Patterns for Pirates

P4P stylish, modern, wearable patterns

Witch Hat :: Free Sewing Pattern + Tutorial!

Something wicked this way comes!

It’s officially October, which means the kickoff of my favorite holiday ever.  The candy, the pumpkin everything, the creative costumes, the decorations…..I love it all!  We wanted to help you with your costume making this year, with a super quick and easy pattern for the witches, wizards and warlocks in need of some new headgear.  And the best part about this pattern?  It’s FREE!  Our Halloween treat for you!

Before we get started, here are some things you’ll need:

  • Free Witch Hat Pattern Pieces (found in the store HERE)
  • 2/3 yard Premium Felt

**I highly recommend the thickest felt you can find, to get the ultimate stiff point and brim on your hat!  I found mine on a 72″ wide bolt at JoAnn Fabrics, which left me a lot of extra fabric to make even more hats!

Step 1: With right sides together, fold the cone piece in half — aligning along the long, straight edges.  Using 1/4″ seam allowance, sew along long edge.

Step 2: Turn cone piece right side out and set aside.

Step 3: With right sides together, align brim pieces on top of each other.

Step 4: Sew around outer edge, using 1/4″ seam allowance.

Step 5: For cleaner curved edges, use pinking shears trim excess fabric (making sure to not cut through your stitches).

Step 6: Turn brim right sides out.  Press.  If desired, top stitch along outer brim edge.

Step 7: Fold brim piece to mark quarter points along inner, raw circle.

Step 8: Repeat with cone piece.

Step 9: With right sides together, match the quarter points on your brim and cone pieces.

Step 10: Ease the remainder of the raw edges together, and secure with pins/clips.  Sew using 1/4″ seam allowance.

Step 11: Flip the brim down, press if needed, and enjoy your wicked new hat!

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 amazing pointy hats that you’ve managed to make from our free pattern!

Happy Halloween, Pirate Friends!

Twist Back Top :: New Pattern Release!

Hey there Pirates!  Have we got something incredibly fun in store for you today or what??  It’s a pattern release day and we are bringing you TWO brand new patterns that you’re just going to love.  I promise.  Let’s meet the Twist Back Tops, in both adult and youth sizes!

This pattern is quick and simple sew that will impress! It has a dropped dolman sleeve style with a loose, slouchy fit throughout the sleeves and body. It is semi-fitted through high hip. The tank option makes for a great work out or summery top. The Twist Back Top also includes a short sleeve dolman sleeve you can add a bit more coverage, but still keep cool in those warmer months. You can add long sleeves and create a super fun sweater or pull over for the colder months. The extra long sleeve length will make you feel like curling up and snuggling! The adult sizing has a tank neckline that is a classic crew and a wider neckline for the dolman sleeve options. This pattern includes a back shoulder strap to keep the shoulders where they should be, or you can leave it off and have an off the shoulder style with wider neckline on the sleeved options. The open back is perfect to throw on top a leotard, sports bra, or tank.

The youth pattern covers a size range from 3M – 14.  As for the adult version of the pattern?  We just extended our sizes even more!  You’ll find it drafted for XXS – Plus 5x now!  Please check the size charts, as there were slight adjustments made to accommodate the new size range.

**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!

TANK TOP

SHORT SLEEVE

LONG SLEEVE

LONG SLEEVE W/CUFFS

OPTIONAL BACK STRAP

Should we talk about fabric choices for the Twist Back Tops?  We recommend a fabric with a good drape to it.  While fabric bases like french terry and sweatshirt fleece will work, they’ll end up a bit more “boxier”.  So if you’re looking for that perfect slouchy, twisty top…we recommend fabrics like: Rayon Spandex, Double Brushed Polyester, and Sweater Knits.

RAYON SPANDEX

DOUBLE BRUSHED POLY

SWEATER KNIT

 

Another change you might notice on these new patterns is a little surprise for our overseas pirates who use metric measurements! We now will include BOTH imperial and metric measurements to help everyone understand the charts as quick and easily as possible! Yay!

 

Ready to dive right in and make your new favorite top?  Go grab the patterns now!

TWIST BACK TOP | TWIST BACK TOP – YOUTH | TWIST BACK TOP BUNDLE

Hoping for a little inspiration before you get to sewing?  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!

Twist Back Top Album | Twist Back Top – Youth Album

And if our pattern alone doesn’t provide enough options for you, we’ve also included a blog post that will help take the Twist Back Tops to the next level!  Go check out our Easy Hacks Post to see how to make some slight alterations to the original pattern, to customize it even further!

