Pattern Review: Skinny Jeans

Today we have Mona from SewMona giving a review for the Skinny Jean by Peek-a-Boo patterns.  This pattern comes in the lower tween sizes, but since good pant patterns are few and far between, we thought we would share.

My name is Mona and I blog at sewmona.com about sewing, homeschooling, camping, and living in Florida.  I also have an etsy shop where I sell footie pants.  I started sewing for my Barbie dolls when was a little girl around 10 years old.  My mom sewed and she taught me.  I’m pretty good if I do say so myself.  I made my prom dress in 12th grade and four years later, my wedding dress.  Few things have stumped me.  I love making clothes for my kids and occasionally my husband (I can make casual button-up shirts) and myself.  I made my first pair of two piece footie pajamas for my daughter when she was about 4.  When they wore out, I made her another pair.  At that point I realized there might be a market for them, and SewMona was born.

Name of the pattern: Skinny Jeans

Pattern Source: Peek-a-boo pattern shop (affiliate link) sells this .pdf pattern for download.

Sizes available: 12M – 10 years, 18” doll

Special materials required: Buttonhole elastic if you choose to do an adjustable waist or just regular elastic (you can make your own buttonhole elastic too), a button, denim needle if you’re using denim

Skill level required: Some sewing experience helps, but the directions and pictures are excellent.  There’s also a Facebook group that’s very helpful if you get stuck.

How you came to choose the pattern: I was looking for a jean/pants pattern for my kids that wasn't just a basic elastic waist pull-on style.  I also didn't want something too complicated!  This pattern was just what I was looking for.

Did you deviate from the pattern?  If yes, how? The front is low rise, I made it just a little higher (she likes her pants just under her belly button).  I also cut them a little long and a little bit bigger all around (I made a size 10) as my daughter seems to be sprouting up!

Good: I love that these look like jeans!  Five pockets, a “fly” with a button, the top-stitching.  There are so many options here so you can customize the look – adjustable waist or not, belt loops, small pocket in the front pocket, the button can be working or just for looks (mine is just for looks).  I also love that all sizes are included in one pattern. 

Bad: Even though it’s a faux fly, it was still a little confusing to me.  After looking at the pictures and a pair of my jeans, it made sense.

Ugly: Nothing!

Overall pattern rating:  4 bolts

Thank you Mona for giving this review!  We love to hear new voices and share experiences.

affiliate link

Pattern Review: Boardwalk Henley

Today I am reviewing a Peek-a-boo pattern that has variations for boys and girls.  The Boardwalk Henley/Hoodie.  I have sewn a couple for my son who loves his.  I have blogged about them at Without Directions HERE.

Name of the pattern: Boardwalk Henley/Hoodie

Pattern Source:  It can be bought at the Peek-a-boo pattern shop as a .pdf downloadable file. (affiliate link)

Sizes available:  The Henley comes in a whole wide range of sizes from 3 months to 12 years.  

Special materials required:  The pattern calls for knit fabric but I have made versions with a woven for the hood.  The button placket makes a stretchy neckline unnecessary so you are safe to use a woven at that part.  Which brings me to the other special material ... buttons/snaps; you will need two.

Skill level required:  This pattern is super easy and if you are a beginner sewer, please feel free to take this project on.  If you have never sewn a button, I think this is a great project to start.  I highly recommend that you do not skip interfacing the placket in order to keep it stable when sewing the button holes.

How you came to choose the pattern: My church was having a Christmas Eve service where the children were invited to dress as their favorite nativity character.  My 3 year old was an angel, the 6 year old a shepherd, and the 11 year old (she just had a birthday) a sheep.  I was surprised that she decided to dress up at all, but she still thinks of herself as a little kid and has told me she is not ready to grow up just yet.  

So, I decided to make something that can easily be converted to a useful piece for her wardrobe.  Not ready for a new purchase I decided on this top and of course, white fleece is the perfect thing to be a sheep.  I made some ears and a tail to pin on just for the night.

Did you deviate from the pattern?  Yes I did.  I used fleece which if you are at all familiar fabric, has no stretch.  I counted on my daughter being much thinner than the average 12 year old to buy me some wearing ease that would compensate for the lack of stretch in my fabric choice.  I also lined the hood with a satin fabric to keep the static from messing her hair.

