiful custom leotard, made for her by my friend over at Rose Gymwear.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsJYhV-TggUEcgHYXD0DakorgC9Ve2zcitFignTyPCjBFVo8STG7yW-3I-9bUe-vbdanAZg4qBunjLdApAoZJr-ly87U0dH010obDi2DQcOZ7JVwR3GerabPoSFx2-n9l7hLjiwTopbjU/s640/Layla+Birthday+15.8.18-4369.jpg)
Being in the mini squad groups meant she trained with older girls, who wore crop top and shorts set. So she's been asking for a similar set for well over two years.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihngQ-WdpkFzCLgKxoVhALbnsvpoQg4K0Jyq0eKPmyZFYFG46-cr3ync7IOmT-GQkshEzwPxn2nqbwXnVdlK-ObCRnDgDMQnN0NsKM9oDGaE80rECaqkJ-NBMsJ-jzhXXKq-LwgA_PbzY/s640/Bralette-6056-1.jpg)
I've refused, the same as I have for a bikini. She's just a little girl and I don't think it's quite right.
But that all changed a couple of weeks ago, when BOO! Designs released their free Bralette pattern, for girls from age 2 right the way up to 14. It's essentially a racer back crop top, and even better, it was free! I downloaded it straight away and felt pretty daunted by what seemed to me, pretty technical knit processes involving elastic, binding and the such. Anyway, I gave it a go, and followed the instructions to a tee, and produced a tiny crop top of an evening.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLV9-tO8VlDE_1ONsBitYm_UrLOqm6PoLYEVnvPFOZ_VehzwJApn4ldN8kz4Zx72ICWUUY_ODI5pHXBbELNnwowaHJk6zYBxD-ulvdkqwHYz_wmxLYg74Q2d0Ls926ev-FymAzP_z6LBs/s640/Bralette-6071-5.jpg)
To say Layla was happy when she saw it was an understatement. She has literally worn it for a week (apart from sleeping and gym practice, and her big competition last weekend). I really need to wash it... eek!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBt93S8msXLOYhBoDaLiARcJ3c6DLPYPgGcda4i9fPs-ThUjJYxBulFQpSnlQEOqTmWC8qGx5UTUEysRAyWsNYUhrkEQ3W-de1F8gRpc_unWiybWsKT3uBQBVTIEWDVpveEcnGASujhQ4/s640/Bralette-6067-3.jpg)
I made a pair of MBJM (Made by Jack's Mum) harem pants in short length to go with it. I totally mashed sizes, with a 5 width and 8 length, and was super dubious they wouldn't fit, but they did. I intended them to be knee length, and they are just a smidge longer than that. I need to take some stitches out of the yoga waistband and add elastic. I've never had any luck with yoga waistbands, they always fall down on my girl. I think she is just so slight, she needs the extra elastic in them.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_NxEFgho1wV6ffBpoxRvJ1Ry4Xo4fdltgD_0JQFTMuKLpqW-pFm9dKO7eKlTP5EtWqo2f-b9I-ok5wyS4G5bZ8Rhsf8y8J61QvhIZp4YZrFQ08ZLS7hdLgMk3s0I2xSrRVYLPpO-jyBg/s640/Bralette-6069-4.jpg)
Both items were made in poly knit fabric (I think it was called Aeolian Ripples? by Avoca) from Fabworks. I bought it several years ago with the intention of selling leggings and floaty summer woven tops in my shop. It never worked out, so I still have a good few metres of this fabric left. It makes perfect gym wear!!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZKMyyk99TpEuv6s1lGpUXSIYj5fqcVNtvMXlS57AQLVsAmBfPjvsNNUZw0t22uNkis2I33OSnS2U_WWUy4zV8Og1bdT2hyphenhyphenGKdyR0SdJlxMuxB2RmTca3saB5JBZBreNNfPWixqPfPyds/s640/Bralette-6065-1.jpg)
Did you know you can follow me on Instagram and I'd love for you to give me a like on Facebook.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgbJHaaBNWBcrFXIMaQjImY9Yt2XRjHiVlmAJWsy5EdWa3IEOJktWXq8OJDaATkyG_Utxc7cj7SuOVfdkS4zxOOKedHpjvi1_L6Rijeivpp6sjtfgy7nGEB5f_ve4dp9gv8FqtO3KiEqU/s640/Bralette-6062-2.jpg)
