Patterns for Pirates

P4P stylish, modern, wearable patterns

Infinity Wrap – easy hacks

Infinity Wrap is here! As with the rest of the P4P patterns, this one is definitely not lacking in options. With this release hack blog we wanted to show you two easy mods you can do to the pattern. First off, I will slim down the straps to a tapered end. Second hack will be a crop option. You can use both on the same Infinity Wrap or just one.

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Tapered Straps

The Infinity Wrap features long wide straps that you can wrap in various styles. But what if you want the straps to have less bulk towards the ends? Well… easy! Let’s taper them. Place both straps on top of each other (so we can make only one mark and one cut). Find the center of the short end. Fold the strap length wise at the center. We will now mark the center of the folded piece.

Mark the center of the long side of the straps. I used a clip for this step.

Lay the folded straps on the table. Make sure they are all nice and wrinkle free. Draw a straight line from the center of the folded short end to the center of the long edge. Using a quilting ruler and a rotary cutter, cut along the drawn line.

That’s it! It is that easy to make a tapered strap.

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Crop Top

Now let’s make  a crop top! Start by cutting the straps as per the tutorial. You will not need the pants, briefs or skirt. You do need to cut a strip of fabric, that is the length of the waist elastic. You can grab that measurement from the cutting chart.  I cut the band 5″ tall. Since I wanted to use the left over fabric I had on hand I actually made the band out of two pieces, instead of one. Press the band lengthwise.

Open the band and press 1/2″ along both length of the band as shown below.

Open the memory hems. Sew the short ends of the band to create a loop.

Mark the center of the band. You will have the seam on the back if you made the band out of one piece or on the sides if your band has two pieces like mine. Create straps as in the tutorial and mark the center piece.

Gather the straps.

Matching the center markings pin the straps to the band, right sides together. Sew in place with a straight stitch or serger.

Fold the memory hems, fold the band along the center and pin wrong side together. Using your favorite stretch stitch, sew as close to the edge as possible.

TIP: if your fabric has poor recovery or you need more support, slide a 1.5″ elastic in the band.

The Infinity crop top is now ready to be paired with your favorite Patterns for Pirates skirt (I used the Pirate Pencil Skirt) or pants.

We can’t wait to see your take on the Infinity Wrap!

Infinity :: New Pattern Release

I hope everyone is ready to whip up this quick and easy pattern and get creative tying it up! I’ve always loved this versatile style and now you can make one up that fits you or a loved one perfectly.

 

The Infinity patterns are such a fun pattern to wrap a million ways!  You can get a sleeved, tank, strapless look all in one garment. The seperate tube top option can give you a little more coverage under the straps. You can choose from several bottoms to attach it too including briefs, romper shorts, romper pants, knee length skirt and maxi skirt. The skirts can be paired with an inseam pocket and the romper with a slat pocket option.
Drafted for high stretch (4 way stretch) knit fabrics like bamboo, modal, rayon, ITY, swim, athlethic, double brushed poly, cotton spandex, etc.  The romper and skirt bottoms can be make in a 2 way stretch, but the straps are easier to tie in a 4 way stretch and the breifs need 4 way as well since they’re a tight fit.
Enjoy several videos throughout the tutorial including several ways to tie up your Infinities.

The youth sizes range from 3m – 14 and the adult sizes are XXS – Plus 5X.

*Want to learn more about how to measure yourself for these pattern?  We’ve got you covered with an in-depth blog HERE.  And in case you’re new to Patterns for Pirates and PDF patterns in general, we have a great blog full of new-user tips HERE to help you get started!  As with all of our current releases and updates, the pdfs now include our layers feature and can be found in Letter, A4, A0 and projector sizes.  And for even more helpful fun, we have a free* printable that you can use to help record your measurements as you take them.

Let’s take a quick look at all of the options!

You can get so creative on how to wrap and tie your Infinity! But, if you’re a little intimated by how to wrap it up I made a few videos on some of my favorite ways here!

