Patterns for Pirates

P4P stylish, modern, wearable patterns

Boho Babydoll – Easy Hacks

 

As with all other P4P releases we couldn’t let the Boho Babydoll party start without some easy hacks that you can do for both the women and the girls tops/dresses.

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Waist Ties

The Boho Babydoll Dress and Shirt is a relaxed it at the waist so I wanted to start these hacks by showing you how easy it is to add some fun waist ties top it. Print and cut your pattern and fabric as you normally would and cut two tie pieces 2″ by 28-34″ depending on how long you want the ties to be. For reference my ties are 34″ because I like to be able to tie them around my waist too.

Mark a point on both the front and back bodice pieces that is 3/4″ up from the waist edge.

Fold the ties wrong side together, lengthwise and sew them with a 1/2″ seam allowance. You will be sewing one of the short ends too.

Using your favorite turning tool, turn the ties inside out and give them a good press.

Pin the ties on the front bodice at the marking point you did earlier. The bottom of the tie length will be at the 3/4″ mark. Repeat on the other side of the front of the bodice.

Optionally, you can baste the ties to the bodice before you sew the side seam.

Sew the bodice as instructed. That was easy!

You can wear your ties tied in the front…

….or tied in the back…

…or if you made them long enough you can wrap them around your waist.

 

…..

Split Sides

 

During the summers, I like to attend a lot of concert festivals. One trend that I have noticed are tank tops with flowy layers- sometimes it’s the back, other times the front, but one of my favorites is on the sides. The Boho Babydoll makes the perfect starting point to create a comfortable tank with a cute little peek-a-boo side. I can’t wait to try this out as a swim cover as well with some fun lace or mesh. You can use these simple steps below to help recreate this look.

Step 1: Cutting Pieces

Cut out your pieces as instructed, with the exception of the skirt. (You can use any of the bodice options.) The only change that I made to the skirt was to add an additional 1″ to the fold of the FRONT piece. I did not make any adjustments to the back skirt. 

Step 2: Bodice/Hemming

You will want to assemble your bodice as per the pattern instructions, up to the skirt. Once your bodice is finished, you will want to hem your two skirt pieces. I did remove a small piece from the corner of my skirts to help create a smoother hem.

Step 3: Attaching Skirt

Once you’ve hemmed the skirts, you will want to create your gathering stitches. Taking your front piece, place right sides together with the front bodice and front skirt. Begin to pull your gathering stitches and even them out. Using your side seam as a guide, overlap the edge of the skirt piece 1″ past the seam and pin. Repeat the overlap on the opposite side seam.

Repeat the same process with the back skirt, however align the edge of the skirt with the side seam. 

Attach skirt using a stretch stitch or serger and you’re all finished!

This hack is quick to complete and gives a fun detail to your shirt! Not only can this look be fun for everyday, but it can also be used for a swim cover and even a nursing friendly shirt! Enjoy and make sure to share your creations in our Facebook Group!
~Erinn

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Trim Accents

 

A little detail can go a long way.  The baby doll is perfect for adding lace trim details as it is not fitted through the waist so using a crochet trim or non-stretch trim is an option.  You can also add trim around the neckline and armholes but would recommend using a stretch lace as you still need to be able to pull the top over your head.  For my option, I used a pretty narrow trim so constructed my dress as usual and then topstitched it along the seam allowance.  If using a wider trim, you can baste it to the bodice prior to attaching the skirt.

 

Here is another example on a youth version.  Judy used a crochet, non-stretch trim and top-stitched it on after construction to the bodice seam and the hem of the ruffle (both places that wont miss the stretch since they’re looser parts of the garment.

 

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Waist Seam Ruffle

Last but certainly not least we wanted to show you a different way to sew the skirt to the bodice. This method will give your waist a ruffled look without adding any ruffles or changing the pattern pieces.

For this easy hack you will not be modifying the pattern pieces or adding any additional ones. Print the pattern and cut the fabric for your size.

Using a fabric pen or tailor chalk mark the 1/2″ seam allowance on the bottom of the bodice.

Tip: for an extra pop of color finish the top of the skirt with a rolled hem.

Gather the skirt using two rows of basting stitches as in the pattern tutorial. You will now be pinning the skirt to the bodice. The wrong side of the skirt will be pinned to the right side of the bodice, making sure you match the side seams and the center point.

Sew the skirt to the bodice with a zig zag stitch, a triple stretch stitch or your coverstitch. Go really slow so you can ensure a constant 1/2″ seam allowance.

Pull the basting stitches out. One should be above your zig zag stitch, one should be below.

