Patterns for Pirates

P4P stylish, modern, wearable patterns

Important Announcement :: Changes to Freebies!

Growing pains exist in so many ways, even in business.  Some are easy to ignore — and some you can only ignore for so long.  This is one of those “for only so long” moments.  As we continue to grow, this little corner of the web continues to throw challenges our way.

Our main goal is to make every experience a great one when you visit us here.  Every. Single. Visit.

After consulting with several website gurus, the best way to increase website capabilities is to adjust how our “Freebies” work.  Starting January 1, 2021 (01-01-21), ALL free files will automatically expire after 30 day of purchase.

So now you’re thinking: How will this affect me?

Here are a few FAQs:

  • Q: Are these patterns not free any longer?
    • A: As we like to say: Freebies will always be free.  They just won’t stay in your account forever.  You’ve got 30 days to download them, or else you need to “purchase” them again….still for free.
  • Q: What do I need to do differently?
    • A: Not much.  Just download your files and save them to your computer, external hard drive, tablet, cloud storage, etc.  If you forget to save them somewhere, it’s not a problem.  The patterns will remain in your account for 30 days before you need to “purchase” them again.
  • Q: What happened to the free pattern that I “bought”?  I can’t find it in my account.
    • A: It’s simple….it’s been over 30 days, which means your download expired.  Add it to your cart, go through the checkout process, and download it again.  Easy peasy!

If you have any questions, please feel free to email us for some extra assistance: help@patternsforpirates.com

Thank you so much for being part of our P4P family!  And get ready for five full days of fun with our 2020 Holiday Freebies…starting tomorrow!

Trick or Treat Bag :: Free Sewing Tutorial + Pattern!

Let’s get to it, my Pirate friends!  This my favorite time of the year: HALLOWEEN!!  It’s full of kitchy decorations, creative costumes, and lots of sewing (at least for me!) and is also the start of the holiday season.

We are all treats and no tricks this year, by giving you a quick and easy Trick or Treat Bag that you can whip up in no time for your littles — or yourself!  It doesn’t take much fabric and is a great way to finally use up all of that fun cotton woven that you keep buying while browsing the fabric store, without any actual plan of what you’re going to make with it.

This tote is meant to be made with woven (non-stretch) fabrics.  You will need a little under 3/4 Yard of the main fabric, and 1/2 Yard of the lining fabric.  This bag ends up being reversible — so if you can’t decide between fabrics (which we couldn’t at all….the prints this time of year are SO CUTE!!), you can use it one way, and then turn it inside out and use it again.  It’s like two bags in one!

Step 1: Cut 2 Main Fabric pieces and 2 Lining Pieces 18″ long x 15″ wide.  Cut 2 Straps 24″ long x 4″ wide.

Step 2: Lay main bag pieces, right sides together.

Step 3: Using 1/2″ seam allowance, sew along the side and bottom edges.

Step 4: Repeat Steps 2 + 3 with lining fabric, only this time leaving a 3-4″ opening in the middle bottom for turning.

Step 5: Trim seam allowances and corners on both main and lining pieces.  Be careful not to clip through your seams, and leave the allowance on the opening of the lining piece.  Set aside main and lining bag pieces for now.

Step 6: With one of your strap pieces, lay with wrong side facing you.  Fold in half, meeting the long edges together.  Press.

Step 7: Open up your piece and fold one of the raw edges toward the middle crease you just made.

Step 8: Repeat with the second raw edge. Press.

Step 9: Fold along middle crease, meeting both folded edges. All of your raw edges will be fully enclosed now.

Step 10: Press you strap piece.  Then edge stitch along both long, outer edges.  Repeat with second strap.

Step 11: Grab your main bag piece and turn right sides out.

Step 12: Careful not to twist your strap, pin raw edges in place, measuring 3″ from the edge of your bag.  Baste, using 1/4″ allowance.  Repeat on other side of main bag piece, using the other strap.

Step 13: With your main bag piece (with straps now basted onto it) right sides out, and lining piece wrong sides out, slide the main bag inside of the lining.

Step 14:  Align raw edges and seams, and pin in place.

Step 15: Using 1/2″ seam allowance, stitch around entire top edge of bag.