Good:  The pattern is designed with elements for many ages and both boys and girls.  You can add a hood or have a simple henley neckline.  I have not yet tried the gathered front or dress version, but they may be coming in the spring and if it does... I will share the results.

Bad:  I don't have any complaints.  It was a nice easy sew with great details.

Ugly:  Nothing.

Overall pattern rating:  5 out of 5 bolts

affiliate link

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Esty Shop Round-up

I am always on the lookout for new designers that make patterns for tween sizes and most of these I find through blogs. But, I have noticed that there are a few pattern designers that have stores on etsy.com.

I am a big fan of etsy and buy most of my gifts from there. I love how it is all small independent businesses. So, I thought it would be great to go on etsy and do a search for children’s sewing patterns. Here are my favorites of what I found:

Sally actually found this shop, Blaverry and sent me the link.  We both really liked her style but most of the clothes are for girls.  But this jacket could be easily made for a boy with the right fabric choices.

Girls & Boys reversible jacket

 Livi Stitches Patterns is a pdf. pattern vendor that has a lot of ruffly cuteness that is more geared for younger girls.  But, she does carry some patterns that are both sized and designed so that a tween could enjoy them. For example, here is a cute basic skirt with color blocking opportunities.

Lucy Skirt

OK, this one only goes to size 10, which is not a tween pattern. But the dress is so beautiful, I had to share it. Maybe one of our readers can get some use out of it. It is by My Childhood Treasures.

Colorblock dress

Felicity Patterns have modern style patterns for both boys and girls. The sizes run up to size 12, so a smaller tween can fit these.  I like this shirt as an alternative to T-shirt for a boy but it is not so dressy as to make him feel constrained.

Kiernan shirt

The Scientific Seamstress has some tween patterns too!

Bowling shirt

There is an etsy shop called Fishsticks Designs and this designer not only has a lot of tween patterns, she has a lot of BOY tween patterns.  Many of them are great basics that you could use to make to fit your boy's unique or notso unique style.

Campshirt

For more of a modern, urban style, you may want to check out Heidi and Finn patterns.  Here is her Urban Unisex Hoodie pattern.

Heidi &Finn

What are your favorite etsy shops for patterns?

Dressing up a PJ pant

The first clothing item I ever sewed was in home-ec.  Of course I was part of a generation that did not call it Home Economics; we called it Life Skills.  In that class I learned some cooking skills, sewing, budgeting, and other miscellaneous things that everyone should learn before graduating high school.   Do high schools still have classes like that?

Well, my sewing project was a pair of PJ pants.  And it really is a great starting point for sewing clothes.  The fit does not need to be exact.  You have mostly straight lines, but do have to learn to navigate a couple gentle curves, and they are pretty practical.  And heck, if you screw them up, you wear them at night and no one will see them.

Recently my daughter wanted some "pull-on pants"  she did not want the hassle of a snap and zipper.  I was totally flabbergasted as I have working so hard to perfect my fly techniques so I can make real jeans for her and not have her wear clothes that look like mom made them.

So, I decided to break out an easy pattern and make PJ pants, done fancy.

I asked her if a pair of slacks would work and she was a bit dubious, but conceded.  I did not want her to look like she was actually wearing PJs to school.
I used some bottom weight fabric I picked up in the remanat bin.  It was just over a yard and I loved  the plaid.  I had actually hoped to make myself something out of this fabric, but oh well, she needed pants more than I do.

I dressed them up a bit by using studs on the pockets and ice blue top stitching.   Instead of making an elastic casing, as the pattern called for, I used wide pretty ice blue elastic that I zigzag stitched right on top of the fabric.  The technique I used is one I learned for making circle skirts on the blog MADE  This gave it a bit of a high-waisted look and I thought dressed them up more.  I think with other modifications,dressed up PJ pants could be equally good for a boy.

Abi was not exactly thrilled with the high waisted look.  But I promised her that with a long tunic, it would be just fine.  She has just grown accustomed to a mid rise pant and so her first assumption was that I made them wrong.

I did make them a little long though, I wanted there to be room for growth.  So many of her pants right now look like she is waiting for a flood, so I am glad that I added that length.  Hopefully she can wear these through the winter.

Have you ever dressed up PJ pants?