That was all. Your new Boho shirt or dress has an extra cute waist seam now 🙂

 

P4P University – Easy gathering methods

Hello, pirates! Today I wanted to talk to you about gathering and show you 4 of the easiest gathering methods that do not require investing in new gadgets or feet for your machines. All the methods I’m showing are applicable to both woven and knits.

Gathering with your serger

My favorite method of gathering is using my serger and its deferential feed. You will be switching your differential feed to the highest setting possible (in my case 2.0) and tightening the tension of your left needle. It is very important to test your new settings on a piece of fabric that is the same as the fabric you intend to gather. You will be able to see if you need to loosen the needle tension, tighten it or fidget with the right needle too.

For more tips and details watch the video below.

 

Gathering with two rows of basting stitches

The most popular method of gathering, and the one most often used in our patterns (Judy’s favorite) is gathering with two parallel rows of stitching. This method uses your sewing machine.

Note: your first row of gathering stitches should be about 1/4″ away from the edge and your second one 5/8″ away.

 

Tip: For the basting stitches, use a different color thread than the fabric do you can remove it easily.

Gathering with elastic

The next gathering method I wanted to show you is one that uses elastic, clear elastic or knit elastic. Avoid using no roll elastic!  Also, make sure to exercise (stretching it a few times) before cutting.

Start by measuring the opening of the bodice and cut a pieces of elastic that matches the opening. Don’t forget to add seam allowance.

Note: I used 1/4″ knit elastic. This method works beautifully with clear elastic.

Sew the elastic in a loop and mark its quarters. Follow the method as in the video below.

 

Gathering with yarn or floss

The last method I wanted to show you is commonly known as gathering with floss. You will simply sew a wide zig zag stitch over a floss or yarn and simply pull the ends to gather. Super easy!

 

 

Tip: if you’re using yarn, use thin yarn and preferably a color different than the fabric you’re gathering so you can easily pull it out.

There you have it, 4 easy gathering methods that will help you achieve beautiful, even gathers for your skirts and ruffles. No matter which method you use it’s important to hit the seam with a nice hot iron and steam (as much as your fabric type will handle), this will help if you accidentally stretched the bodice at all while attaching as well as set those gathers nicely.  Now go sew a Boundless or a Sunshine dress and show off your new gathering skills.

Go To Jacket :: New Pattern Releases!

Stop the presses!  P4P is releasing THREE new patterns today and we couldn’t be more excited!  The Go To Jacket is available in enough sizes that you can make one for every member of your family.  Because we made it for Men, Women and Kids!

Just like the rest of our patterns, we’ve packed the Go To Jackets full of as many options as we could!  It is drafted for women (sizes XXS – Plus 3X), men (sizes XXS – XXXL) and youth (3M – 14) and can be made into a bomber style, or finished with a 3-piece hood.  There are two pocket options, two length options and three different sleeve hem types.

The Go To Jacket patterns were drafted for knit fabrics, which can range for lightweight fabrics to something on the heavier side, like fleece.

Don’t be scared of those zippers!! We have a couple very helpful links to walk you through them in the tutorial- you’ll be zipping ALL THE THINGS soon 😉

**Want to learn more about how to measure yourself for this 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!  And, as with all of our current releases and updates, the pdfs now include our layers feature and can be found in Letter, A4 and A0 sizes.

Let’s see some options in action, shall we?

Bomber Style

Hooded

Tunic + Shirt Lengths

Cuffed / Hemmed / Thumbhole Sleeves

Kangaroo + Inseam Pockets

The jacket also boats a zipper/chin guard so your little one can zip up themselves and not worry about getting their little chins rubbed by the zipper all day! We also include instructions how to finish the neckline and zipper with a clean nice finish on the inside for extra gorgeous-ness!

 

 

Ready to grab your patterns?  You won’t regret it!

Go To Men’s | Go To Women’s | Go To Youth | Go To Bundle

Need more convincing?  Just take a look at this pattern on all of the amazing shapes and sizes of our testers, and get a look at more examples of all the options in our albums in the P4P Facebook group! Men’s Album / Women’s Album / Youth Album

The sale price will last through March 8 (11:59 PM US Central time zone) so grab it while you can at the introductory price!

And if that wasn’t enough options, make sure to check out the hacks post to help take your patterns even further.  Also head over to the P4P University post to learn all about shortening zippers for your Go To Jackets!

Happy Sewing, friends!

How to shorten zippers

 

Ahoy pirates! Today on the blog I wanted to show you how to shorten different style zippers. With the new Go-To Jacket patterns releasing, you will be playing around with various size zippers so I find that it’s easier to just stock up on longer zippers (30-36″) and then shorten them based on your needs.

