Sewing: Pattern Reviews
- Soldier's Pinafore
Last week I cut my new fabric and made a little pinafore for my baby niece. I think she’s the best recipient of this fabric because her older brother is very interested in matryoshka dolls a.k.a. soldiers.Initially I found a free baby pinafore pattern, but after I printed and cut out the pattern tissue, I couldn’t tell if it would be big enough or not. So I decided to take the safe route and buy a pattern.
I chose the pattern tissue from M2213, view D (in size small) to cut the fabric and the lining, but then I sewed it together as I wanted. The original pattern has open side seams with fabric ties, but I didn’t like that design, so I simply sewed it as a pinafore with buttoned shoulder straps. It took me longer to cut the fabric than to sew it together, but perhaps that’s because I hate cutting out fabric. The odd thing is, I hate cutting out fabric so much that I often put the project aside indefinitely after I finish cutting because I am so sick of it by that point. Maybe I hate cutting because I have so many projects cut but never sewn!
The lining is a lightweight cotton gingham from my fabric stash. Although it doesn’t exactly match, I decided it was unlikely people would notice the lining. I had some cute baby buttons in my button box, but decided to go with the plainest buttons possible: 3/4″ navy blue, shank buttons. Plain definitely looks best, methinks.
I can’t tell you whether or not I’m happy with the finished product since I haven’t seen what it looks like in action, but if it fits properly, I’ll be very happy with it. Her mother says it is still a bit big for her now, so maybe she’ll grow into it by Spring.
It’s such a soft corduroy that I’m tempted to get some more to make something for myself. I have a few scraps left over, so maybe I could put those to good use.
- You sewed what!?! The Fugly Snugly
During the Vogue pattern sale last week, I was feeling pretty frisky, so I decided to try out this origami-ish jacket pattern. In this photo it looks warm and flowing to me. I got some houndstooth print fleece and a couple of cute, red buttons.- Project Details:
- Pattern: Vogue 1145 Lynn Mizono designed Misses Jacket and Pants
- Fabric: fleece, 4.25 yards!
- Lining: none
- Notions: lots of thread and 2 buttons, 1.125″ diameter
- Pattern Description: Loose fitting jacket with bizarrely short and ill-fitted sleeves which are too large at the top of the arm. It has two patch pockets, each large enough to hold a quart of soy ice cream, and an even more gigantic collar. No hemming is required; edges are finished with machine stitching.
- FO looks like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope? I couldn’t figure out how to place the buttons, so mine does not look like the photo. Also, I think you’d have to have a very specific type of fleece to get the light, flowing look of the pattern envelope photo.
- Were the instructions easy to follow? Yes, it was a simple pattern in theory, but the pieces are so enormous that they were difficult to cut out and difficult to maneuver.
- My particular likes / dislikes about the pattern: I liked how quick and simply it is constructed. There were so many edge stitches on this project that I was able to experiment with many of the hundreds of stitches on my machine. I also love that you can wear it back to front for warmth and comfort without having your hands trapped inside so that you can move your arms and use your hands and still be wrapped and warm.
- My pattern alterations / design changes: Although the button placement is marked on the pattern tissue, I couldn’t make heads or tails of it, so I improvised my button placement.
- Would I sew it again or recommend it to others? nope and no, however I will sell you my pattern for $4 plus postage. I have the XS-S-M envelope and I cut the M size, so all tissues are complete.
Tonight I sported it to Wal-Mart with the thinly veiled objective of getting spotted for The People of WalMart photoblog. Keep your fingers crossed for me.
- Project Details:
- What is Vogue, Alex?
Yes, that’s correct. If you responded, “What is Vogue?” to the Sombrero or Vogue photo clue, then you are absolutely correct!
- Project Details: An all cotton sun hat to save my hair from any more fading.
- Pattern: This hat was made from Vogue pattern 7600 (V7600).
- Fabric: As called for, I used 100% cotton: Alexander Henry’s “All Cotton” in blue 1696A.
- Lining: I used some light moss green batiste from my mom’s scraps.
- Notions: ribbon. The pattern envelope didn’t call for ribbon, so this notion was a surprise in the instructions. I used some ⅞” striped, brown ribbon I had on hand.
- Pattern Description: There are four hats in this pattern by Patricia Underwood. I chose the hat designed with a large brim and a flat top crown. There’s a lotta lotta topstitching that’s both decorative and functional. This pattern uses quite a bit of fabric and interfacing because you have to cut out big, round pieces.
