Patterns for Pirates

P4P stylish, modern, wearable patterns

Loggers – easy hacks

The new P4P Loggers (available in women and youth) are here! Needless to say the P4P team and blog contributors were very excited to show you these easy hacks that you can do to the Loggers in order to have even more options. Let’s get started!

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Peg Waistband

First comes the Pegs. Then comes the Logger… Up next, a Peg and Logger mash made in Heaven! Ever since the release of the Peg Leg add-on pack, I have been obsessed with the contoured waistband (What? You haven’t tried it yet? Grab a copy of it for FREE right here). Luckily, the Logger Pattern is another perfect way to show off and use the contoured waistband.

To create this look, you will need both the Logger and the contoured waistband pieces. One of the advantages to the Loggers is that you can use fabrics with just a small amount of vertical stretch. However, for the Pegs, 50% stretch is needed in both directions. So when choosing your fabric for the contoured waistband, it is KEY to make sure that it meets these requirements or else it won’t fit!

Begin by cutting out the necessary pieces. For the waist on your Logger, cut on the lower rise. As you can see in the picture below, I have have my Logger shorts with bands and then my pieces needed for the contoured waistband.

Next, assemble all pieces as written in the tutorials, including the waistband. Quarter both your Loggers and waistband. Slip your waistband over the Loggers, matching right sides together.

Attach your waistband, being sure to stretch the waistband only and NOT the Loggers. All finished! You have now created one of the most comfortable pair of pants with the most comfortable waistband that you will ever own! ~Erinn

 

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Capri Loggers

The Loggers patterns include 2 length, ankle and shorts. So let’s add a third. I personally love capri length leggings and joggers when biking so I knew I needed capri loggers too. Such an easy hack!

All you have to do is remove some length on both leg pieces. For the adult loggers I recommend removing about 7″ but you can go a little less or a little more. If you are not able to measure them you can use the Peg Legs capri length as a guide, just remember that the Pegs are hemmed while the Loggers have cuffs so make sure you accommodate for that.

Once you cut your fabric continue sewing them as per the tutorial. The only change left to do is in the cuffs width. Measure the leg opening and multiply that by 0.90 and add 1″ for the seam allowance. Keep the height of the cuffs pattern as is.

All you have left to do is add the cuffs to the legs following the same instructions in the tutorial. As always, press, press, press!

Shhh! Want to know a little secret? For my pair of capri loggers I actually used the exact cuffs from the pattern. Since my loggers are 100% cotton spandex with great stretch and recovery I could do that. Something to keep in mind, but do not do this if you are using French Terry or other knit with not so great recovery.

That’s it! Super easy, capri loggers to add to your lounging or workout gear.

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Swim Bottoms

The shorts version of the Loggers makes for the perfect swim short!  I used the youth version here for my girl but you can easily do the same for the women’s.  Construction is more or less the same, but I chose to line them with swim lining and did elastic vs the bands.  You can also adjust the inseam to your preference if you want them a little longer as they will finish a tiny bit shorter if adding swim elastic, or even keep the bands as shown in the original pattern.

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Grow With Me Loggers

One of the hardest things about sewing for our kiddos is how fast they outgrow items we spend hours making.  Well, here is a quick and easy way to make your little one’s Loggers last a bit longer.

You’ll start off by choosing the next size up for your pants.  Now print and cut out your pattern pieces making sure to use the yoga style waistband. I went with a low rise for this set but you can choose high rise as well.

Now go ahead and grab your ankle cuff piece because we are going to be doubling the height of that.  I did this by first tracing it on to a blank piece of paper. Then you’ll place it alongside your line edge shown in red so it’s doubled in size but still has the same fold line.  Tape it down and then cut out the entire piece as one shown by the green line.

Now cut all your fabric pieces out just as directed!

From here you’ll sew up exactly how it’s said to in the tutorial.  When it comes to wearing you simply roll the bands to best fit your child. Here is an example of it fully rolled and extended. As you can see my little needs it fully rolled but now she’ll be able to wear them much longer!

