Pattern Reviews

Pattern Review: Slumberland Pajamas

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I recently discovered Pickle Toe Patterns when I saw her tester call for the Moonstruck Skirt. I enjoyed testing for her, so when I saw another call for her newest pattern – the Slumberland Pajamas – I jumped at the chance.

The pattern includes both a nightgown and pants/shorts and a shirt with either long or short sleeves.

The shirt is a dolman style which means that the sleeves are part of the bodice. This makes the shirt/nightgown super easy! It’s just three pieces – front and back and then the neckband.

For the nightgown, I colorblocked it since I didn’t have enough of the purple bamboo spandex (from Mily Mae Fabrics – the bamboo spandex is sooo soft!). I also used the zigzag fabric for the neckband for a contrast. The night gown also comes in a shorter above knee option. Of course, you can always make it however long or short you like and hem it to your perfect length.

For my second pair, I used a french terry with two way stretch. It’s a bit heavier and probably too heavy for regular use here in SWFL. However, these will be perfect for when we go camping! I can walk to the bath house and feel like I’m decent and I won’t freeze – win, win! I made the pants length, but they can also be made in shorts or capri length. The waist also has options for high, mid, and low rise.

I came up a little short on the sleeves, so I did a bit of colorblocking. The sleeves would have been plenty long for me without the colorblocking, but since it was my first pair I wanted to follow the pattern exactly. For my next pair, I’ll probably cut the sleeves a bit shorter. These come almost to my elbow and my preference is much shorter.

One of the things I really like about the shirt is that it’s longer. Nothing is more annoying to me than a shirt that isn’t long enough!

The Slumberland pattern is on sale now through Friday May 24. Get your pattern and then join the sew-along on facebook.

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Pattern Review: Reagan Rash Guard

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The newest pattern from Made for Mermaids is the Reagan Rash Guard. It’s available in women’s and kid’s sizes.

My daughter is in the women’s version and my youngest is in the kids version. Fabric is from Raspberry Creek Fabrics.

The Reagan is a raglan style shirt that is close fitting. It can be short or long sleeved (since we’re in Florida and the sun is pretty intense in the summer, I went with long sleeves). There’s also a cropped version and the kids version has an optional ruffle along one arm seam. As with most raglan style shirts, this one is a quick sew! I made mine in about 30 minutes. I think the longest part is taping the pattern together.

Sewing with swim fabric is not that much harder than sewing knit fabrics. Swim does tend to be slippery-ier (is that a word?) so you will need to pin or clip your seams really well to keep them straight. Also make sure you’re using a stretch stitch (zig zag or triple stretch stitch are my favorites). If it’s your first time, just go slow! The pattern itself is easy and the instructions will walk you through each step.

We took ours to the beach for the ultimate test. It was a success! The kids love their new shirts and the fabric is so soft! It’s from Raspberry Creek Fabrics swim collection. They design and print their own fabric right here in the US! It provides UPF 50+ protection.

I also made my boys new swim trunks. I used the Monaco swim trunks pattern by Peek-A-Boo Pattern Shop. It’s a European style swim suit made with swim fabric rather than board short fabric. The pattern has a shorter inseam, but my boys wanted shorts closer to their knees so I lengthened the inseam to about 8″.

The turtle fabric and coordinating stripes are also from Peek-A-Boo Fabric Shop.

The turtle shirt is the Boulder Tee by Gracious Threads

The Reagan pattern is on sale now through Tuesday, May 21.

Women’s Reagan

Kids Reagan

Reagan Bundle

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Pattern Review: Rover Pants/Shorts by Winter Wear Designs

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I have been looking for new-to-me pattern designers. I’m sure that I’ve known about Winter Wear Designs for a while, but only recently paid attention to her patterns. When she posted a tester call for cargo pants/shorts, I knew I wanted to test.

New Rover Pants paired with a Jordan hoodie by Made for Mermaids

It seems like so many patterns are for girls so a fun pattern for boys was a nice change (especially since I have two boys). This pattern is designed for wovens (fabric with little to no stretch) and is loaded with options including 5 different types of pockets to mix and match. One of them is this unique back pocket.

I love these back pockets! They’re a fun change from the traditional back patch pockets you see on jeans.

For the front, I only did a patch pocket, but there are also options for two different styles of cargo pockets plus a more traditional front pocket (similar to the back pocket).

This pattern comes with two waistband options – either elastic waist (back shown above, front shown below) with a faux fly or a contoured waistband with a fully functional fly. Both options include directions for adjustable elastic. Since my youngest doesn’t want to take the time to unbutton and unzip pants, this elastic waist is perfect!

Front view of the faux fly and elastic waist.

One thing I learned while testing is that accurate measurements are very important! Do not, I repeat do NOT try to compare ready-to-wear (RTW) sizing to a PDF pattern size. My son wears a 12 in RTW so that the legs are long enough and then he cinches the waist down to make them stay up. For my first pair (a muslin made with cheap fabric), I made a straight size 10 based on his waist and hips. They didn’t fit right – the legs would’ve been too long and the rise was way too long. I remeasured and found that according to his inseam, I should have done a 10 width with an 8 length. There are instructions in the pattern for grading and it really isn’t that hard. By grading my second pair, I ended up making a much better fitting pair of jeans.

The Rover Pants and Shorts pattern is available for sizes 18M-14. It will be on sale for just $6.50 through May 6. Then it will be $7.95.

*This post contains affiliate links. For more information, see my disclosure policy.

Pattern Review: Jordan by Made for Mermaids

I recently tested the newest pattern by Made for Mermaids – the Jordan.

It’s available in kid’s, women’s, and men’s sizes! Perfect for the whole family! My sons love their new Jordan hoodies.

They’re made from lightweight cotton lycra from JoAnns which makes them perfect for cool Florida mornings (no snowmageddon here!).

I decided that I needed a Jordan too (I don’t think I’ve owned a hoodie in my adult life…possibly ever). I made my sleeveless since that’s what I wear most of the summer. I love it!

I choose a lightweight cotton/poly blend from Nature’s Fabrics for the main part, and then I used a cotton lycra for the bands around the armholes so that they looked good. The main fabric does not have good recovery which means the arms holes looked all stretched out. Using fabric with good recovery means that the arm holes will not look all stretched out by the end of the day.

I made mine with the high/low hem, but it there are other options including dress length.

Get yours here:

Kids

Women

Men

Then come back and tell me which one you’re going to make first.

Pattern Review: Moonstruck Skirt by Pickle Toe Patterns

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I’ve been looking for some new-to-me pattern companies and recently decided to check out Pickle Toe Patterns. I tested their newest pattern the Moonstruck Skirt.

One of the first things I noticed is that this pattern comes in a wide range of sizes: 00 – 36! That means I can make skirts for just about every woman I know including my teenage daughter.

It really is a simple skirt, but it has so many options that you’ll want one for every day. It comes in 5 different lengths, two different styles of ruching, waistband for high hip or waist, and side vents. It’s bound to become a favorite!

The waistband was a bit fiddle-y, but in the end I decided it was worth it. I hate when the elastic twists or doesn’t stay in the right place. Because the elastic is sewn to the top of the waistband, there’s no way for it to wander.

I made the maxi with ruching on one side, but I only did it on the bottom 12 inches. I cut a piece of 1/4″ elastic about 6 inches long, measured up 13 inches from the bottom, and then stretched it to 1″ from the bottom. You can do it on both sides, but I love the asymmetrical look.

Get your Moonstruck pattern while it’s on sale.

Fabric is a rayon blend from Mily Mae.

*This post contains affiliate links. For more information, see my disclosure policy.