Category Archives: The Pattern Probe

A diary of learning how to use sewing patterns and reviewing them.

The Pattern Probe #6: Simplicity 8513 Bodysuits

Simplicity 8513

HELLO PEOPLE OF 2020!

It’s been a minute, in a matter of speaking, since my last post. Not going to lie, I’ve never been very good at keeping a diary in my youth so keeping up with a blog was never going to be different, lol.

But then the Year of Satan 2020 happened, and things have been going crazy all over the place. I’m doing okay with all of it, channeling my anxiety into more useful pursuits. While some people took up bread-baking to keep their minds off of the Troubles, I have found my way back to sewing.

Simply put, I’ve bought a TON of fabric. My basement is starting to resemble a fabric store so I’m diving back into my sewing bucket list trying to be rid of it before I find more fabric to buy. It’s a vicious but pleasurable cycle, lol. 🙂

Continue reading The Pattern Probe #6: Simplicity 8513 Bodysuits

The Pattern Probe #5: Simplicity 1253 Pleated Sleeveless Top

Roll mouse over image for closer look.

I know I can’t believe it either. TWO POSTS IN ONE DAY? She’s so productive. 🙂

Anyway, my next Pattern Probe was inspired by my need for more summer tops. Changing my wardrobe for the warmer months made me realize that I don’t have a great deal of them. Plus, I had this great leopard print lightweight fabric I bought for a song because there was only a little over 1 yard left. After going over my pattern collection, this Simplicity one had a sleeveless design suitable for the limited amount AND I haven’t tried it yet, so this was the one I went with.

Continue reading The Pattern Probe #5: Simplicity 1253 Pleated Sleeveless Top

The Pattern Probe #4: Butterick B6296 Pajama Set ***UPDATE***

Here’s an update to this pattern probe of Butterick Pajama Set B6296. Click HERE if you would like to read it.

The first pair of pants I made with this pattern ended up too big for my measurements. Nothing wrong with loose pajama pants since they are for sleeping in, but I wondered if using a smaller pattern size would fit closer to my frame. Since my original plan was to make 2 pairs of flannel pajama pants for the colder months, I sewed a second pair using a smaller pattern size:

Continue reading The Pattern Probe #4: Butterick B6296 Pajama Set ***UPDATE***

The Pattern Probe #4: Butterick B6296 Pajama Set

Happy Spring Everyone!

After a considerable amount of time, I have jumped back into the sewing game by trying out another pattern from my collection. As a newly minted adult, I noticed that my sleepwear options were pretty dismal. Just old t-shirts and shorts I would wear to bed. And with sleepwear becoming trendy outerwear in fashion, I wanted to created more official clothing items to sleep in. Particularly during the colder months, it would be nice to have some flannel pajama pants to keep warm, and some cute pajama sets in lighter fabrics the rest of the time.

Continue reading The Pattern Probe #4: Butterick B6296 Pajama Set

The Pattern Probe #3: Simplicity 1370 Miniskirt

pbSimplicity_skirtsS1370FrontBack

Roll over image for a closer look. 🙂

I know it’s been a while since my last post, but it’s actually because I have been really inspired by this pattern pack and have made TWO skirts back-to-back just to try some things out. I’ll get to that in a bit.

So I got this pattern because the skort design jumped out at me and I found it interesting design-wise. Also, I have been looking for a wrap skirt pattern that closely resembled a beloved skirt that can’t fit me anymore, and I will be making that for a future Copycat Fashion post.

Continue reading The Pattern Probe #3: Simplicity 1370 Miniskirt

The Pattern Probe #2 – McCalls M7131 Culotte Shorts

pbMcCalls_pantsM7131-3inX4in pbMcCalls_pantsM7131-Back3inX4in

Close-Up of Pack Front | Close-Up of Pack Back

I know, another Pattern Probe post so soon! I’m so productive. 🙂

Actually I tried out this McCalls pattern as soon as I finished the sweatpants. Summer was practically here and it turned out that I had no shorts that were more dressy-looking for nicer occasions. Since the fashion industry has been pushing culottes back into our       closets, I thought a pair of floaty culotte shorts might be a cool thing to sew for myself to wear in the warmer months.

Continue reading The Pattern Probe #2 – McCalls M7131 Culotte Shorts

The Pattern Probe #1 – Simplicity 2061 Tapered Sweatpants

pbSimplicity_activewearS2061PackClose-up of Pack Front  |  Close-up of Pack Back

Okay so here is the first post for The Pattern Probe series. This was a project of necessity; my favorite pair of comfy yoga pants that I’ve had since college have finally fallen apart and I needed a new pair of pants to lounge around the house. I discovered this “Learn to Sew” pack with 2 types of lounge pants in the Simplicity section and picked it up. Let’s see if the pattern and instructions live up to the Simplicity “Learn to Sew” label…

Continue reading The Pattern Probe #1 – Simplicity 2061 Tapered Sweatpants

The Pattern Probe: Introduction

Hello! I know it’s been a while, but I am back on my blog with a new topic to post about.

I have a few posts that highlight my attempt to make fashion items based on stuff I’ve seen in magazines and the Internet. I wanted to flex my crafting skills and make some things for myself that I can’t afford to buy in real life. The category is Copycat Fashion and you can go here to check it out.

Anyway, part of that activity was me buying commercial patterns to sew with. I noticed that so many luxury fashion products (clothes, jewelry, purses) have basic pattern designs that I would find in Joann’s pattern section. If I’m lucky, I can get a pattern for as little as $0.99 each.

I have about 117 patterns total, which is a LOT of patterns. They are too easy to buy, especially when they are on sale, and they have accumulated in my space. It’s time to start using them and I thought it would be neat to document my process and give a sort of review on how well I did making the garment and if the pattern is good to use.

So stay tuned for my first Pattern Probe post! 🙂