Don’t forget to share your creations in our facebook group! We can’t wait to see all your makes!

Michelle

Now that you purchased your Loggers and reviewed all of our easy hacks, time to start sewing. Make yourself or a loved one a pair and don’t forget to show it off in the Patterns for Pirates Sewing Group on Facebook. 

 

The P4P blog team! 

Loggers :: New Pattern Release!

What do you get when leggings and joggers get together and make a baby?  LOGGERS!!

Today is like Christmas and my birthday all wrapped up into one because we are bringing you two brand new patterns that I think you’re really going to love: Loggers and Youth Loggers!These patterns are drafted for a stretch knit fabric with a 40-50% horizontal stretch, and you will want some vertical stretch for wearing comfort.  Both the adult and youth versions feature a tighter pant with cuffs and optional pockets on the pant length.  They are drafted in two lengths (shorts and pants), a large size range (XXS – Plus 3X in women’s and 3M – 14 in youth), have two rises (high and low), two waistbands (short or tall/fold over yoga) as well as an optional drawstring.

Loggers wear like a jogger but look like a legging.  Everything is finished with a band, meaning there is no hemming required.  And they are perfect for lounge wear, workout gear, swim cover-ups, layers under dresses/skirts, and everything in between.

**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!  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.  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 the different options!

PANT LENGTH W/CUFFS

SHORTS LENGTH W/BANDS

SHORT + TALL/FOLD-OVER YOGA WAISTBANDS

OPTIONAL PATCH POCKETS + DRAWSTRING

Are you ready to get in on the logger fun?  Go grab your pattern(s) now!

LOGGERS | YOUTH LOGGERS | LOGGER 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! Logger Album | Youth Logger Album

And if that didn’t give you enough options, make sure to check out the hacks post to help take your patterns even further.

The release sale (no code needed) will be through Sunday, March 17, 2019 (11:59PM US Central Time Zone).

Happy Sewing, pirates!

Heart Pouch :: Free Valentine Sewing Pattern!

Have we told you (our Pirate family) lately that we love you?  We love you so much, that we are giving our hearts to you this Valentine’s Day.

Well, maybe not our actual hearts…but a Heart Pouch sewing pattern.  And it’s free!!  This zipper style pouch is super easy, quick, and fun to make, and takes very little fabric.  (Plus maybe you have some 9″ zippers laying around from the scarfs that you never got around to making this past holiday season??  It’s a perfect way to use up that stash!)

**Stick around all the way to the bottom of this post for a video tutorial of the assembly of these sweet little pouches as well!

— Heart Pouch PDF free pattern pieces (found HERE)
— 2 – 8″x8″ pieces cotton woven for main + lining fabrics
— Lightweight Fusible Interfacing: I like Pellon SF101, or Heat & Bond 3336 (aff links)
— 1 – 9″ zipper

Recommended fabrics: quilting cotton, kona cotton, etc.

Step 1: Prepare your pieces.  You will need one each of the pouch back, pouch upper front, and pouch lower front; in your main, lining and interfacing fabrics.

Step 2: Following the instructions from the manufacturer, iron the interfacing to your main fabric pieces.

Step 3: Locate the upper front piece in your main fabric, and lay it with the fabric face up.

Step 4: With the zipper face down, align it against the straight, raw edge of your pattern piece.

Step 5: With your upper front lining piece face down, align it along the straight edge, sandwiching the zipper between the two pieces of fabric.  Sew with 1/4″ seam allowance.

Step 6: Flip open the upper front pieces, so they are now touching with wrong sides together, and your zipper is exposed.  Press and topstitch, if desired.

Step 7: Locate your lower front piece in your main fabric, and lay it with the fabric face up.

Step 8: Lay your upper front pieces with the main fabric face down, aligning the zipper to the long straight edge of the lower piece.

Step 9: Similar to step 5, align the lower front lining pieces along the straight edge, sandwiching the zipper between the two pieces of fabric.  Sew with 1/4″ seam allowance.