Infinity Pattern- How to Tie Video Playlist

So, if you have a special event this summer, or just feel like having a ton of fun wrapping all the different ways go grab the Infinity patterns now!  They are available on sale (no code needed) through 11:59pm CST, June 18, 2021.

INFINITY | INFINITY YOUTH | INFINITY – BUNDLE

Maybe hoping for a little more inspiration before you make the purchase?  Head over to our Facebook group where you can see tester albums full of amazing images!

ADULT| YOUTH

If you’re looking for even more options, we show you a few more ways you can use this pattern in our Infinity Easy Hack post.

 

P4P University- Facings

Today’s P4P University is all about facings. We will take a look at what facings are used for, how to draft your own, and where you can use them in your patterns. A facing is a way to finish the edge of a garment. Although you will often see tutorials for using a facing in necklines, they can be used in many other ways as well. Today we will look at both a simple neckline facing, an all-in-one facing, and how to use a hem facing.

P4P University Facing Pic

**A video tutorial is available at the bottom of this blog post. **

WHEN TO USE A FACING

You can use a facing when sewing a pattern to finish any garment edges (necklines, sleeveless armholes, hems, and more). While they are more common in woven garments, you can also attach a simple facing to a knit garment if you are looking to replace the neckline binding or band. Let’s see how we can draft and use a simple neckline facing on the P4P Brunch Blouse Pattern.

Neckline Facing

NECKLINE FACING

You will need the paper pattern, tracing paper, pencil, ruler

Begin by measuring 2 inches down all around the neckline of the paper pattern and placing marks. Draw a curved line to connect your markings. Trace this line, as well as the original neckline, onto your piece of tracing paper. This will now be your facing pattern piece. Repeat for the pattern back. **The Brunch Blouse uses a center back seam. To remove this in your facing, cut off 1/2 inch from the center back line on your pattern piece. Then cut the fabric on the fold at the new center back line.**

Neckline Facing Draft

 

Cut your pattern pieces and facing pieces from your fabric. Make sure you are cutting your facing pieces on the fold as you would your front and back bodice pieces. Apply interfacing to the back of your facing pieces. You can leave off interfacing if you would prefer as I did in this knit pajama top.  Make sure you use knit interfacing if applying to a knit garment.

Neckline Facing Construction

 

Sew the shoulder seams for your front and back bodice as well as the front and back facings. Press the seams open. Finish the outside edge of your facing with your serger, an overlock stitch on your machine, or your preferred finish. Place the bodice right sides out and mark the quarter points with pins. Repeat with your facing. Match your facing and bodice, right sides together at pins. Stitch together at 1/4 inch using a long stretch stitch for knit garments. **Note this will finish the neckline at 1/4 inch lower than if you were to use a band. If you do not want a deeper neckline, make sure you add the additional 1/4 inch to the neckline during the tracing stage**

Press the seam allowance towards the facing. Understitch. (See this tutorial for help with understitching) Fold the facing to the inside of the garment and press well. You can now topstitch along the facing edge or simply tack the facing down at the shoulder seams for a cleaner finish.

all in one facing title

 

ALL IN ONE FACING

An all-in-one facing is a great way to create a clean finish on your sleeveless tops. This will create a finished edge on both the neckline and armholes using one piece. Here is how you can create this facing using the P4P Brunch Blouse.

Begin by marking two inches down from the underarm seam and make a mark on your pattern. Continue marking two inches down around the arm and neckline edges, creating a soft curve to bridge the two areas. See the pictures below for how I marked both the front and back bodices. Trace this new facing piece onto tracing paper using your marks and the original pattern lines at the shoulder, neck, and arms.

All in one facing tutorial

Cut your pattern pieces as well as facing pieces from your fabric. Cut your facing pieces from interfacing as well. Sew your bodice together at the shoulders only and center back if you are using the Brunch Blouse. For this facing technique, we will be using our interfacing to create the clean finished edge– the steps will look slightly different from the neckline facing tutorial above. Feel free to use either method on your facings.