Step 16: Through the opening that we left in the bottom of the lining piece, turn your bag right sides out.

Step 17: Using your favorite stitch (I recommend doing a blind hand stitch), close the opening in the bottom of the lining piece.

Step 18: Push lining inside of the main bag piece, press, and admire your new handiwork before your littles steal it and fill it with candy this Halloween!

Happy Halloween, friends!  I’m loving all of the costume photos that have been rolling in so far.  Can’t wait to see the rest of them (hopefully with some new P4P Trick or Treat bags in tow!)

100k Sale-A-Bration

Wow! I can’t believe I’m writing this post! I’m so honored and humbled to believe that we have so many ladies and gentlemen who want to be in our Facebook Group! <3 100,000 milestone has come and I’m blown away!

 

Myself and a lovely group of admins work hard keeping the group an on topic, friendly space to share your P4P sews, answer both P4P and general sewing questions everyday!  I absolutely LOVE seeing posts about conquering “firsts”- first P4P pattern, first time sewing a knit fabric, first time doing a neckband, first blouse with a dart, etc.  It makes heart so happy to share sewing with others who enjoy it like me and to help make it more enjoyable by sharing any sewing knowledge and experiences I have with others.  Below is a collage of all the lovely ladies that help me admin in the top row and the P4P worker bees with me on the bottom row!  I absolutely couldn’t do the things we do without this team of magnificent ladies supporting me!<3

We have such an amazing group of sewers who aren’t part of our admin team, but take it upon themselves to help out by sharing knowledge and experiences with others daily! I’m so grateful for everyone willing to answer a questions, give a suggestion, or even just compliment someone’s share that they like!

Facebook groups now have insight/statistic information for the administrators to track.  Part of that information includes a “Top Contributors” section, which tells us who in the group is commenting and posting the most each month.  To say THANK YOU to a few of you that go above and beyond helping out other P4P members, we are giving the top 5 “contributors” a $100 gift card to their favorite fabric shop! <3 It’s ladies like you that really keep the P4P Facebook group a friendly, helpful place for new sewers to go with their questions! (Ladies- email me at patternsforpirates@gmail.com with your favorite fabric shop- that carries gift card option!)

Our group has grown so much, we want to thank more than just the top five contributors… we want to thank EVERYONE! I am always overcome with emotion when we hit these big milestones. After all, I’m just someone who loves to sew and wanted to share that love with others just like me.

 

For those that are new and don’t know P4P’s story… I have a degree in elementary education and minor in art. I taught kindergarten and loved it, but when my son was born I couldn’t bear to leave him in a daycare and risked everything to start at home business with my other skill and passion- sewing.  I actually started off with an Etsy shop called “Sewn for Sailors”, specializing in clothing for little boys.  My sisters eventually convinced me to make the jump to PDF Sewing Patterns and I started over again as “Patterns for Pirates”- still focusing on little boys clothing.  As I continued, I went into women’s clothing more and more because I’m tall and can’t buy hardly anything from the store that actually fits my tall, curvy frame! During my journey, I found that there were so many women just like me, struggling to find clothing in stores that fit their bodies.  I have always really loved sewing for myself and I really love to see other women enjoying sewing clothing that fit and make them feel beautiful!!! <3  I’m truly thankful EVERY DAY for every single pattern bought that allows me to continue to do what I love and stay home with my now three babies.

 

SO… whew… wipes tears… We’re going to do a little thank you each day this week! Today we are announcing our BIG GRAND PRIZE and how everyone can enter to win! But, come back each day to find more thank you’s!  (Because each day is just as amazing as the last!)

For our 100k Sale-a-bration giveaway…

 

A full team of machines! Basically what I have in my office 🙂 Although, I do not have this ADORABLE new pink sewing machine…I WANT it! I do have the serger, cover-stitch, silhouette and heat press exactly and I love my set up! I’m so lucky to be able to have all of these and I am so excited to share it with someone else who loves to sew! Lets talk about each one just a little (and so you know, if you click on these links and purchase we will get a little $- they are affiliate links :)) :


–EverSewn Sewing Machine: model.  So, I do not own this guy… but boy do I want him!! I love pink… my office is full of pink! My mom actually bought herself one for her birthday this summer and I’ve been jealous ever since 😉 He’ll be mine one day lol! I love that it has an automatic thread snip! It is something that my machine has that I love and would dearly miss if I didn’t have it on my next machine.