Step 10: Flip open the lower front pieces, so they are now touching with wrong sides together, and your zipper is exposed.  Press and topstitch, if desired.

Step 11: Open up your zipper, and trim any excess length if needed.

Step 12: Clip your zipper opening together and zigzag stitch to baste the edge shut.

Step 13: Lay your completed front piece with the main fabric face up.

Step 14: Place your main back piece on top, with right sides together.

Step 15: Flip the entire group over, so that now the lining side is face up.

Step 16: Place your lining back piece on top, with right sides together.

Step 17: Pin/clip and sew entire outer edge with 1/2″ seam allowance, leaving a 2″ – 3″ opening along one of the straighter sides.

Step 18: Clip into the top point seam allowance as closely as you can, without clipping through your stitches.  Trim around entire outer edge, for easy and cleaner turning.

Step 19: Turn your pouch right sides out, through the opening of the main fabric pieces.

Step 20: Press and smooth out all corners, round edges and bottom point.

Step 21: To close up your opening with no raw edges showing, pinch three of the raw edges together…treating them as one.  And the fourth raw edge as it’s own.

Step 22: Tuck raw edges in and pin/clip.

Step 23: Using your favorite blind stitch, close up the opening.

Step 24: You’re finished!  Go fill your new heart pouch with whatever goodies will fit in it, or gift it to someone who will do the same.

Are you someone who considers themselves to be more of a visual learner?  Here’s a video that walks you through all of the same steps above.  Hopefully it helps!

As always, we love when you share what you’ve made with us.  Head over to the Patterns for Pirates Facebook group and show off the fabulous Heart Pouch that you’ve managed to make from our freebie pattern!  Happy Valentine’s Day, friends!

The Basic Tees :: New Pattern Release!

Is there anything more fun than a pattern release day?  Maybe when it’s not one pattern, but it’s THREE!  We’ve got tees for the whole family, y’all!

The patterns are drafted for knit fabrics and are each packed full of options.

**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!  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 give a quick rundown of the options!

 

 

NECKLINE OPTIONS

 

HEM LENGTHS

Are you ready to make your new favorite shirts for yourself and/or the family?  What are you waiting for?

THE BASIC TEE – Women’s | THE BASIC TEE – Men’s | THE BASIC TEE – Youth | THE BASIC TEE – 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!  The Basic Tee: Men’s / Women’s / Youth

The release sale (no code needed) will be through Monday, February 11, 2019 (11:59PM US Central Time Zone).

Happy sewing, Pirates!

Naughty Nice + Sugar Spice PJs :: New Pattern Release!

If you follow Patterns for Pirates on Instagram in the slightest, you’d know that we’ve been teasing these patterns for a while now.  And guess what?  Today, we are officially launching two brand new patterns for the P4P lineup.  Welcome aboard, Naughty Nice and Sugar Spice PJs!

These patterns are drafted for knit fabrics and comes with a multitude of options.  For the women’s pattern there are three lengths (cheeky, shorts and pants) and three sleeve lengths (short, 3/4 and long).  For the youth pattern, there are two lengths (short and pants) and three sleeve lengths (short, 3/4 and long).  These are a tight pajama with center front and back seams, and a neckline placket that can be closed using buttons or snaps.

Our favorite fabric types for these amazing new jammies?  We recommend a light to medium weight knit with at least 40-50% stretch such as cotton spandex, brushed poly, thermal spandex, French Terry spandex, and bamboo/modal spandex blends.

**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.

Here’s a quick look at the different options!

Bottom Length:

Sleeve Lengths:

Placket front:

Are you ready to make the cutest (or sexiest) pair of pjs ever?!  Go grab the pattern and get to it!

NAUGHTY NICE PJs | SUGAR SPICE PJs | PJ 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! Naughty Nice Album | Sugar Spice Album

And if that didn’t give you enough options, make sure to check out the hacks post to help take your patterns even further.

The release sale (no code needed) will be through Friday, December 14, 2018 (11:59PM US Central Time Zone).

Happy Sewing, pirates!

