Fresh Air by BurdaStyle

Do you have a wedding to attend this summer or is your tween in need of some new dress clothes?

I know Easter is usually the big push for fancy clothes and that just passed.  But there always seems to be events in our lives that we need the kids to clean up and put on something other than jeans and a tee shirt.

BurdaStyle recently released a collection of dressy clothes that fit both tween girls and boys called the Fresh Air Collection. (This post contains affiliate links.)

Boy's Suit Jacket

Let's start with the boys.  Look at this stylish blazer!  I can just see a handsome 11 year old in this jacket with its trendy collar.

Boy's trouser

And to go with the blazer here are some trousers that are not too skinny but still hip.

Lace Dress with Peter Pan Collar

And now for the girls; here is a beautiful lace overlay dress with a peter pan collar and special button up back.

Open Blouse

I adore this open blouse that could dress up any outfit and could be used separate from this fancy collection.

Long Capped Sleeve Dress

And if you are looking for a longer dress, what do you think of this one?  I love the bow at the back too ... very feminine but not too little girl.

If you choose to sew any of these up, we would love to see how they look!  Let us know any tips or tricks you learned.

Haven acres Mini Collection

I recently had the chance to pattern test an entire mini collection by Jennuine Designs. The Haven Acres mini collection is inspired by equestrian clothing and consists of leggings,  blouse, and a hat.  Jennuine Designs is ran by Jennifer and most of her designs are for the younger set.

Until recently, Jennuine Designs only carried patterns up to size 8.  But much to our delight, Jenn has been working hard this spring to add patterns designed for tween sizes and I really want to commend Jennifer's dedication to making this collection work for older girls.

Name of the pattern:

There are three pieces to this collection; Haven Acres Blouse, Dressage Leggings, and Sweet Pea Cap.  The top is a lovely peplum blouse designed for woven fabrics. It has a single button closure and elastic at the waist.  The leggings are inspired by riding pants and have an insert in the inner portion of the legs.  The legging pattern also comes with a standard version without the insert (like two patterns in one!).  And then there is a sweet riding hat with little ears on it.  I have to be honest here, even though this hat is sized so that most tweens could fit it, they may not want it.  Abi thought it was very cute, but she did not see herself wearing it.  (But one time she did leave the house in it and someone did give her a compliment.)  My four year old did love it though depending on who else lives at your house, it may be worth the purchase.

Pattern Source:  You can buy all of these patterns at Jennuine designs individually (I have links in the above paragraph for each garment.) or as a bundle.  If your girl is likes 18 inch dolls, she also has matching doll versions of these patterns available.

Sizes available:The collection is sized from 3 months to 12 years and the hat ranges from XXS to L. 

Special materials required:  For the top, just about any woven would work great and you will also need bias tape (home made or purchased), 1/4 and 1/8 inch elastic, and a button (optional).  The leggings need knit fabric but the inner portion can be successful with a stretch denim or similar fabric if the outer leg is sufficiently stretchy.  And finally the cap needs an outer fabric, a lining and super stiff interfacing for the brim.  Some people used flexible cutting boards and I used an old plastic place mat instead and that worked great.

Skill level required:  The top is easy but the hat and leggings require a little (not a lot) of skill.  The inserts in the leggings require some easing, so I would not pick this for my first knit project.  But, it is not that hard and a confident beginner could tackle them with success.  The hat is not complicated, but it does require accurate and straight sewing.  So again, not a project for first time sewers but with a few garments under your belt you will do just fine.

I did deviate from the pattern a couple times for the blouse.  The keyhole opening is designed to be in the front and either button or tie closed at the neckline.  However, my daughter is very self conscious about her newly required undergarments and strongly objected to the key hole.  So, I moved it to the back and made it a little smaller.  This adjustment was super easy and did not effect the fit of the top.  Also, on the below version I opted to not use elastic on the sleeves.

One tip is to carefully measure your child and cut the size accordingly.  My girl wears a twelve for length but I cut an eight for width.  This is a bit tricky for the inserts but it worked out great for the fit.  I gave her a little more width right at the rear end because she needed it there.  So, as always, sew the size and shape your tween needs.

Good:  The pattern instructions were very clear and easy to follow.  There were colored pictures and lots of diagrams.  She writes clearly and I did not have to read the instructions over and over.  I love the style of the Dressage leggings. The fit was excellent and I think there are lots of fun ways you could use color blocking or mixing of textures with this pattern.  We decided on one with bright colors and one that had a navy knit on the outside and navy stretch denim on the inside.  She wears the navy ones quite frequently.

Bad: Abi is not a big fan of the placement of the elastic on the top.  I think she would prefer it to be lower and we both would like the top to be longer.  These are easy adjustments and are a matter of taste though.

Ugly:  Nothing

Overall pattern rating: I would give the hat and blouse 3 bolts but the leggings 5 bolts.

Pattern Review: M6596 top

I was looking for a way to try some new techniques and use up some of my knit left-overs from other projects and I grabbed out McCall's M6596 to assist.

The pattern is very basic, so I knew it would be perfect for letting me concentrate on my new skill building.  What I wanted to learn how to do was a flatlock seam on my serger.

I sewed up view D for this project.

Pattern Source:  I bought the pattern at JoAnn's on sale but you can buy it on McCall's website too.

Sizes available:  It come in sizes 3 to 14 and consists of variations on the same flared knit top and sweat pants.

