How to Print P4P A0 Copy Shop File with Blue Prints Printing

August 8, 2017

We now offer the A0 Copy Shop File with all our newer patterns for an added convenience. The A0 Copy Shop File is meant to be printed on a large printer on larger size paper (A0 size paper that is ;)). It is about the size of an engineer’s print.

Most of our patterns fit on one to two of the A0 size papers. This means you don’t need to tape together the smaller paper to tile together your larger pieces. Very few pieces cannot fit onto that size and still need to be pieced (very long pieces usually- like Essential Tank Maxi which spans from shoulder to floor), but that’s 2 pieces rather than 50! Here is an example of a pattern printed on an A0 size sheet:

We get asked a lot about where to print them! And now we have a great suggestion for you. We had Blue Prints Printing reach out to us wanting to help make the process smooth and easy for everyone trying to print PDF sewing patterns! Most PDF plotting companies are based around printing engineer blueprints/plans. So the process can seem confusing to upload and understand what you need for a PDF sewing pattern instead. Not only did they ask all about the sewing patterns and what P4P seamstresses are looking for, they actually created a page and a great tool on their site for merging all the patterns into an order for a great experience JUST FOR US! <3 *They also set up an affiliate program for the P4P blog- accounts made through the P4P blog links will be affiliate links. *

They worked hard to make the process simple. They have clickable step by step instructions on how to upload your patterns and order with suggestions on paper size, paper type, etc. to make the ordering process easy for a PDF sewing pattern. They also gave us an exclusive P4P discount code for the kick off: p4p-intro15 which will give you 15% off on print orders of $40.00 or more. This comes out to $1.12 per page, which is the lowest we’ve found online anywhere. They have incredibly fast shipping too!

But just to make sure, I’ve made a quick video all about how to get your A0 Copy Shop File from your account here on the P4P site, uploaded to their site and receive that big box of patterns all ready for you to create without taping or gluing sheets together.

They package very nicely so that your patterns come very smooth and protected as well! You do pay shipping for this box, so it makes most sense to order as many together as possible in a “bundle” to save on shipping 🙂

They are welcoming the Pirates over with huge open arms and if you have any trouble they will be more than happy to help with your question or concern 24/7 at: service@blueprintsprinting.com or you can call from 9am-5pm, M-F Mountain Time/ leave voicemail other times at: 888-507-1002.

I hope this helps all you seamstresses out there that love PDF patterns, but don’t love taping them together!

Judy

Fall Capsule

August 1, 2017

Once again Patterns for Pirates teamed up with Made for Mermaids and Cole’s Corner and Creations to bring you some Fall Capsule inspiration. As before we will be giving you some ideas how to create Women, Boys and Girls mini capsules.

Today I will show you how to create a perfect mini fall/back to school capsule for your little men. As some of you know, I live in Florida so my kids’ capsules will reflect the warm climate. For the rare days when it’s chilly (and by chilly I mean 70s 🙂 ) I love to have some layering pieces ready. I find Cpt Mack’s Cardigan to be the perfect layering piece for short or long sleeves tshirts. Those elbow patches are so fun!

When you built your boy’s fall capsule be sure to add a button up shirt like the Lumberjack Shirt. They can be worn as stand alone tops but also make great layering tops. You can make the collar option or go for a fun, cool look and add a hood.

Every boy needs a cool jacket! Am I right? Well…look no further than the Spirit jacket from Cole’s Corner and Creations. The raglan style sleeves make it such an easy sew that you’ll be whipping those in no time.

Between the 3 sisters pattern companies you have so many tops options. For Noah’s fall capsule I went with my 3 favorite choices…the P4P Jolly Roger Raglan, the M4M Dylan Tee and the P4P Yo Ho Henley. All patterns feature a long sleeve and short sleeve option so you can pick whatever style works best for your area.

When choosing the bottoms for the mini fall capsule I kept in mind one thing: COMFORT! My little man lives in shorts all year long so I went with the Pirate Playground shorts and a modified knee length Baby Bear Joggers. I like the loose fit of the Playground Pants for PE days and the slimmer fit of the Baby Bear Joggers for everyday wear.