Naughty Nice + Sugar Spice PJs :: Easy Hacks

Our newest pajama patterns are just so perfect for the holiday season, aren’t they? So if it’s a party, let’s make it a pajama party with some easy hacks that will add even more options to the Naughty Nice and Sugar Spice PJs you’ll be making.

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Zipper

 

Let’s start by switching the front of the Naughty Nice pajamas from a button/snap placket to a fun zipper. Fear not, it’s super easy! I personally find the zipper to take less time than adding all the snaps or buttons. Grab a 9″ zipper and let’s get started.

Sew the pajama as instructed in the tutorial, except for the neckband. You won’t be using the one in the tutorial, you’ll make a new neckband.

Lay your zipper right side down on the front opening. The to of the sipper will be at the curve. Sew it as close to the zipper teeth as possible. Using a zipper foot will make this easy.

Repeat the process on the other side of the zipper.

On the wrong side of the fabric, sew a straight stitch where the fabric and zipper meet and remove excess zipper.

Now that we added the zipper we need to create a new neckband. With the zipper closed measure the neck opening. I like to lay mine flat but you can measure anyway you feel comfortable.

Cut your neckband 85% of the neckline opening plus 1″ for seam allowance by 2.5 inches. Fold your neckband widthwise and round your open edge to resemble a henley neckband. Open then neckband and fold it lengthwise, wrong sides together. Give it a good press and mark the back and the quarter points.

Mark the quarter points on the neckline opening. With the zipper open, pin (or clip) the neckband in place.

Attach the neckband using a stretch stitch. Optionally, top stitch. I actually like to topstitch around the neckline and zipper right now, using a continuous stitch.

All done! You can use the same technique to add a front zipper to the Sugar and Spice PJs too. You will just have to adjust the zipper length.

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Lace Up Front

Want to spice up the naughty version or just want some extra fun detail? Instead of snaps or buttons, use grommets/eyelets on the front neckline.  Use as many or as little as you prefer.  I chose to do 4 spaced about 1.5″ apart.  Use drawstring, ribbon, lace or our knit fabric to create the string and lace it up!

 

 

 

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Hood

When I was searching for inspiration for my Naughty Nice PJs, I kept coming across hooded versions of this same style pajama.  I’m not sure how comfortable a hood would be to sleep in, but to have a little extra coziness around you while you’re lounging around?  Sign me up!  Plus, I think this pattern will translate so amazingly well for costumes next Halloween, and a hood is always a good thing to be able to attach for those as well.

You can use your favorite hood piece from any pattern.  I chose to use the Women’s Henley hood piece.

Assemble your hood piece like you normally would.  I chose not to line mine and hem it instead.

You’ll need to take two measurements:
— The width of the bottom edge of your hood, where it will attach to your PJs.
— The full length of the neckline + placket opening.

You won’t be using the neckband piece that comes with the pattern.  Instead, you’ll need to do a little more math.

(Neckline Opening Measurement – Hood Width Measurement) / 2 + 1″ Seam Allowance

This will give you your new placket piece length.  You’ll want two of them, for either side of the openings.

With your placket pieces folded in half (wrong sides together), pin it along the front placket opening and stitch.  Repeat with the second placket piece on the opposite side.  Follow the instructions just like the Naughty Nice / Sugar Spice patterns call for, to finish the bottom of your placket pieces.

With right sides together, align your hood piece along the raw edges of the neck opening.  Pin and stitch.  You’re done!

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Leg Placket

 

The last easy hack we wanted to show you is geared towards the Sugar and Spice. We all know how changing a bitty’s diaper can be difficult when they get all wiggly, especially in the middle of the night. So I wanted to show you how to add leg plackets to make changing a little easier.

Make the pajamas as instructed in the tutorial but do not stitch the inseam. Instead, add the cuffs flats, right sides together.

Once you add the cuffs, your pajama legs will look like this.

Open the PJ legs and measure the front and back inseams.

Cut two strips of fabric and interfacing that will be the measured length plus 1″ by 2″ width. Add the interfacing to the placket, fold and press lengthwise.