The release sale (no code needed) will be through Monday September 30th (11:59PM US Central Time Zone).

Happy Sewing, Pirates!

Boho Babydoll SAL day 7 (winners announcement)

Let me start this Winners Blog post by telling you that you are ALL winners in my book. We have seen so many stunning Boho Babydoll tops and dresses being created last week…once again you made our task hard.

Our first winner is Morgan Woolsey!  Morgan won a $20 gift card to Patterns for Pirates as well as a $30 shop credit to Hissy Fit Fabrics.

 

Congratulations Debby Dufresne Duke! She is our second winner! … won a $20 gift card to Made for Mermaids and a $30 shop credit to Hissy Fit Fabrics.

 

A big THANK YOU to our sew along sponsor. Make sure you check out Hissy Fit Fabrics on Facebook to keep up to date with their sales and presales.

Thank you for joining us this week and make sure you share your gorgeous creations in the P4P Facebook group too.

Boho Babydoll Sew Along | Day 1 (print and cut pattern)

Boho Babydoll Sew Along | Day 2 (choose and cut fabric)

Boho Babydoll Sew Along | Day 3 (sew shoulder seams and sleeves)

Boho Babydoll Sew Along | Day 4 (Sew side seams, add neckband and armbands)

Boho Babydoll Sew Along | Day 5 (prepare skirt and attach it)

Boho Babydoll Sew Along | Day 6 (hem skirt and sleeves)

Boho Babydoll Sew Along | Day 7 (winners announcement)

Boho Babydoll SAL day 6 (hem skirt and sleeves)

Last day of the sewing part of the SAL is here! Today we hem the bottom of the skirt and the sleeves. You can do that using your sewing machine’s twin needles option or your coverstitch as I have. Before you start, take a look over our Hemming blog because we have a few tips for easy and successful hemming. If you are finishing the bottom hem using twin needles, a good refresher blog is the P4P University Twin Needles Tips.

In the Day 6 video below I am showing you how easy it is to hem the curved dress option. Check it out and once you finish your day 6 steps, be sure to post a picture of your progress in the comments of the DAY 6 photo of the Boho SAL album in the sew along group. Can’t wait to see all your finished projects!

Boho Babydoll Sew Along | Day 1 (print and cut pattern)

Boho Babydoll Sew Along | Day 2 (choose and cut fabric)

Boho Babydoll Sew Along | Day 3 (sew shoulder seams and sleeves)

Boho Babydoll Sew Along | Day 4 (Sew side seams, add neckband and armbands)

Boho Babydoll Sew Along | Day 5 (prepare skirt and attach it)

Boho Babydoll Sew Along | Day 6 (hem skirt and sleeves)

Boho Babydoll Sew Along | Day 7 (winners announcement)

Boho Babydoll SAL day 5 (prepare and attach skirt)

Ahoy, pirates! Today we will add the skirt to to bodice we finished yesterday. Start by sewing the side seams of the skirt pieces, right sides together. Mark the center front of the skirt front and back and well as the bodice.

You will next start gathering the skirt. My suggestion for this pattern is to gather with two rows of stitching. Your first gathering row should be 1/4″ away from the raw edge and the second row will be about 5/8″ away from the raw edge. In doing so, you ensure that one of the stitches will be in the seam allowance and the second one will just outside of it.

Match the center points and side seams of the bodice and gathered skirt right sides together. Attach them with your serger making sure you that you follow the 1/2″ seam allowance. Optionally you can top stitch the seam allowance up on the bodice. I like using my coverstitch for that step but you can certainly use a zig zig stitch or twin needles for this step.

Below is the day 5 video. Once you completed today’s steps post a picture of your progress in the comments of day 5 photo of the Boho SAL album.

Boho Babydoll Sew Along | Day 1 (print and cut pattern)

Boho Babydoll Sew Along | Day 2 (choose and cut fabric)

Boho Babydoll Sew Along | Day 3 (sew shoulder seams and sleeves)

Boho Babydoll Sew Along | Day 4 (Sew side seams, add neckband and armbands)

Boho Babydoll Sew Along | Day 5 (prepare skirt and attach it)

Boho Babydoll Sew Along | Day 6 (hem skirt and sleeves)

Boho Babydoll Sew Along | Day 7 (winners announcement)

Boho Babydoll SAL day 4 (side seam, neckband and armband )

We made it to the half way mark of our Boho Babydoll sew along! That was fast! Today we’ll be sewing the side seams and adding the neckband and armbands (if you picked the tank option).