*Plastic separating zippers

Let’s talk about plastic separating zippers first. They are my favorite zipper style for kids and women casual wear. And shortening them is a peace of cake. There’s no need for any fancy tool or muscles 😉

Simply grab a pair of scissors that you do NOT use to cut fabric, a measuring tape and a lighter. Measure the length of the zipper you need for your jacket, mark it on both sides of the separating zipper. Move the zipper pull down and cut the desired length. Follow the instructions I give you in the video below to create a “zipper stop”.

Note: since you’re working with an open flame (if you don’t have a hot knife) please be extra cautious and avoid having your little ones “help out” 🙂

TIP: Always measure 3 times before cutting the zipper, just to be sure. 

*Metal Separating Zippers

The other separating zipper you may use for hoodies or jackets is a metal zipper. Walmart always carries them so, on a pinch, it’s a good alternative for plastic zippers.

Shortening a metal zipper is more time consuming and it requires a little bit of elbow grease and more tools but it’s totally doable. Just grab those non fabric scissors, a measuring tape and some long nose pliers and watch the video below.

TIP: Mark on both sides of the zipper where the waistband meets the bodice, the pockets and the hood. This will make it a lot easier to make sure that everything matches when you zip up the jacket.

*All purpose zippers

If you are making a Wiggle dress  and you need to shorten the all purpose zipper you are using you will only need your scissors, a measuring tape and some thread. Simply mark on the BOTTOM of the zipper (not the top as you did for separating zippers) where you would like for the zipper pull to stop.

Sew by hand a zipper stop at the mark you just made. Simply sew back on forth over the zipper teeth a few times. You can certainly use your sewing machine for this step but I find it easier to just hand sew the thread zipper stop. Cut the zipper 1″ below  the thread zipper stop you just created and seal your zipper ribbon with a lighter. Optionally, remove the plastic teeth below the thread zipper stop. Tadah! You have shortened your AP zipper in minutes.

 

Now that you have shortening zippers all figured out, go and sew all the Go To Jackets and make sure to post them in the Patterns for Pirates group!

All P4P today winners

Welcome to the 2018 #allP4Ptoday winner circle! I will be adding each monthly winner here so be sure to check out the blog often. You can get the contest details here.

DECEMBER

And just like that, yesterday we said good bye to 2018. Let me take a second to thank all of you who showed off your #allP4Ptoday outfits last year, you are an inspiration!

The December winner : @athomewithkaara !

We spotted Kaara on Instagram looking just gorgeous in her P4P birthday outfit. Who doesn’t need a faux leather Pencil Skirt? I know I do!

We see you on Instagram and in the P4P Facebook group, so remember to #allp4ptoday for a chance to win a P4P pattern of choice!

NOVEMBER

Time for another #allP4Ptoday winner! We’ve seen quite a few fall P4P outfits this month and loved them all.

November’s free pattern winner is:  Shauna Anderson! Looks like Shauna really loves her SOS pants and Ragdoll shirt. Such a comfortable combination.

We cannot wait to see what P4P patterns you’ll be sewing for the holiday season! Don’t forget to # the posts so we can find them easily and maybe get you a free pattern.

OCTOBER

And just like that the spookiest month of the year is gone. So much awesomeness was displayed in the P4P group during October. Thank you for incorporating Patterns for Pirates in your Halloween costumes too!

Our October #allP4Ptoday winner is ….Tamsyn Grant! How could we not? Just look at these 3 cuties. All 3 are sporting their mama made outfits and look adorable in them!

With two months left in the year, there’s still chances to win a P4P pattern of choice for 2018. Be sure to hashtag your post #allP4Ptoday so we can find it easily.

SEPTEMBER

Can you believe it’s the end of September already? The kiddos are back in school, some of you have cooler weather and the P4P group celebrated an amazing milestone…100k!  We’ve seen so many cute #allp4ptoday outfits this month too!

So without further ado…our September winner is…

Jennifer Patterson! 

Jennifer is rocking a beautiful Boundless layered with a Cocoon Cardigan that I have a feeling we all need in our lives! Simply gorgeous!

We’ve also spotted her rocking the Favorite Tee with SOS pants!

Keep the hashtags coming in October! I can’t wait to see how you incorporate P4P in your Halloween costumes!

 AUGUST

Ready for back to school? We’ve seen some really cute BTS #allp4ptoday outfits in the group this month. Can’t wait to see more!