Fold the placket pieces right sides together and sew a stitch along each short end. Use a 1/2″ seam allowance. Cut the seam allowance to about 1/8″ and turn outside out. Press.

Pin each placket strip to the leg opening, making sure you match the front placket to the front opening and the back placket to the back.

Stitch in place and top stitch. If you used a serger to add your plackets, take a look over this blog to see how to finish the serger tails.

All you have to do now is add your snaps. Space them about 1 – 1.5″ apart from each other.

All done! Now you have easy diaper change Sugar Spice Pajamas!

There you have it, 4 easy hacks to give your pajamas even more options! We can’t wait to see what your Naughty Nice and Sugar Spice Pajamas will be. Post your creations in the P4P group!

Alex, Nicole and Katy

2018 Holiday Freebies :: Avast, A Vest!

Can you believe that we are on our fifth and final day of freebies?  I hope you’ve enjoyed this past week as much as I have!

Today’s freebie is fun, quick and easy!  Think of it as a your vest friend.  (See what I did there?!)  Allow me officially shout out: Avast, A Vest!

Fabric Requirements: 1-1/2 yards of a medium weight, double sided fabrics.  Favorites: brushed hacci, jersey knit, french terry, dbp.

GRAB YOUR COPY OF THE AVAST! A VEST PATTERN HERE!

Why double sided?  Because of the way this vest is worn, the top is folded back and reveals the backside of the fabric.  We wanted this pattern to be as simple of a layering piece as possible.  But if you’re not loving the raw edges and backside of your fabric, cut two pieces, sew them together around the entire outer edge (right sides together, turn through one of the arm openings, and complete the rest of the tutorial that way!

If you need help folding your fabric to prepare for cutting, it’s just like a circle skirt!

———

Cut your pattern piece, making sure to fold selvedge to selvege and then top to bottom before cutting. **DO NOT cut your arm openings yet, or you will end up with four armholes. 

Open up your fabric piece, leaving it still folded in half along with the stretch going horizontally.

Grab your pattern piece, realign it along the top, and cut our your arm openings.

Use the pattern guides to mark the middle points of the top and bottom of both arm openings.

Fold the arm opening, to meet the pins you just placed together and mark the other quarter points of the opening.

1. Fold your armband piece, right sides together, meeting the short ends together.
2. Now meeting the long ends together, fold in half again.
3. Using 1/2″ seam allowance, sew short raw edges (you will be sewing through four layers).

Flip open your armband, enclosing the seam cleanly in the middle. Repeat for other armband.

Mark quarter points of raw edges of armbands.

Slide the armband inside the bodice, aligning the raw edges and matching the quarter-marked points. Note: The armbands are slightly smaller than the bodice opening.

Stitch, using 1/2″ seam allowance. Repeat with second armband.

Open it up and throw it on as your new favorite layering piece!  You’re welcome to finish the edges if you’d like, but this was meant to be a more flowy, open vest.

Here are a couple of photos from our holiday tester group:

Also be sure to head over the Patterns for Pirates Facebook Group and share what you’ve made with your new designs!

Happy Holidays, Pirates!

2018 Holiday Freebies :: Sleepy Cut Files

It’s day FOUR of our P4P 2018 Holiday Freebies and I am coming at you hot with some super fun “sleepy” themed digital designs!

The weather outside screams for extra naps, cuddling under big puffy blankets, curling up with a good book, and never leaving your bed.  We thought maybe it would be a good time to give you some new graphics for your cozy clothes.  (But really, you can put these on anything!!)

The designs are all packaged together with four different file types: SVG, PNG, DXF, and PDF.  They should work with most digital die cutting machines.  Here are a couple of examples from our amazing group of holiday testers!

Don’t own a machine like a Silhouette or Cricut?  No sweat!  We have included extra file types that will allow you to work with the designs however you’d like.

— Go old school and use an iron on transfer paper and your at-home printer.
— Use Heat Transfer Vinyl and your die cutter.
— Try your hand at Freezer Paper Stenciling.

