A MOTHER has come up with a unique idea to help people create their own clothing for children.

Like many, Kate Jenkins, from Rainton near Thirsk, enjoyed sewing and crafts, but often found herself putting her projects to one side when she found she lacked specialist equipment or tools.

Her frustration led her to come up with the idea of a company, the Pretty Lovely Company, which produces kits containing everything to make homemade kids clothing.

The idea was also inspired by memories of her own mother making her outfits from Clothkits, patterns and designs for make-it-yourself clothing popular in the 1970s and early 80s, a company which has been revived in recent years.

Kate, 37, who formerly worked in communications in the car industry before having her daughter, Nancy, now three, said: “When I was young in the 1970s my mum would get a ClothKit catalogue. You could just order materials and she would make clothes for me.

"Ten years ago I started thinking it would be nice to do something like that. I like making things, but often it requires specialist tools that I never have, like a particular type of scissors, or you had to be able to sew something like button holes, which can be time-consuming.”

The kits contain everything needed for each project, including needles and thread and embellishments which can be added to allow each outfit to look unique. The patterns, which include photographs, are designed to be simple to do and can be produced in less than half a day.

“With a sewing machine it is possible to make one of these dresses in two hours," she said.

"I wanted this to be achievable. I don’t want it to be for only experienced crafts people.

“So I’ve created these kits which are designed to be as simple as possible.

"When people say “I love that dress” I want people who have bought the kit to be able to say “I made it”, I want people to be able to enjoy that.”

Next Kate Jenkins hopes to be able to create patterns for dungarees.

For more information visit; www.theprettylovelycompany.co.uk or find The Pretty Lovely Company on Facebook.