Our August winner posted so many beautiful all P4P outfits we couldn’t even get them all in the blog. A big congratulations to….Aislinn Koenig

Isn’t she amazing? Keep those #allp4ptoday posts coming, a new winner will be picked next month too.

JULY

Ahoy, Pirates! These hot summer days have me thinking of fall, am I the only one? Whether you’re sewing yourself a new swim suit, a dress or getting ready for the new school year…don’t forget to show it off in the P4P group and hash tag it #allp4ptoday so we can see you and who knows, maybe even give you a FREE pattern.

Without further ado… our July winner is:

Kristin Richardson Morrison

She looks so beautiful and comfortable in her P4P outfit. Thank you for sharing, Kristin!

 

JUNE

Ohh wow! That is how I started my search for the June #allP4Ptoday winner. I am absolutely mesmerized by all the beautiful pictures that I’ve seen this summer month.

One of you stood out all month long so …. congratulations Sarah Anne!

You are our #allP4Ptoday winner for the month of June.

Sarah Anne has worn P4P almost daily! Doesn’t she look stunning in her me-made outfits? You have made us proud!

Keep on posting those #allP4P outfits!

MAY

Wow! You were all amazing during the big Me Made May month. I am so glad you did not forget to hashtag your all P4P creations. Our May winner is:

Jessica Rabbitt

Jessica is a veteran all P4P today poster, we see her every month and, between you and me, we get a tad jealous of her amazing shoe collection 😉 We love seeing all the bright patterns and colors that make her shine!

I can’t wait to see what you will be sewing in the month of June.

APRIL

April showers bring May flowers they say..well in the P4P group April brought a lot of cute, fun all P4P outfits.

So without further ado, join me in congratulating Jessica Lauren Byrne not only for winning the April #allP4Ptoday contest but for that new bundle of joy she just welcomed!

 

What a stunning P4P family! Great job!

I can’t wait to see your May Me Made creations!

 

 MARCH

Spring is in the air! Time for dresses and cardis, am I right? And speaking of dresses and cardigans…look how gorgeous is our March #allP4Ptoday winner!

Congratulations Rebekah Homer! That Sunshine Dress and Cocoon Cardigan look amazing on you!

We can’t wait to see what #allP4Ptoday outfits you will be showing off in April!

 FEBRUARY

 

And just like that, the shortest month of the year is behind us. We couldn’t end the month of love without announcing our #allP4Pwinner.

Congratulations Toochie Pharmd!!

Doesn’t she look absolutely stunning in her Boundless dresses? We just loved seeing Toochie rocking all P4P this month.

 

We can’t wait see your spring #allP4Ptoday in March!

 

JANUARY

You all rocked January in P4P outfits. As always, we loved seeing all your creations!

Without further ado…the first winner of 2018 is:

Valerie Savage

Does’s Valerie look ohh so adorable in her Peg Legs and Favorite Tee?

Thank you all for showing off the creations in the group. Keep those #allP4Ptoday pictures coming…next month’s winner may be YOU!

Petite Pegs – easy cuffs hack

How adorable are the new Petite Pegs? So much cuteness in such a small package. If you haven’t downloaded your FREE copy, do that here. Today on the blog I wanted to show you how to add cuffs to the Petite pegs.

We will start by shortening the length of the Petite Pegs by 1″. To do that simply grab a ruler and draw a line 1 inch above the ankle cut line. This will be your new pegs ankle length. Cut the two mirrored legs using this new cut line.

You will now be cutting the cuffs. I did the math for you so just follow the cutting chart below. Remember to cut two cuffs, one for each leg.

 

*If you babywear a lot you might find it helpful to double the cuff length.  This way the long cuff can be folded down over the heel. It’s a popular way to wear pants when you’re babywearing because otherwise the pant legs hike up and then the baby ankles stick out.

Sew the Petite Pegs as per the tutorial. Grab your little cuffs and fold them to create a memory hem. Press and steam.

Sew the cuffs to create a loop and fold them. Take a moment to look over the tips I gave you in the Knit Cuffs 101 blog. They will definitely come in handy when attaching these itty bitty cuffs to the little pegs.

Attach the cuffs to the leg opening with your serger or the sewing machine following a 1/2″ seam allowance. Make sure you match the cuffs’ side seams to the leggings inseam. Stretch the cuff to fit the leg opening.

When attaching the cuffs you can place your serger foot on the outside of the leg (as pictured above) or inside the leg (as pictured below). You will be working with a pretty small loop so go slow!

Tadah! There you have it, Petite Pegs with cuffs! I can’t wait to see your little creations!

