Summer Caye Pants, Capris, & Shorts

Who’s tired of wearing skinny jeans all day err day? This girl! 😁 Who thinks flowy, comfy, soft pants should be the next big thing…? YEP, I DO! Haha! I love these Summer Caye Pants from Love Notions Patterns. And I made a couple versions in testing, and my next ones will be some slimmer shorts that I’m super excited about too!

The floral print pants are 100% rayon, and I kept them on the rest of the day after taking pictures, because they were incredibly comfortable. The pattern has a flat front/elastic back waist. Use your full hip measurement to determine your pant size, and your waist measurement to determine elastic length. There are lots of fitting tips included in the tutorial, so you can make a pair that’s just right for your body.

The flat front packets are unique, and add no bulk. 🙌 🙌 🙌 There are optional back patch pockets, and several unique hem detail options. The tulip hem I did on my daughter’s capri version, and is so cute! There’s also split hem, and cuff options.

Another option is the palazzo width, or a wide leg option which is several inches slimmer than the palazzo width.

These are on sale until Friday, May 6th for $7 (women’s) or $6 (girls) or $12 (both patterns, bundled). Grab them and start making your summer or vacation or office appropriate pants, capris or shorts!

Also, let’s take a moment to admire my J Lo hair. Otherwise known as working with the grease 😜

Fabric sources:

Floral rayon: Hancock

Pink woven: Hancock flat fold apparel table (It’s a fluid woven with a little tiny bit of stretch)

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Tyler Tank

What’s it called when you find a pattern that’s the perfect summer staple, and it’s cheap, and easy, with great fit, nice big size range, etc…? Oh yeah, #sewallthetanks

This is the Tyler Tank from Funktional Threads, and is available on Craftsy for $1!! The size range goes from 12 months to 16! Minimal pages to print, and easy to grade between sizes for a better fit! The orange top above is size 3, and the others are all size 4. I made one for Sydney in size 7 width, with size 8 length.

These are also incredibly quick to sew! The arm and neck bands are just right so there’s not any puckering. I’d be happy to recommend this pattern if it’s what you’re looking for!

Check out a few more photos of the ones I’ve already made.

And here’s the size 7 I made for Sydney:

Fabric sources:

Teal and white stripe: cotton jersey from Girl Charlee

Grey rib knit: Joann

Navy waffle knit: upcycled from an old pair of lounge pants

Black and white galaxy print (bands): cotton spandex from Girl Charlee

Charcoal rayon spandex: Hancock flat fold apparel table

Orange upcycle: 100% cotton tshirt

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Wild and Free Lounge Pants

Picture overload ahead. Because CATS on PANTS!!! I can’t with these. My daughter is crazy about them too, and she’s growing more and more independent in her fashion choices as she gets older.

Two views are included in this pattern, the first is designed to allow you to add 3D ears, and the second is a solid pattern piece that you can add an applique to at the knee if you wish. Several animal faces and applique shapes are included, in two sizes, for the smaller and larger size ranges. Pockets with a pocket bag, pockets stitched to the front of the pant, faux pocket, or no pocket are also options.

The animal faces are designed to be painted on, but plotter machine files are included as well.

Coffee+Thread is releasing this pattern on sale for $5!!!!!!!!!!! (through Thursday, April 28th 2016) So go get it now, and make some pants!

Fabric sources:

Grey French Terry: Sincerely Rylee

Pink French Terry: Upcycled from an old pair of my pants

Animal Print: Hancock Spot the Bolt table (😭😭😭😭 that I’m losing that store)

The tank top is the Tyler Tank from Funktional Threads in a rayon spandex from Hancock flat fold table.

Me Hearties Top

Look at these cute girls!! This is the Me Hearties top from Patterns for Pirates. And it’s SO CUTE! I love the sweetheart option for the top. So many fun possibilities with that. Plus you can do the top length with a twirly peplum, or dress length. (Matching women’s pattern is also available 🙂 Sweetheart Dress)

There are three arm lengths, short, 3/4 and long, and you can finish the sleeves and neck with fold over elastic (my first time using this technique) or bindings. Made for Mermaids has a helpful blog post for using FOE here.