What are you waiting for!

Go grab your copy of the FREE Sleepy Themed Cut Files now!

Also be sure to head over the Patterns for Pirates Facebook Group and share what you’ve made with your new designs!

Happy Holidays, Pirates!

2018 Holiday Freebies :: Pirate Stocking Cap

On our THIRD day of freebies this holiday season, I thought it was time to bring to you a new hat pattern.  Did you know that I (Katy) started in the handmade selling world with crocheted hats?  Putting things on people’s heads apparently is my “thing” and it can be your thing too!

Today’s pattern is a super quick and easy one.  Perfect for scrap busting.  And even more perfect for people who like fun hats.

This stocking cap pattern comes in four sizes, which should cover the heads of the majority of your family!

XSmall (fits 17″ – 18″ head circumference) – Toddler
Small (fits 19″ – 20″ head circumference) – Child
Medium (fits 21″ – 22″ head circumference) – Teen/Adult
Large (fits 23″ – 24″ head circumference) – Adult

Grab your free pattern pieces here. If you need help putting the pattern together, pop over to the First Time Users Tips page or ask in our facebook group .

Recommended fabrics: Ponte, sweater knits, liverpool, brushed poly, rayon blends, tshirt knits, upcycled sweaters, etc.   Anything with a decent amount of drape to it works best, otherwise the “slouch” won’t happen as well.  I suggest washing your fabric before you begin to pre-shrink & help prevent color bleeding in the future.
Cuff piece: Any knits with at least a 20% stretch.

Instructions:

Lay one main hat piece, right side up.

Lay the second main piece on top, right sides together.

Using 1/2″ seam allowance, sew around the two outer edges.

With your fringe piece face down, start rolling it — wrong sides together.

You want this piece to be as close to 1/2″ wide as possible. Baste the top together.

Slide the fringe piece inside the main hat. Make sure to tuck all of the fringe edges inside, so you don’t catch them.

Stitch along the raw edges, using 1/2″ allowance. (You might find this step easier to do with your sewing machine, as it can generally handle a thicker amount of fabric than your serger.)

1. Fold your band piece, right sides together, meeting the short ends together.
2. Now meeting the long ends together, folding in half again.
3. Using 1/2″ seam allowance, sew short raw edges (you will be sewing through four layers).

Flip open your band, enclosing the seam cleanly in the middle. Mark the half points of the band.

Slide the band over the hat body, aligning the raw edges and matching the half-marked points. Note: The band is slightly smaller than the hat body.

Stretching the band only, stitch through all three layers of raw edges.

You’re finished!!  So easy, right??

In case you needed it, here is some inspiration from our fabulous group of testers:

As always, we love when you share what you’ve made with us.  Head over to the Patterns for Pirates Facebook group and show off the fabulous Pirate Stocking Caps you’ve managed to make from our freebie pattern!

2018 Holiday Freebies :: Critter Clutch

Welcome back to the second day of our P4P Holiday Freebies 2018!  I’m not sure I can even handle the excitement I have over today’s free pattern.  I am so happy to have this idea out of my head and finally in pattern form, to share with all of you.  AND FOR FREE!

These Critter Clutches are simply adorable!  They take minimal amounts of fabric, with not too much time involved in it.  The hardest part is deciding which version to do first: Unicorn, Reindeer or Fox??!!

You will need:
— Critter Clutch pattern pieces + Eye Digital Designs for HTV (found HERE)
— 1/2 yard main fabric, 1/2 yard lining fabric
— Fusible Fleece: I like Pellon 987F (aff link)
— Buttons / Snaps / Velcro for eyes and closures

Recommended fabrics: quilting cotton, kona cotton, flannel, etc.

Cut out all pieces needed for your corresponding bag.

Prepping the Strap:

Cut 3″ long x 34″ wide strip of fabric.
**Note: Depending if you or the recipient will be wearing it cross body or straight down from one shoulder, you may want to adjust the width of this piece to your liking.