For the occasional colder day I had to add a pair of the new Little Loungers pants. This pair is made with a striped linen blend and it’s such a classic look. It pairs beautifully with the Yo Ho Henley, the JRR and the Dylan Tee.

We can’t wait to see your little one’s capsules this fall! You can read the contest details on the M4M blog here. Regardless of which top, layering piece or bottoms you choose remember to: Keep it fun! Keep it simple! Keep it comfortable!

P4P University :: Bias Binding

July 22, 2017

We recently covered the tips and tricks to using a knit binding (HERE) but what about woven fabrics? One of the many finishing options for necklines, sleeve hems and armcyes for woven fabrics is bias binding. Unlike knit, woven binding should be cut on the bias (45 degrees from the grain-line) so that it bends and curves and allows it to lay flat. Some patterns will include a pattern piece, which makes it easy to line up and cut the strip on the bias, however, it can eat up quite a bit of fabric and we all know how much we hate to waste pretty fabric, right? You can also use pre-made bias binding, but many of times it’s nice to use the same fabric as the your garment, so we’re going to show you how make a continuous bias strip from a small square of your fabric. This is also perfect to use up your scraps.

For this example, I used a 15″ x 15″ square which makes about 100″ of 2″ bias binding. A 12″ square makes about 60″ which is plenty for the bias binding neckline option of the Everyday Elegance.

: Cut and prep the square. Mark opposite sides with A/B and draw a diagonal line from one corner to the other.

: Cut the square across diagonally.

: With right sides together, match the ‘A’ side and stitch together using a 1/4″ seam seam allowance.

: Press seam allowance open.

: Starting at the bottom, draw 2″ lines parallel to the bottom edge. If there is any excess that does not complete a full 2″ row, just trim it off.

: With right sides together, fold the ‘B’ side toward one another. Your fabric should be a square, with your drawn lines still parallel with one another.

: Pull the pointed corners in opposite directions and match up the next row of lines.

: With right sides together, pin and stitch using a 1/4″ seam allowance.

: Press seam allowance open.

: Starting at one end, cut along your previously drawn lines.

: Continue cutting around the circle and voila! You now have a continuous bias strip.

At this point, you can set your binding aside or you can continue to pre-press to finish preparing it to be sewn to your garment. A 2″ binding strip will create 1″ single fold or 1/2″ double fold bias tape. The above method also works for various widths and single or double fold bias tape.

: Fold bias strip in half toward the wrong side. Press.

: Unfold and re-fold the raw edges toward center.

: Fold again and press.

There you have it! Creating your own bias tape from woven fabric is as simple as a couple of seams and cuts.

Check out the video below as Judy walks you through a quick demonstration on sewing with bias binding.

We’ve added another quick video with SINGLE FOLD BIAS BINDING 🙂 Enjoy!

As promised in the video here are a couple pictures to entice you to PRESS and stay stitch to help get a great finish.

Finished single fold bias:

Happy Sewing!!

Linen Loungers :: New Pattern Release!

July 20, 2017

Wahoo! It’s pattern release day! And we are coming to you with our first ::new:: pattern for the “Summer of Wovens”!! (Too many exclamation points? Can you tell I’m excited?)

We are bringing you the Linen Loungers and the Little Loungers, which are both a woven pant full of options!

The women’s Linen Loungers are in our full size range, from XXS – Plus3X. They are available in five lengths (shorts with cuffed hem, shorts with curved hem, bermuda, capri and pant), three pocket options (patch, slat and a back patch pocket), two waistbands (woven and yoga) and also offer optional button tabs and a drawstring. The unisex youth Little Loungers are available in sizes 3Month – 14 and cover all of the same options as their women’s counterpart!

What are your fabric options for these pants?
For the shorts length, the sky is pretty much the limit. You can use a more structured woven or something with drape and have your new favorite pair of shorts to wear while taking on your everyday life. For the other lengths, we highly recommend using a woven apparel fabric that has some drape to it like linen, linen blends, rayon, crepe, ect. These Loungers are all a pull-on pant style and drafted looser in the hips for easy on/off, and then taper in at the knee with a slight bootcut flair.