- FO looks like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope? Yes, I think my finished hat does look like the pattern envelope hat although I can’t get my brim to turn up so evenly. It’s all in the topstitching, methinks.
- Were the instructions easy to follow? Yes, the instructions were easy enough to follow, but the notions list was incomplete.
- My particular likes / dislikes about the pattern: I forgot to read the pre-instructions, so I stitched a seam or two before I realized the seam allowance is ½” instead of ⅝”. It was easy enough to fix since I caught my mistake early. I don’t like incomplete notions lists, but I do like all the topstitching even though it took me about 2 hours to do it all. I think it looks great with the brim turned up, but if you leave the brim straight, it is very floppy.
- My pattern alterations / design changes: No mods! Can you believe it?
- Would I sew it again or recommend it to others? Yes, I think I would sew this sun hat pattern again. (I don’t think I’d ever sew the turban in this pattern.) I made the smallest size (21 ½” head circumference) even though my head circumference is 21 ¾”. It’s a smidgeon too tight, so I may make the medium size next time (22 ½”).
- Margaret bag
A few weeks ago L told me she’d seen a cute purse pattern online for free! I’m trying desperately to convince her to get a sewing machine because I know she’d love it and really use it, so I suggested we get together to do some purse making. My plan is to talk to her so much about sewing that she caves to my masterful manipulation.
When we got together, we both had purchased our fabric, so we began by cutting fabric, lining, interlining, and interfacing. She used my mom’s machine and I brought my machine so that we could both sew at the same time. It took us all afternoon. I was busy fiddling with my own modifications for the first several hours, but L steadily made her way through the pattern as written. It’s times like these I’m jealous of L’s smart strategy of simply sticking to the original scope.
- Project Details: A girls’ afternoon of sewing up a cute, quick, and easy sling bag.
- Pattern: Oh frannson’s Margaret Bag.
- Fabric: 100% cotton duck (#10) with a retro green and blue geometric print from my fabric stash.
- Lining: outdoor cotton canvas in solid navy (scraps from another project).
- Notions: a big button, interfacing, flannel for interlining.
- Pattern Description: lined, sling bag with inside pockets and button closure.
- FO looks like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope? Yes.
- Were the instructions easy to follow? I’ll be honest, I didn’t really read the instructions. I tried to insert an interior zipper at first, but it took several hours of unsuccessful sewing and ripping. By the time I gave up on it, L was so far ahead of me that I just copied her. The instructions seemed to have clear photo descriptions, but the color printer didn’t work, so we checked the photo instructions on my iPhone as we sewed.
- My particular likes / dislikes about the pattern: I like how easy the pattern was to put together and I especially like the gussets. We did not need as much fabric as the pattern called for, but we used an awful lot of interfacing! I like the size of the final FO and mine is quite sturdy. I’m not terribly happy with how my button and button loop fasten, but I could modify it to suit me.
- My pattern alterations / design changes: I added an extra interior pocket with zipper. It looks like crap, but it’s fairly functional. I also used a twin needle for the first time when doing the top stitching on the strap and opening.
- Would I sew it again or recommend it to others? Yes, I do recommend this pattern. It’s clear and uncomplicated, would work with lots of different fabrics.
L’s bag is really cute, but I forgot to take a photo of it. She did the facing in black and white sprial-ish print with a pink lining. Maybe she’ll post a photo on her own blog.
- Fruity Handbag
The fruit fabric became a casual purse designed by Elaine Heigl. I chose a pattern that I recently bought during a Hancock Fabrics 99¢ pattern sale day. I’m really happy with the finished object and I only wish I’d bought enough fabric to make a matching wallet, too.
- Pattern: Simplicity 2685
- Fabric: 100% cotton
- Lining: same, 100% cotton
- Notions: short zipper and 4 buttons
- Pattern Description: Small tote that could be a shoulder bag or handbag
- Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes!
- Were the instructions easy to follow? The only part I had a bit of trouble wrapping my brain around was making the inside, hidden pocket. I simply followed the instructions blindly and it worked!
- What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? The pattern itself was quick and simple, but I would have liked a few more design features like more interior pockets. I don’t like that the purse doesn’t close, so I tried to add a magnet clasp, but after two tries, I was never happy with the result, so I gave up.
- Pattern Alterations or any design changes you made: I added more inside pockets to hold my cellphone and keys. I reinforced the straps/handles with machine stitching. Also, I used fabric covered buttons instead of plastic ones as shown in the pattern.
- Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? Yes, I would sew this one again. I think if I make it again, I would modify the design to be more of a trapezoid shape instead of a rectangle.