1. Fold in half, with long edges touching, wrong sides together. Press.
2. + 3. Open up, and fold each long edge into the crease you just created.
4. Fold, completely enclosing the raw edges.

Edge stitch along both long edges. Set aside.  Finished width: 3/4″.

Horn / Ear / Antler / Nose Pieces: 

*Tip: I added fusible fleece to these pieces to help them stand up better.  Some of our testers opted to fill them with a small amount of fiberfil.  Either way works!

Right sides together, sew along the outer edges using 1/4″ seam allowance. Leave the bottom open for turning.

Clip corners and allowance before turning to get a crisper edge.  Topstitch if desired.

I like to get a little funky with the unicorn horn and add some decorative stitches to it.  This also helps the horn’s stiffness.

Apply Interfacing:

Carefully trim away 1/4″ from each interfacing piece, to allow for easier turning.

Following the instructions from the manufacturer, apply interfacing to these pieces:

  • Front Main Piece
  • Main Gussett

Eyes + Closures:

I personally like to add the eyes and velcro / snaps to the front main piece before we assemble the bag.  It allows for all of the stitching or snaps to be enclosed inside of the bags, and it’s a lot easier to apply HTV to a flat surface.  You can wait until the end if you’d like!

The Fox and Reindeer’s eyes need to be a little more wide set.  And the Unicorn’s eyes work best if you apply them closer to the bottom of the bag front.

Velcro / button placement on front main piece:

  • Unicorn / Plain Bag: 2″ from the top, centered (4.5″ from either side)
  • Fox / Reindeer: 2″ from the bottom, centered

Velcro / button placement on Back Lining piece:

  • Unicorn / Plain Bag: 2″ from the top, centered (4.5″ from either side)
  • Fox / Reindeer: 1.5″ from the bottom, centered

REINDEER ONLY:

1″ from the top edge, pin and baste ears in place using 1/8″ seam allowance.

Back Main Assembly:

UNICORN ONLY: Take back main piece and mark the center along the top, straight edge.  Mark center of horn piece.

Right sides together, align and pin/clip horn in place.

Place ears on either side of horn.  **Be sure not to go outside of your seam allowance on the outer edges, or you’ll have trouble turning your bag because the ears will be stuck in the outer edges.

FOX and REINDEER ONLY:

Right sides together, place ears and antlers (not pictured) 1″ from the outer edge.

ALL ANIMAL BAGS:

Place top piece, right sides together. Stitch with 1/4″ seam allowance.

Press open, with horn, antlers and/or ears pressed toward top and seam allowance pressed down.

Follow the manufacturer directions and iron your fusible interfacing onto the back side of the back main piece.

Attaching the Gusset:

Mark middle bottom of back piece and middle of both long edges of outer gusset piece.

Right sides together, ease gusset around bottom edge of back piece.  Sew using 1/4″ seam allowance.

Repeat for front main piece, attaching right sides together to other edge of gusset.

Repeat for lining pieces. Only this time, leave 4-5″ gap in one of the lining curves, to allow for turning.

Using 1/4″ allowance, baste straps, centered, on side gusset pieces. 

Final Assembly:

With the lining piece right sides out and the main, outer bag piece wrong sides out, slide the lining inside and align entire top edge.

Sew with 1/4″ seam allowance. Clip all edges and curves for cleaner turning.

Locate the opening you’d left in the lining.

Turn bag right-side-out through opening.

Pin and sew the opening in the lining closed, using your favorite blind or ladder stitch.

Press bag.  Topstitch around top edge if desired.

Reindeer Nose:

Align the nose at the very bottom of the front flap piece.  Top stitch the entire circle, catching the flap in your stitches and affixing the nose to the flap piece.

YOU’RE FINISHED!  DO A HAPPY DANCE!

In case you needed it, here is some inspiration for the different designs sewn up by our amazing testers!

UNICORN:

REINDEER

FOX

PLAIN

I hope you love these little cuties as much as I do.  Don’t forget to share your finished projects in the Patterns for Pirates Facebook Group!  Happy Holidays, friends!

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