A tiny Skelly Bear dress for a birthday, matching dungarees for a gig, or a Creepy Kawaii top that finally feels like you is worth waiting for. Handmade garment ordering is not the same as grabbing a standard size from a warehouse shelf. You are choosing a piece that is cut, sewn and prepared with your order in mind, which is brilliant for individuality but calls for a little planning.
That does not need to make shopping feel complicated. A few practical checks before you add to basket can help you choose the right size, understand the production route and avoid the dreadful feeling of realising an event is next weekend.
Why handmade garment ordering works differently
Made-to-order clothing begins after an order is placed. Rather than producing piles of identical garments in advance, an independent maker can offer more prints, more garment shapes and a wider mix of styles without turning every collection into a race to clear unwanted stock.
For alt wardrobes, that matters. Your perfect outfit might be a black-and-pink print, a spooky farm-themed fabric or a playful bow detail that would never appear on the high street. It also means a household can find pieces that feel connected without everyone wearing a carbon-copy outfit. A baby romper, child’s dress and adult top can share a mood, even when each person wants a different silhouette.
The trade-off is time. Handmade work has a production window, and that window is part of the product, not an annoying footnote. Fabrics need to be cut accurately, seams finished properly and orders completed in a sensible queue. Ready-to-post items are different: they are already made and can move much faster. The Cattery may also have its own stated turnaround, so treat each product category as its own route rather than assuming every item leaves at the same speed.
Start with the occasion, then choose the garment
The easiest way to make a confident choice is to decide what the piece needs to do. Is it for ordinary nursery days, a birthday photo, a festival, a family outing or a present? A dramatic statement dress can be exactly right for a party, while comfy joggers or a soft top may get far more wear in the weekly rotation.
Think about layering, too. British weather has a habit of ignoring aesthetic plans. A sleeveless romper may suit a warm indoor event, but an outer layer gives you more options for a chilly journey or an unexpectedly breezy afternoon. For adults, consider whether a top works with the trousers, skirts and boots you already reach for. For children, consider nappy access, playground movement and how much independence they have when getting dressed.
Print is usually the fun part, but it is worth viewing it as part of the whole outfit. Large-scale artwork can land differently depending on garment size and cut. A print placement will naturally vary from piece to piece because handmade garments are cut from fabric, not printed as identical panels. That variation is part of the charm. If exact placement is crucial for your plans, check the product details before ordering rather than guessing.
Get sizing right before the scissors come out
Sizes are not universal, especially across independent clothing brands. The label size your child wore six months ago, or the size you buy from a chain shop, is useful background information but not a guarantee. Measurements win every time.
Use a soft tape measure and measure the person, ideally over lightweight clothes or close-fitting layers. Compare those measurements with the size information shown for the specific item. Different cuts need different room: a fitted adult top, roomy dungarees and a twirly dress should not be expected to fit in the same way.
For growing children, there is a balance to strike. Sizing up can offer more wear, but too much extra fabric may affect how a garment sits, moves or stays put. If you are between sizes, decide based on the style and the intended use. A relaxed layer may work well with extra room; something designed for a more precise fit may not. When in doubt, check the listed guidance and ask before placing a made-to-order purchase, not after it has entered production.
Also consider fabric behaviour. Stretchy fabrics and woven fabrics can fit differently, while washing and care instructions can affect how a piece looks over time. Follow the care guidance supplied with the garment so those dark colours, bold prints and lovely details stay ready for repeat wear.
Check the production window before building your look
A handmade wardrobe rewards people who plan ahead, particularly around birthdays, school events, Halloween season and holiday gifting. Before committing to an outfit, read the current turnaround information on the relevant product page or shop section. Production windows can change with demand, fabric availability and busy periods, so the current stated timeframe is the one that counts.
Work backwards from the date you need the garment. Leave room for production, posting and the occasional real-life complication, such as a delayed parcel or the discovery that someone has grown overnight. If the deadline is close, look at ready-to-post stock first. It may be a smaller selection, but it is the sensible choice when timing matters more than having every option available.
Avoid treating a mixed basket as one simple dispatch promise. If you order a ready-to-post item alongside a made-to-order piece, check how the shop handles items with different production times before you pay. Sometimes waiting for a coordinated parcel is ideal. Other times, getting the already-made piece sooner matters more. The answer depends on the shop’s stated policy and your deadline.
Build an order you will still love when it arrives
It is tempting to choose every brilliant print at once. We fully support a little chaotic joy, but a quick basket check can make an order feel more intentional. Look at the sizes, garment types, print names and production category together. Are you buying a birthday outfit that needs to arrive by a fixed date? Are you creating a matching family moment? Or are you adding reliable everyday pieces to a very non-basic wardrobe?
For coordinated dressing, matching does not have to mean identical. Pair a Farmbies children’s item with an adult accessory, or choose related colours across different prints. This keeps the look personal and avoids anyone feeling like they have been placed in a themed uniform. It is especially useful for families where one person wants full goth drama and another prefers a softer spooky-cute nod.
If you are shopping for a gift, confirm the recipient’s measurements where possible and allow a generous lead time. A handmade surprise is much more fun when it arrives before the celebration rather than becoming an apologetic screenshot in a card.
A quick pre-order check that saves drama
Before checkout, pause for one minute and confirm five things:
- the garment type and print are the ones you actually want;
- the selected size matches the item’s own measurement guidance;
- the product is made-to-order, from The Cattery, or ready to post;
- the current production and posting timeframe works for your date; and
- your delivery details, especially postcode and flat number, are correct.
Make the wait part of the fun
The wait for a handmade garment is not dead time. It is the space between choosing a print that makes you grin and wearing something that was not pulled from an anonymous stack. Use it to plan shoes, layers and accessories, or save the outfit for the event it was made for.
Kandy Kitten Apparel is built for wardrobes with personality, whether that means baby bats, punk trousers, creepy-cute dresses or matching family mischief. Order with clear measurements, realistic timing and a little room for handmade variation, then let the finished piece be the loudest thing in the room.
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