**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 break down the options a little!

Cuffed Hem Shorts (with optional Button Tab)

Curved Hem Shorts

Bermuda/Capri/Pant Length

Slat/Patch/Back Patch Pockets

Woven/Yoga Waistband

Ready to purchase a copy of the Loungers and get to sewing yourself?
Grab a copy of the Little Loungers, Linen Loungers, or even a Loungers Bundle so you can sew for practically the whole family.

Please don’t think we’d leave you with just the pattern and no extras!! Head over to our “Loungers Hacks” post to see how you can take these patterns another step further.

If you’re still needing more inspiration, be sure to head over to the Patterns for Pirates Facebook Group Albums for the Linen Loungers and Little Loungers to see what our amazing testers have sewn for themselves. Don’t forget to tag us on Instagram (@patternsforpirates | #patternsforpirates) and to share your finished items over in our Facebook group! We love to see what you make!

Happy sewing, friends!

LL – easy hacks

July 20, 2017

In true Pirate fashion we could not have let this double release go by without showing you some easy but fun hacks for the Little Loungers and Linen Loungers. Erinn will start you off with an adorable bias binding hack for the curved hem shorts.

…..

Bias Binding curved hem

Adding bias bindings to the hemline of the curved shorts is a quick and easy way to create an entirely different look. One of the things that I love most about this look is that it’s a great way to add a pop of contrasting or coordinating fabrics.

To create this look, cut out your pattern pieces as you would per the pattern. The only additional thing you will need are your bindings. For mine, I cut them 2″ wide by a length that was longer than the hemline. As you can see below, I used the curved pattern pieces and marked the top edge. I will connect my bias binding pieces up to this marking.

If you are attaching pockets, you can complete everything through these steps. Before sewing up the inseam and sides, you will want to complete your bindings along the curves. Place your shorts facing down and bias binding pieces face down and then gently ease them along the curves. You will want to pin/clip this in place. As you can see, my pieces are longer than the edges, but these will be trimmed later. Attach with a 1/2″ seam allowance, then clip into seam allowance along curve.

Once you’ve attached your binding, press binding piece and seam up. Press bias binding piece to align with top edge, then press again as you fold binding over (these are the same steps as were completed on pockets). Edge stitch along folded edge and repeat on the other three hemlines.

Once you’ve attached all bias bindings, you will assembly your pattern as directed. When reaching the curved seam and inseam, you will want to make sure to use a straight stitch for the last few inches to create a cleaner finish (With wovens, it is advised to use a straight stitch first and then go back over with a serger if desired. If doing so, end your serged section a few inches before your straight stitch to help create that cleaner look). Trim any bias binding pieces that might be longer than your seam allowance.

…..

Cuffed capri pants

Next I will show you how easy it is to add cuffs to the capri pants. The patterns include a cuff option for the short so we will use the same tutorial techniques. Start by printing the pattern in your desired size. I made a size 6 Little Loungers with patch pocket and elastic waistband.

There are two changes you will need to do to the original pattern. You must cut the capri length 1 inch shorter than the cut line for both the front and back pieces. We do that because we won’t be hemming anymore, we will be adding the cuffs. That brings me to the second change you’ll need to make. The cuffs in the pattern are drafted to fit 1:1 ratio to the shorts leg opening. The capri leg opening is smaller so we will need to shorten the width of the cuff. How much you shorten the width will vary for each size. The length of the cuff will remain the same.

Don’t forget to cut and attach the button tabs too! They add such a cute touch to the capris!

Sew the pants as per the tutorial. Easy peasy! Don’t be afraid to add some detail stitching to the button tabs or the pockets! I used my coverstitch to add a touch of blue but you can certainly use a twin needle or your preferred decorative stitches.

If you love the look of the cuff but prefer the bermuda length you can certainly apply the same principals and created a cuffed bermuda linen lounger or little lounger…the sky’s the limit! 🙂

…..