Special materials required:  The pattern is designed for moderate stretch knits for the top and lightweight woven fabrics for the pants and accent fabrics on the top.

an upcycled version I did with a sweater that was given to me 

Skill level required:  The pattern is labeled easy and certainly deserves that label.  I found the pattern to be incredibly simple.  But, I think the sleeve insertion method is unnecessarily complicated.  It has you sew the main body, then the sleeve, then insert the sleeve.  I like the technique of sewing the shoulder seams and then the cap of the sleeve to the shoulder.  Then you sew from the wrist down to the hem for your side seams.  It is soooo (or sew) much easier.

Good: A cute and comfortable top.

Bad: The way the side flares out is the trend now but I don't find it especially appealing.  My tween does though, so that is good.  And I already said that I found the instructions did not teach you the most efficient way to construct this simple garment.

Overall pattern rating:  3 Bolts 

Now, on to my flatlocking experiment.  Flatlocking is a technique that you do with three threads in your serger where you sew your seams together but then pull the fabric apart so the edges of the fabric actually butt up against each other joined by the visible threads.  The technique is popular for work out clothing so that the seams don't chafe and for thicker fabrics that would have a bulky seam allowance if sewn the normal way.

a view of my semi successful flatlocking

If you are interesting in learning more, here are a couple tutorials with some helpful sights.

Tutorial by Made by me & Shared with you

and a YouTube video.

Pixie Hooded Coat by Big Little

I was lucky to get chosen for the test of  the Pixie Hooded Coat by Big Little.

If you want a versatile coat pattern, this is a great find. Depending on the fabric choice, this would make a great Spring, Autumn or Winter coat.

For this coat I used a home decorating fabric for the outside (from JoAnn's) and I cut up a fuzzy blanket for the lining (found on clearance at Target). But it would be great in lighter weight fabrics as well. You'll also need something for the closure (she lists great options in the pattern).

You can find the pattern over at the Big Little Shop along with the Pea Coat version that just has a collar.  It's listed for $8.50 and comes in sizes 1-14. And there's also a women's pattern in the works as well.

As there are no zippers, button holes on any of that kind of stuff that might be a little scary, I would say this is a great beginner pattern, with an outcome that will have people saying, "You sewed that?!?"  Lisa does a great job with instructions and it went through a series of tests to make sure everything was just so, so you know you are getting a good pattern.

The Good: This is a great versatile pattern. You'll be able to use it for multiple seasons and across many ages.  It is also a super easy pattern, with great written/visual instructions, that comes together super fast. I finished this in a morning and my husband just looked at me and said "You just made that in the couple of hours you were sewing?"

The pattern also has a rounded hood option that comes with it (added on after the first test to make the pattern more boy and tween friendly). So don't let the pixie hood deter you if your tween turns up their nose at that look. (But you should really look at the cute pictures of toddlers and babies in the pixie hood...they are adorable.) I also made another version for my other daughter, in which I think the pixie hood makes the coat. Sophia didn't think it was so bad and actually wears the coat to middle school...so that's saying something.

Because of the simplicity of the pattern, this would also be a great coat pattern to play around with contrasting fabrics, color blocking, bias tape, etc...to make it a show piece.

As for the bad and ugly...there are none. I really did enjoy making this pattern and will probably be making one for me in the future. I need a light weight Spring/Fall jacket, so I'm on the hunt for the perfect fabric. Again the pattern is the Pixie Hooded Coat by BigLittle.

This is a 5 bolt pattern!!!

Pattern Review: Aviator Pant

Are you looking for some casual pants for your son or daughter?  Here is the pattern for you.  One does not get much more casual than a pair of sweatpants.  But this is not just a pair of sweatpants for lounging around the house.  There are several details that can make these pants fit for roaming around town.

Name of the pattern:  This is the Aviator Pant.  It is a knit cargo pant or short with triangle details and optional cuff and welt pockets.

Pattern Source: This pattern is by Winter Wear Designs.

Sizes available:  There is a wide range of sizes for this pattern.  It runs from 18 months to 14 years.  Yep, 14 years, so this is a pattern for tweens until they are ready for adult patterns.

Special materials required:  These pants are made of sweat shirt material and rib knit is used for the waistband.  I added a 1/4 inch elastic to the waist band just to reinforce the rib knit.  I also used rib knit for the optional ankle cuffs.  I used light weight fleece for the pockets pockets and omitted the contrasting triangles.  If you choose the contrasting triangles, ensure the fabric is of the same weight as the main fabric.

These are a pull-on pant, so no zippers or other fasteners are necessary!

Skill level required:  There are welt pockets for the back and special details throughout the construction.  However, the instructions are clear so I would say a confident beginner can tackle this pattern.  But if this is your first time sewing welt pockets, I would recommend practicing on scrap fabric.

How you came to choose the pattern:  I bought the pattern as part of a pattern bundle at Pattern Revolution.

Did you deviate from the pattern?  Yes, I skipped the welt pockets as I thought they were overkill and too fancy for a pair of camo pants.

Good:  These pants are so easy.  And they must be comfortable because I had to demand my son place them in the laundry after wearing them three days straight.

Bad:  Well, I am not a fan of sweatpants, so I am not sure if that qualifies as a bad.  But the kids love them so I guess not.

Overall pattern rating:  Thus, I give this pattern 4 bolts.