 

–Brother Serger Machine: 1034 model.  I have a bit older model, but I’ve had two of these entry level sergers and have always been happy with it.  It is so great for a beginner, because you can find A LOT of helpful videos and blog posts about using it!  The price makes it one of the most popular sergers, so it’s very easy to find help with it.

 


–Brother Coverstitch Machine: model.  I have this model as well! It is also popular and easy to find tutorials and videos for help if you need.  Since I have all Brothers, I didn’t have a learning curve with this machine at all other than the quick trick of finishing the end stitch.  I love having a coverstitch machine! It’s so nice to be able to hem something without having to change your sewing machine needs, worry about tension as much, and my stitches can naturally stretch so much more with it.  I waited a long time before saving up and buying one though since it’s more of a want than a need 😉

 

–Silhouette Cameo: 3 model. I have this machine and use it quite a lot! It’s a pretty quick way to add some embellishment to your garments.  I did save and save for an embroidery machine years ago… finally purchased it and thought I would use it ALL THE TIME… but never did… I just couldn’t find the time it took to embroider even with the machine! So, I was nervous investing in a cutting machine as well thinking I might not ever touch it either.  BUT… I find it so much quicker and easier than the embroidery machine to design, cut and press something onto a garment for a little personal touch.  I love my Silhouette and the design program it comes with.  I’m not a tech savvy person and usually struggle learning new computer programs! But, I find the silhouette (I do believe I have the designer addition of the program) to be very user friendly.  You can find lots of helpful videos on their site for learning how to use it as well.

 

–PowerPress Heat Press: model. I have this model and I’ve never looked back!!! I had a hard time using my heat transfer vinyls or even pre-bought transfers because I couldn’t get enough pressure with an iron (I used to beg my husband to press them for me!).  I purchased the heat press and haven’t had trouble since! It heats up quickly, presses nice and evenly with whatever temperature and timing you set for each fabric/type of vinyl, and makes adding a little embellishment that much easier and quicker! Now, this sucker is big and heavy! I had to shop around for a piece of furniture that was deep enough to hold him up (I love vintage furniture, so usually not something you pick to hold up something big and heavy 😉 ), but I love having it! I can even grab a plain tee at the store for a super last minute need and add something in half an hour designing, cutting and pressing! Can’t beat that for a special one of a kind shirt…and not having to stay up half the night before to do it 😉

****Note**** With a prize this large, P4P will need a W9 filled out by winner prior to prizes being sent. Winner must claim prize on taxes per US law.  International winner will have to remit up to a 30% tax withholding of prize winnings and subject to US tax/treaty agreements.

Okay… so now we know what the Grand Prize is… HOW CAN YOU ENTER??

Easy right?

A few rules to highlight:

The item sewn up and shared must be a P4P pattern.

You need to sew it up as is, with only fit changes (so no hacks or mods ladies).  Nursing and maternity hacks on the P4P blog are okay as well. Adding embellishments is great, just no major changes.

Your garment and picture must be done during the contest time frame- between today 9-10-18 and the end of 9-19-18.

Share your pictures on one or all of the social media networks for more chances to win with hashtag #P4P100k — hashtag must be EXACT to come up in our search for the winner!

Let us know what P4P pattern you sewed up and what you’re most looking forward to winning!

You can share as many sews as you can for more chances to win–but ALL items/images shared must be sewn AFTER the giveaway starts 9-10-2018! Any older sews will be disqualified from winning the grand prize. Last entries accepted will be Wednesday 9-19-2018 at 11:59PM US Central Time.

Since you might need to grab a new pattern to get motivated we have a SITE WIDE SALE through the end of the giveaway! This will be the last site wide sale this year, so grab them up while you can ;)!! Sale ends Thursday 20-2018 at 11:59PM US Central Time.  The coupon code will pop up automatically at checkout, so no need to worry about jotting the code down.

The winner will be randomly chosen lottery winner! So everyone has a chance from a beginner who might be sewing their first P4P pattern to a seasoned apparel seamstress! I can’t wait to see everyone’s entries!

Don’t forget to come back and see us each day this week!

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