ALSO. I always, always, ALWAYS prewash my fabric, except apparently this time… after the girls had worn their tops, and they went through the wash, the skirt portions shrank funny, the sides were now shorter than the front. I should have snapped a picture. It’s still wearable, it just doesn’t look the same. I’ve had this fabric for a while, and had almost used it for a different project a while before this one, but didn’t. I usually wash my fabric as soon as I get it, but I guess I missed this one. Just a reminder from my mistake to make sure you prewash 🙂 This knit, as many, didn’t shrink evenly both ways, making my skirt hem significantly uneven after washing.

The shorts are from Peek-a-boo Pattern Shop, they’re the Cutie Pie Ruffle Pants, Capris and Shorts. Which, just as the name suggests are a pant/capri/short pattern with ruffles at the bottom! I love this style to use under skirts or tops for the girls since I always make them wear shorts (usually short boy shorts) under dresses, and these are more fun since you can see the ruffle peeking out beneath 🙂 You can use knit or wovens for this pattern. I made these from cotton jersey knit.

Fabric Sources:

Floral: cotton jersey from Girl Charlee

Navy/white stripe: cotton jersey from Girl Charlee

White on bodice and sleeves: Ponte from Joann

Stretch lace on sleeves: Joann

Coral FOE: Wal-Mart

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Kids Sewing Week

One of the small facebook groups I’m in had an informal kids sewing week last week. We were challenged to work on our kids’ Summer wardrobes that week. I started with a list that I threw together quickly, so not much thought…and did NOT accomplish my list! I sewed a couple things that weren’t on there, and got through a few that were 🙂 I also have more patterns prepped and ready too, so that’s a step in the right direction. Anyway, I thought I’d post all together here the things I finished this week.

My initial list:

I did make two Brindille & Twig raglans for the boys, though the girls found them first and put them on and thought it was pretty funny 😛

And two Swiss Army tanks from New Horizons Designs, which weren’t on my list…

And some Pirates Booty Boxers for the three year old from Patterns for Pirates:

And, actually, the first thing I made was the Bonny leggings from Made for Mermaids to go with this outfit, which I’ve already posted 🙂

It was a successful week for me, even though I didn’t get to most of my list 🙂 I enjoy having challenges to push me to actually sew the things I need to sew!

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Relaxed Raglan

😁 I’m adding myself to the blog. Pictures of me are not my favorite thing. But here we are. This is the new and improved Relaxed Raglan from Patterns for Pirates! Previously it was called the Women’s Raglan, designed to be a sweatshirt type fit, I think this name fits much better! And the updates are fantastic! Layers! Extended size range! Slimmer sleeves! Updated sleeve angle! You can’t go wrong. This is a great, classic, comfy shirt pattern.

I made this one out of French Terry from Girl Charlee. It has very minimal stretch. There are measurements in the tutorial for adding a regular band at the bottom, or a loose band. I opted for the loose band since my fabric wasn’t very stretchy, and I love the look! The sleeve cuffs and neckband are rib knit from Joann.

Also pictured are Peg Legs, of course! 🙂 Grab your patterns today and start sewing yourself some comfy clothes!!

Fabric sources:

Floral French Terry: Girl Charlee

Grey rib knit: Joann

Black fleece lined spandex: Joann

Photography credit: Sydney and Maia 🙂

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Clean Slate Pants

Is it weird that my main thought about this pattern, after sewing up my first pair, was that it was a joy to make!? I don’t know if there was good hormones going on in my body that day, or what, but this pattern gets high praise from me. All the pattern pieces are curved here and there, and after tracing out my size, and cutting out fabric, everything still fit together perfectly!

And I’m loving the fit on these too. Perfectly slim, not skinny, and not baggy. This is the size 3. I did the optional front pockets, but skipped the fly, and back pocket options. I don’t have all the time in the world 😉

I don’t have pictures, but I did also make a pair and just cut a cotton lycra waistband to add instead of the flat front/elastic back waistband from the pattern. Even easier, and quicker! I think I maybe subtracted 4″ from his waist measurement for the knit waistband.

Check out the Clean Slate Pants from Blank Slate Patterns here.

Fabric Sources:

Blue denim: Joann

Camo: Hancock

Grey French terry: Sincerely Rylee