All in one facing

 

Sew only the shoulder seams on BOTH the facing pieces and the interfacing pieces- DO NOT FUSE the interfacing yet. Next, sew the interfacing to the facing, right sides together, along the outside curved edges using a 1/4 inch seam allowance. Clip the seam allowances around the curves. Finally, turn the interfacing and facing, right sides out. Your fusible side should now be facing the wrong side of the facing. Carefully align the pieces and press well. This will now give you a clean, finished edge along your facing without having to use your serger or machine.

 

All in one facing

 

 

Next, lay the bodice right sides out, flat on the table. Lay the facing on top, right sides together. Match all seams and pin around the neckline. Stitch with 1/4 inch seam allowance, then clip and grade seam allowance. Press seam allowance towards facing and understitch at the neckline. Once the neckline is done, turn the garment right side out and lay flat. Roll one side of the bodice in a tight roll towards the opposite shoulder seam. Wrap shoulder seam fabric around the rolled fabric, pinning right sides together. Stitch with a 1/4 inch seam, being careful to not catch rolled fabric while stitching. Carefully pull the fabric through the opening and understitch as far as possible on each side of the armhole. Then repeat on the opposite side.

 

All in one facing

 

Fold facing up away from the underarm, match seams and stitch the side seams per the pattern. Trim away any bulk and fold seam allowance back down. Tack at underarm. Repeat on other side. The all-in-one facing is now complete. Finish the top per the pattern instructions.

 

HEM FACING

The final type of facing I will show today is the hem facing. This simple finish is helpful when creating a curved hem like the Brunch Blouse.

To create the hem facing pattern pieces, take your front and back bodice pieces and mark 2 inches from the bottom edge working from side seam to center. Make sure to mark your fold line and trace your facing piece onto paper. Cut one front and back facing from fabric and interfacing. Fuse the interfacing to the back of the facing pieces. Sew the side seams of your facing and finish the narrow side of the facing. (Make sure you are finishing the top of your pattern piece and not the bottom edge. Otherwise, your piece will not fit inside your garment without bunching.)

Hem Facing Tutorial

Complete your top per the instructions until the bottom hem. Lay your facing and top, right sides together and sew the raw edges together at 1/2 inch seam allowance. Press seam allowance towards facing. Understitch. Press the facing towards the wrong side of the top. Finish with your preferred stitching. You can edgestitch the facing or handstitch a blind hem.

Hem Facing

 

This video will show you how to create the facings discussed in this blog post for those who prefer to learn that way.

Thank you for joining me today to learn all about facings. You can find more sewing tips and tricks on the P4P University blog posts.

Shannon 

 

 

P4P University – Interfacing for Garment Sewing

 

The correct use of interfacing is one of the main things that takes your garment sewing to the next level.  Today we will be talking about different types of interfacing, why you might want to use it and how to correctly apply it.

 

The first thing we need to clarify is the difference between stabiliser and interfacing.  Getting these two confused is easy to do, and people can often buy the wrong one for their needs, but their uses are quite different.

STABILISER

Stabiliser is a type of textile used to add extra weight to a particular part of a piece of fabric, usually so some sort of decorative work can be added to that section.  For example, you might add stabiliser to the wrong side of the front of a pair of children’s pyjamas to add some embroidery or applique to the bodice.  The stabiliser helps keep the fabric from distorting when adding the decoration to it.  It can be left on, trimmed down or torn off after use, depending on it’s type.  The picture below shows some embroidery on the reverse of a pair of pyjamas.  You can see the tear-away stabiliser still sitting between the A and the Y, after the rest has been removed.

INTERFACING

Interfacing is a type of textile used on the wrong side of a fabric to make that particular area stronger/more weighty.  For example it is often used in shirt collars to help them stand upright.  The interfacing gives the fabric more rigidity and is not removed, it is permanently attached. 

 

There are two types of interfacing, differentiated by the way you attach them to your fabric.  ‘Sew In’ interfacing is sewn onto the wrong side of your main fabric, within the seam allowance so it is not visible when the garment is finished.  Alternatively it can be quilted on in a particular pattern of your choice, so that it is visible when completed.  It seems to be less popular these days, but is the traditional, couture interfacing.