Hemmed and lined shorts

We always like to mix up our finishing options to give you a wide variety that you can apply to any pattern so we went with a cuffed or curved hem facing for the shorts this time. If you’ve been following P4P for awhile, you’ll notice Judy loves some short shorts 😉 but that may not be your preference. I’m going to show you how to lengthen your inseam and do a simple hemmed edge. I also wanted to use this gorgeous embroidered lace so will give some insight on how to line them.

First, decide what you would like your finished inseam length to be. The current inseam finishes at 2.5″. For my finished length I went with 3.5″. Decide the length of your preferred hem (I did 1/2″) and add this to your desired inseam length. Measure and transfer to your pattern. Don’t forget all seam allowances are 1/2″ so your total inseam on the pattern should be 1/2″ longer. Example for my 3.5″ finished inseam: 1/2″ seam allowance at the crotch curve + 3.5″ inseam length + .5″ hem allowance = 4.5″ total inseam.

Now that you have adjusted your inseam length we will make our hem gauge for the hem. You’ll notice these outward notches on other cutlines (bermuda) as well as on sleeves hems. It may look a little funny, but it actually serves a purpose. Cutting the outward notch will allow the hem to lay flat once folded. The angle of the gauge should be a mirror image of the seam just above it so that when its turned under it will lay flush. Again, my hem allowance is 1/2″, if you choose to do a wider hem, you will want to extend your hem gauge to match the same length of your hem allowance.

Proceed to cut your pattern and construct as instructed in the tutorial. To make a lined pair, cut every piece from both your main and lining fabric. Lay your main fabric on top of your lining piece (right sides up) and construct as usual, treating them as one piece.

To hem, I serged both the main and lining fabric together to finish the edge . Then turned and top-stitched. Easy right?

You can also line the shorts by treating your lining and main fabric as separate items. So construct a main short and lining short then slip them inside one another and attach your waistband to both the lining and the main. I chose to it the other way since I would be hemming them together anyway.

…..

Fully Enclosed Seams on Cuffed Shorts

When it comes to seams on my pants, I tend to gravitate toward wanting to enclose all of them. It gives a nicer, neater look to your pant, and just feels more “handmade” than “homemade” to me. The Loungers tutorial already tells you how to enclose the waistband on your pants, but what if you wanted to enclose the cuff hems too?

Here’s a quick rundown of how to make that happen:

Prepare your cuff as the pattern states. Right sides together, fold piece in half and stitch along unfolded edge.
Working from the wrong side of the fabric, fold and press 1/2″ on one of the long edges of entire cuff piece.
With right sides together, fold and press your cuff piece, leaving 1/2″ seam allowance at the top edge.
Press, press, press.

5. With your pant leg piece right side up, place your cuff piece on top (pinning carefully and aligning all of your seams. Stitch at a 1/2″ seam allowance.

6. Flip your fabric over so you’re looking at the wrong side of your pant leg. Open up your cuff piece and press the raw edges away from the pant leg, toward your cuff.
7. Using those beautifully pressed lines that you created for yourself back in steps 2-4, fold your cuff piece so it encloses all of your raw edges.
8. Press and edge stitch.

You now have a beautifully enclosed hem on your pant leg! Do a small happy dance, pat yourself on the back, and then repeat the steps for your other cuff.

(I didn’t have a chance to grab photos in my new shorts made from the tutorial yet, but I used that same method on the short pictured below and I LOVE them! You will too!)

Use one of these hacks? Be sure to hop on over to the Facebook Group and share your Linen and Little Loungers love. 🙂

Everyday Elegance :: Pattern Release/Update!

July 13, 2017

We are officially kicking off the P4P Summer of Wovens today with the re-release of the Everyday Elegance!

Before we get started: If you already own a copy of the original Everyday Elegance, you will NOT need to re-purchase to get the updates. If you bought here (PatternsforPirates.com) or on the Craftsy store, you will simply need to sign into your account and re-download the file. If your purchase was via Etsy, email help@patternsforpirates.com (WITH PROOF OF PURCHASE) and you will get an updated file. It’s as easy as that, we promise!