It wasn't until a couple of years ago, that the love of gymnastics grew strong, and with it, a love of all things shiny and stretchy... I'm talking of course, about leotards. I've made a couple, they weren't worth photographing! And I've bought her a couple, but we're not a collector of brands. She is growing out of her current ones though, so I might have to try again for her. Here she is on her birthday last summer, in a beautiful custom leotard, made for her by my friend over at Rose Gymwear.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsJYhV-TggUEcgHYXD0DakorgC9Ve2zcitFignTyPCjBFVo8STG7yW-3I-9bUe-vbdanAZg4qBunjLdApAoZJr-ly87U0dH010obDi2DQcOZ7JVwR3GerabPoSFx2-n9l7hLjiwTopbjU/s640/Layla+Birthday+15.8.18-4369.jpg)
Being in the mini squad groups meant she trained with older girls, who wore crop top and shorts set. So she's been asking for a similar set for well over two years.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihngQ-WdpkFzCLgKxoVhALbnsvpoQg4K0Jyq0eKPmyZFYFG46-cr3ync7IOmT-GQkshEzwPxn2nqbwXnVdlK-ObCRnDgDMQnN0NsKM9oDGaE80rECaqkJ-NBMsJ-jzhXXKq-LwgA_PbzY/s640/Bralette-6056-1.jpg)
I've refused, the same as I have for a bikini. She's just a little girl and I don't think it's quite right.
But that all changed a couple of weeks ago, when BOO! Designs released their free Bralette pattern, for girls from age 2 right the way up to 14. It's essentially a racer back crop top, and even better, it was free! I downloaded it straight away and felt pretty daunted by what seemed to me, pretty technical knit processes involving elastic, binding and the such. Anyway, I gave it a go, and followed the instructions to a tee, and produced a tiny crop top of an evening.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLV9-tO8VlDE_1ONsBitYm_UrLOqm6PoLYEVnvPFOZ_VehzwJApn4ldN8kz4Zx72ICWUUY_ODI5pHXBbELNnwowaHJk6zYBxD-ulvdkqwHYz_wmxLYg74Q2d0Ls926ev-FymAzP_z6LBs/s640/Bralette-6071-5.jpg)
To say Layla was happy when she saw it was an understatement. She has literally worn it for a week (apart from sleeping and gym practice, and her big competition last weekend). I really need to wash it... eek!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBt93S8msXLOYhBoDaLiARcJ3c6DLPYPgGcda4i9fPs-ThUjJYxBulFQpSnlQEOqTmWC8qGx5UTUEysRAyWsNYUhrkEQ3W-de1F8gRpc_unWiybWsKT3uBQBVTIEWDVpveEcnGASujhQ4/s640/Bralette-6067-3.jpg)
I made a pair of MBJM (Made by Jack's Mum) harem pants in short length to go with it. I totally mashed sizes, with a 5 width and 8 length, and was super dubious they wouldn't fit, but they did. I intended them to be knee length, and they are just a smidge longer than that. I need to take some stitches out of the yoga waistband and add elastic. I've never had any luck with yoga waistbands, they always fall down on my girl. I think she is just so slight, she needs the extra elastic in them.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_NxEFgho1wV6ffBpoxRvJ1Ry4Xo4fdltgD_0JQFTMuKLpqW-pFm9dKO7eKlTP5EtWqo2f-b9I-ok5wyS4G5bZ8Rhsf8y8J61QvhIZp4YZrFQ08ZLS7hdLgMk3s0I2xSrRVYLPpO-jyBg/s640/Bralette-6069-4.jpg)
Both items were made in poly knit fabric (I think it was called Aeolian Ripples? by Avoca) from Fabworks. I bought it several years ago with the intention of selling leggings and floaty summer woven tops in my shop. It never worked out, so I still have a good few metres of this fabric left. It makes perfect gym wear!!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZKMyyk99TpEuv6s1lGpUXSIYj5fqcVNtvMXlS57AQLVsAmBfPjvsNNUZw0t22uNkis2I33OSnS2U_WWUy4zV8Og1bdT2hyphenhyphenGKdyR0SdJlxMuxB2RmTca3saB5JBZBreNNfPWixqPfPyds/s640/Bralette-6065-1.jpg)
Did you know you can follow me on Instagram and I'd love for you to give me a like on Facebook.