More popular is ‘Fusible’ interfacing.  This is the same as ‘Sew In’ but it has a layer of heat activated adhesive on the wrong side, which means it can be ironed directly onto the wrong side of your main fabric and adheres permanently.  The instructions for ironing will either be printed on the selvedge, if you have bought it by the metre, or they will be on the packet if you have bought it bagged.  It is important that you ensure the interfacing is fully adhered before sewing the garment together because otherwise it can start to peel off and look messy. This picture below shows an example of an iron-on interfacing attached to the wrong side of a piece of cotton.

 

Interfacing comes in many different weights, from a light weight interfacing used to add a little extra body to the facing on a silk blouse, to a very heavy weight interfacing used to reinforce the brim of a cap/hat.  I used a medium weight interfacing along the placket of my So Classic Sundress to give added support for the poppers and stop it distorting with wear.

Pattern instructions will advise you which weight of interfacing you will need, so that you can ensure you purchase the type needed to get the finish shown in the pattern listing pictures. For example, the Timeless Tunic notions require a lightweight interfacing for adding body to the neckline facing to help it keep the correct shape.

You will also find interfacing used in woven patterns to add body/structure/strength to shoulder seams, around pocket openings, along plackets, in collars, and even over entire bodice and sleeve pieces in jackets and coats.

KNIT/STRETCH INTERFACING

As well as woven interfacing, you can also find knit/stretch interfacing used for adding greater structure or strength to knit fabrics.  It can be used to stop these fabrics from stretching out too far, for example it is often used around pockets in a knit dress, so that the dress doesn’t become misshapen with use.  I like to use it to add greater structure to the front of my Go To Jacket before sewing on the zipper, as it helps stop the fabric stretching out when attaching the non-stretch zipper to the stretch fabric.

 

In this video I discuss a few different types of interfacing and show how they are adhered to fabric.  Sometimes seeing the fabrics being handled can give you a much clearer idea of what they would be like to use in real life.

Whichever type or weight of interfacing you need, the pattern you are using will give you details of what you need and when you need to use it.

 

Now that you know more about how to use interfacing, why not take a look at one of these patterns above or the Timeless Tunic or Tiny Timeless and put your new found skills to use.

 

Happy Sewing!

Dana x

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cutie Briefs – easy hack

The Cutie Booty and Cutie patootie Boxer Briefs patterns have release and they are not one to be skipped! The pattern features a center front and a center back pieces as well as a separate lining pattern. In this easy hack, I wanted to show you how to fully line the center front and back. This hack is perfect if you want to enclose the briefs’ seams.  

Start by cutting the pattern pieces as instructed in the tutorial. You will cut two of the front center and two of the center back piece. You will not need the liner. 

Stitch the front and back main pieces right sides together at the crotch seam. Repeat with the lining. 

Matching the notches in the pattern (front and back), pin the main the the leg piece right sides together. Take the lining and pin it right sides to the wrong sides of the leg, making sure the notches are in the correct spot. Your leg piece will be sandwiched between the two lining pieces. 

Sew them with your favorite stretch stitch or serger. 

Turn the briefs right side out. They will look like the picture below. 

Pin the right side of the remaining leg to the right side of the lining piece, matching the notches. 

Bring the lining over and “stuff” the finished leg of the briefs inside the center “sandwich”. This is very similar to the burrito roll method used to create lined tanks. Pin it in place.  

Br

Sew the pinned side with a serger or a stretch stitch. 

Pull the briefs right side our through one of the openings. Tadah!! Magic! Now your Cutie Briefs center seams and fully enclosed. 

Finish the briefs as instructed in the tutorial. The example in this blog is the Cutie Patootie youth option but this hack can be done to the adult one too. Just imagine using lace for the leg pieces and a solid color for the center pieces. Va! Va! Va! Voom!

I hope you will give this easy hack a try! Can’t wait to see what you create!