As far as woven tops go, this is a great one to use if you’re new to the woven apparel scene. The Everyday Elegance is a loose top with a v-neckline, rounded collar, back yoke and back pleats. We decided to update this oldie-but-goodie because we wanted this pattern to match with the rest of the items found at Patterns for Pirates. So we’ve extended the sizing out to our full range (XXS – Plus 3X) and have added a ton of new options!

The Everyday Elegance now features two hemlines (tunic and dress length), three sleeve lengths (short, 3/4 and long), two neckline finishes (collar and bias binding), a back yoke with pleats, and an optional belt.

Along with the pattern changes, we updated our formatting. The pdfs now include our layers feature and can be found in letter, A4 and A0 sizes!

Let’s take a look at the options, shall we?

Tunic Length Hem

Dress Length Hem

Sleeve Length Options

Neckline Finishes

Back Yoke with pleated gather

Belted vs Unbelted

Ready to purchase the Everyday Elegance and get to sewing yourself? Go grab your copy HERE!! The pattern is on a re-release sale through Sunday, July 16, 2017.

Please don’t think we’d leave you with just the pattern and no extras!! Head over to our “Easy Hacks” post to see how you can step your sewing up a notch.

If you’re still needing more inspiration, be sure to head over to the Patterns for Pirates Facebook Group Album to see everything our beautiful testers have sewn for themselves. Don’t forget to tag us on Instagram (@patternsforpirates | #patternsforpirates) and to share your finished items over in our Facebook group! We love to see what you make!

Happy sewing, friends!

Everyday Elegance – easy hacks

July 13, 2017

The Everyday Elegance recently received an update and and we added more options. (Read more about it the re-release here). We could not let this event pass by without showing you some easy hacks that can take your beloved EE to the next level.

[Read more…]

Sewing Needles 101

July 7, 2017

One of the most important steps to follow when sewing is choosing the right needle for your project. A wrong needle can leave holes in the fabric, snag it or skip stitches so let’s answer the two most common questions regarding sewing needles.

What does that number mean?

Let’s start by understanding the numbers on the packaging or needles. You will notice most sewing machine needles have two numbers on them. The numbers from 60 to 110 reflect the European metric system while the numbers from 8 to 18 represent the American needle sizing. For example, an universal needle 90/14 means it’s Euro size 90 and US size 14. As a general rule, the lower the number, the finer the needle and the higher the number, the bigger the needle.

8-10 (60 – 70) – great for very fine weight (like fine silk, chiffon, organza)

11-12 (75 – 80) – use these sizes for light weight fabrics ( cotton spandex, cotton voile)

14 (90) – perfect for medium weight fabrics ( cotton woven, linen, jersey, fleece)

16 (100) – this size is great for heavy fabric (denim, duck, corduroy )

18 (110) – use these needles when sewing very heavy fabric ( heavy denim, upholstery)

20 (120) – very, very heavy fabric

Note: some automatic threader sewing machines may not be able to thread lower number needles so you will have to manually thread it.

What are the most common types of needles and what fabric do I use them with?

Universal needles: These needles are the most common used ones.. They pierce through the fibers. These needles are great for woven fabrics and stable knits.

Ball point or jersey needles: They have a round tip and they go around the fibers or in between the fibers of the fabric, keeping its integrity. They are best suited for knit materials.

Stretch needles: These needles are sharper than ball point needles but follow the same concept as them. They do not pierce the fibers but go in between them. These ones are perfect for very stretchy fabric like performance knits or swimwear and elasic.

Jeans or Denim needles: This style needle is very thick and sharp. It goes through the fabric and it’s best used with denim or heavier fabric like outdoor wovens and duck.

Microtex needles: The tip of microtex needles is very sharp and thin. It is ideal for thin, delicate fabrics like chiffon or crepe.

Leather needles: The chisel point will make it easy for this needle to penetrate thick fabrics like leather and some thick vinyls. Do not use on ultra suede.

Some other type of needles you will see in the notions section are: quilting , embroidery, top stitching, metalfil, self threader, twin needles or triple needles.

You may notice colors that accompany the various styles of needles. Some needle manufacturers have started adding colors to their products so it make it easier to distinguish the type.

