Pattern Reviews

Pattern Review: Petite Stitchery Hibiscus Bodysuit, Top & Dress

Petite Stitchery just revamped the Hibiscus pattern and re-released it with loads of updates!   The Hibiscus is available in baby, girls and women’s sizing.  I tested the girls size and can’t wait to grab the other two sizes as well.

The Hibiscus pattern is an off-shoulder style that includes options for a bodysuit, top and dress.  You can choose from a flounce (in 2 lengths), ruffle or banded neck.  Sleeve options include sleeveless, short, half (elbow), 3/4 and long.  You can opt for crop, fitted top or flare top lengths.  The bodysuit includes leg bands or leg elastic and optional snap crotch.  If the top and bodysuit weren’t enough….there are 2 skirt lengths for a dress or stand alone skirt! Check out the line drawings below for even more details on all the awesome options included:

We started a tie dye tradition last summer and this pattern was PERFECT for tie dye this summer!  For this top I sewed my daughter a 7 width mashed with 12 length according to her measurements which was super easy to blend and ended up with a perfect fit.  This one is a fitted top length, short sleeve and short flounce.  We used a solid white cotton lycra from Raspberry Creek Fabrics and then dyed it.  The end result is so fun and unique!

My daughter is also in need of new swimsuits this summer so we slightly hacked this pattern for a new suit.  The only modifications I made to the pattern were to add a full suit lining and elastic to the underarm seam.  Super easy, right?!  I used the leg bands, short flounce and sleeveless options on this suit.  This swim fabric is one of my favorite new prints this summer from Raspberry Creek Fabrics.

I love how versatile this pattern is and can’t wait to sew up the dress and crop (as a swim top of course) next!  The Hibiscus is on sale for a short time and is eligible for bundle discounts on the website as well!   

I’d love to see what you create:)

**I RECEIVED A FREE COPY OF THESE PATTERNS AS PART OF THE TESTING PROCESS. ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN. THIS POST CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS**

 

Pattern Reviews

Pattern Review: Children’s Two Piece Swim Set by Rebecca Page

When you live in South Florida in the summer you need LOTS of swim suits to make it through the heat!  The two piece ruched swim suit just released from Rebecca Page and it’s full of options.

This pattern comes in a large size range from 12 months up to size 12 which means it will fit all of my girls without buying baby sizing as well! For the swim top you can choose a cropped or tankini length with ruched sides.  There is an optional decorative zipper you can add to the top.   The bottoms have a high or mid rise and choices for plain or ruched sides and/or back.  There is full booty coverage and the entire suit is fully lined.  If you choose to leave off the decorative zipper this is a surprisingly quick and easy swim suit to sew up!

For my first one I sewed up an 11/12 length blended to the 7/8 width for my eleven year old.   It was very simple to grade between sizes and the fit was spot on.  This is the crop length and mid rise side ruched bottoms.  We used a solid swim fabric from Raspberry Creek Fabrics and added a strip of stretch lace to break up the solid color.

For my youngest I sewed up the 18/24 month sizing with no modifications.  The fit is great as well and it is also a crop length with mid rise side ruched bottoms.  The striped swim fabric is also from Raspberry Creek Fabrics and the pink swim solid is from Knitpop.

I already have several hacks planned to add a peplum or band or ruffle to the crop length top and ruffles on the legs!  This pattern is on sale for a short time so scoop it up here (also comes in ladies sizes!) and sew up all the swim suits this summer!  I’d love to see what you create:)

**I RECEIVED A FREE COPY OF THIS PATTERN AS PART OF THE BRAND AMBASSADOR PROCESS. ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN. THIS POST CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS**
Pattern Reviews

Pattern Review: Island Time by Striped Swallow Designs

I was so excited to test out the newest pattern for Striped Swallow Designs this month.  The Island Time Top and Dress is the ultimate in summer comfort and we live in sunny south Florida!

I tested both the girls and womens sizing and love them so much! First, let’s go over the options. The girls pattern offers sizing from 2T up to 14 and comes in two lengths (dress or top). There are optional pockets and facing or binding choices for finishing. There are also options for a high back, low back, high arm or low arm. The womens sizing comes in sizing XS-XXXL and offers an additional mini length.

I sewed up top length without pockets, high back and high arm for both of us in all photos shown. The first set of photos is using a palm leaf print rayon spandex from Joann which is currently on sale for only $7.99 a yard. I used the clean finish binding option to finish on these. My top is a straight size medium with no size adjustments and my daughter is wearing a size 7 width mashed with a size 12 length.

For these next tops I used the facing finish on both which is SO much faster and easier than the binding but not as nice of a finish on the inside of the shirt. Mine is a jersey knit from Girl Charlee and my daughter is wearing a double brushed poly from Knitpop.

These patterns are both on sale with coupon code ISLANDTIME for $2 off through June 25!    Grab yours before the coupon expires and don’t forget that it’s valid on the bundles as well! We plan to make dress length to use as swim cover ups next, what option will you sew up first?

**I RECEIVED A FREE COPY OF THIS PATTERN AS PART OF THE TESTING PROCESS. ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN.**
Pattern Reviews

Pattern Review: Petite Stitchery Thistle

I was able to test out one of the newest patterns for Petite Stitchery that released this week in their unwind collection.  They released four (plus a FREEBIE) different patterns for the ultimate in comfort and relaxation in this collection.   The Thistle Sleep Set is available in baby, girls and women’s sizing.  I tested out both the girls and babies for the cutest matchy sleep sets for my girls!

The Thistle includes SO many options to create the ultimate sleep capsule that are perfect for warm summer nights!  You can choose from a shorts romper, shorts and tank set or nightgown.  There is an optional placket on all options and ruffle as well.  The tank comes in regular or crop length and nightgown in dress or maxi length.   The baby sizing runs from newborn to 24 months and the girls sizing runs from 2T to 17.  A knit fabric with 50% 4 way stretch is needed such as cotton lycra, rayon spandex or double brushed poly.  The Petite Eye Mask is a fantastic freebie that released as well that we added to our sleep capsule.  This mask is available in adult, child and doll sizing and has a traditional or cat ear shape. 

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As you can see from my capsule lay outs above I went a little extra sewing these up!  For Eliana I sewed the baby pattern in 18 month width mashed with 24 month length.  I chose the tank/shorts separates (with no ruffle or placket so they were SUPER fast) and the nightgown with ruffle.  For Ava I sewed the girls pattern in size 7 width mashed with 12 length.  I chose ruffled and plain separates for her as well as a plain nightgown and the sleep mask.  All pajama solid fabrics used were cotton lycra from Purple Seamstress, the tiger stripes are an oooooold fabric from Girl Charlee in jersey knit and the giraffe floral is from Mabel Madison (who has since closed) in cotton lycra.  The sleep mask used the tiniest scraps of cotton woven and I used FOE from my stash for the band. 

 

I wanted a collection that was easy to mix and match that presented lots of options and the Thistle did not disappoint! These patterns are on sale for a short time and are eligible for bundle discounts on the website as well!   

I’d love to see what you create:)

**I RECEIVED A FREE COPY OF THESE PATTERNS AS PART OF THE TESTING PROCESS. ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN. THIS POST CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS**