SWIMMMMMMMM WEEEEEEEEEEK - and today we have an adorable unisex suit for you!!! The Aloha Burn Blocker is great for boys and girls, it is great for surfing, puddle jumping, or swimming at the pool.
Read MoreEveryone loves options! This pattern has plenty! If you are like me, you have a stash of cute wovens just waiting to be used. This top or dress gives enough options to make a different one for every day of the week! Now, let's get to Rachel's review of the Megan's Wrap Top by Simple Life Pattern Company.
Read MoreIf you are going to have fun in the sun, then you also need a great coverup for all those swimsuits youa re going to make,. Check out Lisa's review of the Kid's Kaftan by Pattern Emporium.
Read MoreHello, again! It's Jessica of Snickerdoodle Stew, here to kick off our swimsuit sewing week with a review of the Jalie One Piece Swimsuits (3350e)! I'm most definitely a newbie to sewing swimsuits and this is my second one ever, as well as my first Jalie pattern, so I'm glad to be able to share my successes and flubs with you!
Today I will be reviewing the girl's portion of the pattern.
The first thing I need to draw your attention to with this pattern is the SIZE RANGE!!! It's insane! Not only are you getting 27 sizes in one pattern, you are getting two bodice styles with two back styles PLUS the ability to mix and match the fronts and backs. Lots of bang for your self-sewing swimwear buck.
Speaking of bang for my buck, this uses such a small amount of fabric! The turquoise fabric is from Girl Charlee (purchased last year, so it's no longer available that I can see), and the pink and red stripes are from Purple Seamstress Fabrics.
There are a lot of instructions on how to get a great fit, which I really appreciate. Miss Lydia was right on a 3 for her girth, but just under a 3 for her chest and hip measurements, so I went with a 3. I think the fit is great, but she normally wears a 4 or 5 in RTW, so really make sure that you measure well and make a muslin if you have to. My only disappointment in the fit is that I wish there was a little more coverage on top. I do like that you have the option to mix and match the front and back, so I went with view A for the front and view B for the back.
There are a few interesting features in this pattern that are different from what you might know in other PDFs. Jalie is a Canadian company, and their pattern instructions are done in columns, one side in English and one side in French. The measurements are in Imperial and Metric, so make sure you keep them straight if you're used to one over the other! Also, all of the instructions have corresponding illustrations. The directions are straightforward and to the point, so beginning seamstresses that are looking for something that's more in depth may have a hard time following along.
My last bit of advice is to play around with your zig zag over the elastic on the topside of the fabric on some scraps. I didn't know exactly where to put mine and for my machine, it worked better to zig zag almost to the inside edge of the elastic, as opposed to being closer to the outside edge of the garment. So I have a funky double zig zag, which actually looks kind of cool. I did my inside seams with a serger and all of my elastic work with my regular machine, and the instructions tell you what to do if you don't have a serger.
Overall, I was pleased with the outcome and while I don't have an overwhelming desire to make all of Miss Lydia's swimsuits from now on, I at least have some great fabric leftover and I have the hang of sewing it so I can make another when she outgrows this one.
Today, we take a look at some fun and useful camera bags. Denita has a wonderful and insightful review to help you make the choice that works best for you. We also have some wonderful versions sewn up by Lisa and Kim!
Read MoreThe SImple Life Pattern Company is at it again and we're here to bring you a review plus some great pics of Mia's Tieback Top, Dress, and Maxi! First up, we'll have Shae with a review and 3 lovely examples, followed by more terrific tiebacks from Leonie and Marnie! And don't stray too far, because we have a review of Megan's Wrap Top and Dress on Thursday!
Read MoreWe're doing a lot of self-care sewing and showing how we are BEAUTIFUL in so many ways, but sometimes we're not ready to commit to sewing a garment for ourselves. Or we want to sew for someone else, but it's hard with measurements and curves and such. This is where handbags come in! Who doesn't love a fun clutch or handbag? Today we have the Gather Me Up Clutch by Two Pretty Poppets, sewn up and reviewed by Sarah and Raedene!
Read MoreIt is well known that here at Pattern Revolution, we tend to mostly talk about PDF patterns. But sometimes something so cool crosses our desks that we just can't say no.
That was the case when we were contacted by Tuttle Publishing Company to review two of their popular Japanese pattern books books: Sewing for Your Girls by designer Yoshiko Tsukiori and Sew Sweet Handmade Clothes for Girls by Yuki Araki.
Read MoreI think everyone would agree that there are some styles that are just timeless. Clean lines that stand the test from generation to generation and only require small updates of hemlines or fabric selection to be current. To me, brownie-goose patterns fit have that timelessness that will have my daughter sewing them for her children someday, should she choose to pick up the addiction...er...hobby. And today we have the Tilly Top reviewed by Kim, with an extra bonus of the Darby Shorts for added cuteness, and more gorgeous photos by Serena.
Read MoreReview of the Sofilantjes Gemini Skirt, a coupon code and a contest!
Read MoreWelcome to Pattern Revolution! We're a collective of women focused on encouraging and educating the modern sewist. Our team is made up of moms, shop owners, hobbyists, and masters of the trade. Our skill levels and project interests may vary, but our love of electronic PDF patterns are the same. Read more about the future of sewing patterns, or dive right in and let our posts inspire you
Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the posts on this site are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, Pattern Revolution will receive a small affiliate commission. These commissions help keep the lights on at Pattern Revolution and we appreciate all of our readers for using them to purchase when possible. A complete list of our affiliates can be found on the "Sponsors and Affiliates" page. Pattern Revolution also receives a copy of the patterns featured on this blog free of charge. All reviews and options are the those of the reviewer alone and they receive no compensation for their review. Pattern Revolution only recommends products or services we use and believe will add value to our readers. Pattern Revolution is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