For the best results don’t forget to change your sewing machine or serger needles after each project. They tend to get dull rather easily and a dull needle will snag your fabric. Now that you have your perfect needle for your perfect fabric, grab that P4P pattern and don’t forget to share your creations in the group!

P4P Presents the Summer of Wovens!

June 21, 2017

As many of you already know, I am a lover of knit fabrics. I love how quickly they can be sewn up, and how comfortable the different types of knits are to wear. BUT, we’ve seen in our Facebook Group that there is a desire for patterns that use woven and non-stretch fabrics. We hear you and are about to make your woven pattern dreams come true!

To help kick off the first official day of summer, our P4P Team is announcing our “Summer of Wovens”!

What does a “Summer of Wovens” entail, exactly?

— Our pattern releases throughout the summer will ONLY be for woven fabrics. Was there something you were hoping to see from us? Of course we’d love to hear!

— Before we can get to the new goodies, we are making sure to update our older woven patterns to feature our layers format, including the A0 copy shop printing formats. We will also be extending the sizing into the full range that we use now. Our very first woven pattern for women was The Everyday Elegance and we have been working behind the scenes on updates for this, as well as perhaps including a few new options for the pattern itself. Here is our gorgeous Nicole modeling her newest EE:

— Of course we have new patterns already in the works! Along with her EE, Nicole is sporting a sneak peek of the first *new* pattern, which is already in pre-testing! Perfect for a lightweight fabric for a comfortable and casual summer days/nights, these bottoms are a pull-on woven pant filled with options. Since we are in pre-testing now, we still haven’t found the perfect name for these pants. And, I always reserve my right to change my mind on the options we will offer on the final pattern! (I fully admit that I’m a girl who likes to exercise her right to change her mind! Lol.) So things might change but this is the basic idea of what we are working on at the moment.

— Lastly, we will dedicate the blog to tips, tricks, and posts all about sewing with woven apparel fabrics. A lot of seamstresses think of quilting cotton when they see the term woven, but we will be focusing on woven fabrics that are specifically made for apparel. After all, they will be used for apparel patterns! There is a large variety of available woven fabrics and it will be our mission to help you understand what works best for the project you’re about to tackle. Let us know the questions you have about sewing apparel in woven/non-stretch fabrics and we will try to answer as many as we can. We would really love to help you better understand this new type of fabric!

We hope everyone is excited to see what else we have coming this summer and can use up some of that woven fabric you’ve got hiding in your stash!

Sew What Do I Wear on Vacation

June 16, 2017

Once again, Patterns for Pirates teamed up with Made for Mermaids to bring some amazing vacation outfits inspiration. This blog tour is full of outfits that would be perfect for any destination.

Whether I pack for a quick getaway weekend or a week long trip, I always make sure to bring clothes that do not wrinkle easily and do not take a lot of space in my luggage. With two boys to keep up with I also need my outfits to be super comfortable.

My next vacay suitcase will certainly include a few Favorite Tee dresses since I have sewn at least ten of them since the pattern launched. I am all about tshirt dresses this summer, comfortable and stylish. My favorite ones are rayon spandex, since they hardly ever wrinkle when packed and they feel great in high temperatures.

It is no secret that my closet is full of Sweet Tee dresses so they will definitely be a staple in my vacation wardrobe. They are such a quick sew and a very flattering silhouette. I do lengthen my Sweet Tee dresses about 3.5 inches, but that is just a personal preference. You can rock your flirty shorter pattern version for sure!

The Sweet Tee pattern includes a banded short sleeve option and a neckband finishing of the neckline. To make it an ever faster sew I hem my sleeves by folding 1/2 ” and topstitching with my coverstitch. You can very well use a zig zag stitch or a twin needle too.

I like to use the same technique to the neckline as well. I simply fold it 1/2″ wrong sides together and clip it in place…use a lot of clips (or pins) and press it well. all you have to do now is top stitch it the same way you did your sleeves.

Tadah! A super quick 30 minutes sew, comfy and elegant….perfect for vacation. I love that the Sweet Tee can be dressed up or dressed done, wear it with heels for an evening out or with flats for a fun day of vacation activities.

Don’t forget to check out the other blogs in this tour! The ladies really delivered!