Cutie Booty Boxer Briefs :: New Pattern Release

I’m excited to release the new pattern out to the world and hope it’s as loved as it is here in my house! I had a pair of underwear just like this for so many years they were literally falling apart at many seams LOL…So… let’s welcome the newest Patterns for Pirates patterns:

 

The Cutie Booty and Cutie Patootie Boxer Briefs are a classic, snug fit boxer brief with a center front and back pieces that are perfect for using up those previous scraps you’ve hoarded 😉 The shorts style are so wonderful that you don’t have to worry about them creeping up into the dreaded wedgie! These are my very favorite summer pjs and they’re perfectly perfect under dresses as well. There are so many options for waistbands, leg finishes, inseams, rises that you’re surely to find the right combination for yourself or anyone you’re sewing a pair up for.
Drafted for high stretch (4 way stretch) knit fabrics like cotton spandex.  You’re free to venture out and try other high stretch knits, but a good quality cotton spandex is hands down my absolute favorite fabric for these.
Enjoy several videos throughout the tutorial like multiple complete sew ups covering many options and how to attach lace waistband.

The youth sizes range from 12m – 14 and the adult sizes are XXS – Plus 5X.

*Want to learn more about how to measure yourself for these pattern?  We’ve got you covered with an in-depth blog HERE.  And in case you’re new to Patterns for Pirates and PDF patterns in general, we have a great blog full of new-user tips HERE to help you get started!  As with all of our current releases and updates, the pdfs now include our layers feature and can be found in Letter, A4, A0 and projector sizes.  And for even more helpful fun, we have a free* printable that you can use to help record your measurements as you take them.

Let’s take a quick look at all of the options!

There are three options for rise: low, mid, and high. Low hits around hip bones, mid hits at preferred waist, and high up around belly button. It includes three inseam length options: short, mid, and long.  Depending on the leg finishing option you choose will also determine the inseam length- we include how to hem, add knit bands, or add stretch lace for finishing the legs. For the waistband we included three options as well! You can grab some exposed elastic for a super classic look, a knit band for a quick and easy sew, or some stretch lace for a soft and pretty look.

I mentioned I LOVE this style for sleeping in during the hotter months… so I put together a video showing off what tops I like to pair with this style…

What are you waiting for?  Head on over and grab yourself a copy of the adorable and comfortable Cutie Booty patterns!  They are available on sale (no code needed) through 11:59pm CST, April 27, 2021.

CUTIE BOOTY BOXER BRIEFS | CUTIE PATOOTIE BOXER BRIEFS | CUTIE BOOTY BOXER BRIEFS – BUNDLE

Maybe hoping for a little more inspiration before you make the purchase?  Head over to our Facebook group where you can see tester albums full of amazing images!

ADULT| YOUTH

If you’re looking for even more options, we show you a few more ways you can use this pattern in our Cutie Booty Easy Hack post.

 

Vintage Jumper Sew Along – day 7

Thank you all for joining me last week for the Vintage Jumper Sew Along. I loved seeing all the beautiful jumpers being created. I know you have been waiting for this post so I won’t keep you in suspense any longer. 

Our sew along winner is: Brianna Lynn! Brianna sewed not one, not two but THREE Vintage jumpers for her beautiful little one. What an outstanding job! Brianna won a $20 gift certificate to Patterns for Pirates and a $50 gift card to The Styled Magnolia Custom Fabrics.

We have a runner up winner to announce too. Congratulations, Darci Friberg! Darci will receive a $20 gift card from Made for Mermaids. 

Huge THANK YOU to our Sew Along sponsor for not only providing the prize but also the fabric I used for my own Vintage Jumper.

As I pass the baton to Colleen from M4M, I wanted to remind you about the Spring Sale and Capsule Contest going on right now on both the P4P and the M4M sites. See you back for our next sew along in May!

Vintage Jumper SAL | DAY 1 (cut fabric)

Vintage Jumper SAL | DAY 2 (Back darts, front & back pockets, crotch & in seam)

Vintage Jumper SAL | DAY 3 (out seam)

Vintage Jumper SAL | DAY 4 (straps, front bib)

Vintage Jumper SAL | DAY 5 (waistband)

Vintage Jumper SAL | DAY 6 (button holes, buttons and hem)

Vintage Jumper SAL | DAY 7 (winners announcement)

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