Note: You may find it easier to attach the flat cuff to the leg instead of sewing the inseams and the cuff in a loop. You can certainly do that, you will be sewing the inseam after you attach the cuffs. You can read about some ways to finish your serger seam here.

75k Member Sale-a-Bration and FREE Baby Set <3

I’m so excited to announce we’ve hit 75k members in our awesome P4P Facebook Group! <3 I love seeing all the inspiration, questions answered, fitting help, and proud first time shares in there! If you’re not a member yet, come join us 🙂

To celebrate we’re having a big sale- 30% off the total site for 10 days! January 24-Feb 2 2018 (US Central Time Zone).  There is a coupon code- 75ksale – but don’t worry it will pop up for you in your checkout! So you don’t need to worry about remembering it or writing it down!

We thought we’d do even more than just a sale though and have worked hard behind the scenes to create a whole Baby Set of Free patterns for you!!! I LOVE getting invited to a baby shower and making some unique handmade items for the mama and baby! Since my patterns start at 3 months there are a few great ones I go to for baby shower gifts…BUT, I’ve always thought there were a few teeny tiny newborn size things I’d love to have a pattern for as well!

I KNEW we needed a Wee Lap Tee, the envelope style neckline makes dressing newborns easier, and OF COURSE we needed Petite Pegs 🙂 We’ve been asked so many times for baby sizes of our Free Peg Legs pattern it was a no brainer! We added the Teeny Beanie to keep those little head and ears warm and a quick and easy burp cloth too. I also couldn’t help myself to a few cute cut files to add on to the gifts as well!

So, next time you find yourself expecting to be a mama, grandma, auntie, or just invited to a baby shower you will be set with this Free Baby Set of Patterns! You can mix and match them with the other favorite P4P patterns you have that start at 3M as well! I love the Baby Bear Joggers for babies!

 

I love adding an adorable design to the Wee Lap Tee! I hope you enjoy them and make your baby’s wardrobe or baby gifts that much more special!

 

 

 

Thank you for supporting P4P Sewing PDF Patterns! <3

P4P Henley Sew-Along | Recap + Winners!

How much fun did you have last week, sewing all the henleys?  The Pirate team just loved seeing all of those plackets and neckbands being tackled for the first time, as well as the fun raglan sleeve hack being utilized!

We didn’t really want to have a contest with this sew-along, as much as we just wanted people to have fun without pressure.  However, we couldn’t resist picking some random people that sewed along with us, to gift them some free P4P patterns!  Here are the four P4P Henley Sew-Along Champs!

Layni Van Hyning

Cathryn Perrotti Larkin

Kit Kabboord‎

Alaura Sproles‎

Worried that you missed something?  Don’t be!  We ran this sew-along on the blog so you’d have easy access to it whenever you were ready to sew some henleys for yourself.  Here was the weekly lineup, in case you need it again!

January 14: Announcement.
January 15: Choosing Your Fabrics, Printing + Measuring.
January 16: Cutting Fabric.
January 17: Placket.
January 18: Sleeves.
January 19: Attaching Neckband + Hood.
January 20-21: Catch-Up Days.
January 22: Recap + Winners Announced!

P4P Henley Sew-Along | Attaching Neckband + Hood

Welcome to the day 5 of the P4P Henley sew along. Today’s steps include adding the neckband or the hood.

  • Crew Neckband

If you have done the solid front shirt (no placket) you will now be adding the neckband as in the pattern tutorial. For additional tip, check out our P4P University Neckbands 101 blog and videos here.

  • Henley Neckband

If your sew along choice was a Henley style shirt then you would now be adding the henley neckband. This neckband is not sewn in a loop like the crew neckband was. Take a moment to watch the video below. The most important thing to keep in mind when adding this neckband is to go very slow and baste!

 

  • Hood (with or without the placket)

    The Henley patterns include a hood for the placket option. For this sew along we wanted to show you how easy it is to add a hood to the solid front option. The only pattern modifications you will need to make is to extend the front of the hood by 1/2″.

Sew the hood as per the pattern tutorial. Overlap the front neckline 1/2″ and baste in place.

Mark the quarter points of the hood and the neckline. Turn your shirt inside out and place the hood right sides together, matching the quarter points.

Sew or serge the hood to the neckline following a 1/2″ seam allowance. See how easy it was to add a hood to the plain front shirt?

 

**The links won’t be active until the scheduled date.

January 14: Announcement.
January 15: Choosing Your Fabrics, Printing + Measuring.
January 16: Cutting Fabric.
January 17: Placket.
January 18: Sleeves.
January 19: Attaching Neckband + Hood.
January 20-21: Catch-Up Days.
January 22: Recap + Winners Announced!

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