When sewing the side seams, pin the front to the back of the shirt, right sides together. I like to pin the armpit first, then the end of the sleeve and the bottom and finally add a few pins or clips in between. Whether you are making the long sleeve, 3/4 or short sleeves (like I am) the technique is the same.

Whether you chose the high or the low scoop neckline, take a look over our P4P University Neckbands 101 before you start sewing.

In the video below I show you how to sew the side seams and add the neckband using a serger / coverstitch machine. When you finish these steps be sure to post a picture of your progress (finished bodice) in the comments of the Day 4 photo  (album is in the M4M & P4P Sew along group)

Boho Babydoll Sew Along | Day 1 (print and cut pattern)

Boho Babydoll Sew Along | Day 2 (choose and cut fabric)

Boho Babydoll Sew Along | Day 3 (sew shoulder seams and sleeves)

Boho Babydoll Sew Along | Day 4 (Sew side seams, add neckband and armbands)

Boho Babydoll Sew Along | Day 5 (prepare skirt and attach it)

Boho Babydoll Sew Along | Day 6 (hem skirt and sleeves)

Boho Babydoll Sew Along | Day 7 (winners announcement)

Boho Babydoll SAL day 3 (Shoulder seams and sleeves)

 

Let’s start sewing! Today is a pretty quick day. Today we sew the shoulder seams together, making sure to follow the 1/2 inch seam allowance. If you have opted for the sleeves option, as I have, today we are adding them too.

With the fabrics right sides together, match the shoulder seam with the notch on the sleeve curve. Pin the sides of the sleeves first and then easy the rest of the sleeve in the armcyse. Sew it in place with a 1/2″ seam allowance.

Watch the day 3 video below and be sure to post a picture of today’s progress in the day 3 photo comments of the Boho Babydoll album in the M4M & P4P Sew Along Group.

Boho Babydoll Sew Along | Day 1 (print and cut pattern)

Boho Babydoll Sew Along | Day 2 (choose and cut fabric)

Boho Babydoll Sew Along | Day 3 (sew shoulder seams and sleeves)

Boho Babydoll Sew Along | Day 4 (Sew side seams, add neckband and armbands)

Boho Babydoll Sew Along | Day 5 (prepare skirt and attach it)

Boho Babydoll Sew Along | Day 6 (hem skirt and sleeves)

Boho Babydoll Sew Along | Day 7 (winners announcement)

Boho Babydoll SAL day 2 (choose and cut fabric)

 

Welcome to day 2 of our Boho Babydoll  sew along. Today we will be choosing the fabric, cutting it and gathering all necessary notions and accessories. You should have your pattern pieces ready from yesterday.

Let’s talk a little about the right fabric for this pattern. As you can see in the video below I am using Bamboo Spandex from Hissy Fit Fabrics for my dress. This is by far my favorite knit type for this pattern. I also like Rayon Spandex, Modal, ITY, Cupro and Double Brushed Poly for it. All these bases can be layered so beautifully for cooler weather.

Hissy Fit Fabrics is also the sponsor for this sew along so our two lucky winners will receive gift cards to their shop.

If you are unsure about which knit type will work best for your desired look, take a look over our P4P University Knit Types blog. Judy also included a cheat sheet that you can print. If you are like me and sometime are just keen on using a specific print for a specific pattern, read our Different fabric, different fit blog post before you cut your fabric.

The Day 2 video is posted below. Check it out and once you are done cutting your fabric post a picture of it in the comments of the Day 2 photo of the Boho SAL album  in the M4M & P4P Sew Along group.

Boho Babydoll Sew Along | Day 1 (print and cut pattern)

Boho Babydoll Sew Along | Day 2 (choose and cut fabric)

Boho Babydoll Sew Along | Day 3 (sew shoulder seams and sleeves)

Boho Babydoll Sew Along | Day 4 (Sew side seams, add neckband and armbands)

Boho Babydoll Sew Along | Day 5 (prepare skirt and attach it)

Boho Babydoll Sew Along | Day 6 (hem skirt and sleeves)

Boho Babydoll Sew Along | Day 7 (winners announcement)

Boho Babydoll SAL day 1 (print and cut pattern)

Welcome to the Boho Babydoll

Sew Along!

Day One is reserved to purchasing the patterns, printing and cutting the size(s) you need. If you plan on sewing for yourself you can get the Boho Babydoll here, if you’re sewing for your little girl, the BB Youth can be purchased here and if you’re sewing for both of you (just think of the mommy and me matching outfits!) you can get the bundle.

This Sew Along will take place in our M4M & P4P Sew Along group so be sure to join the group not only for the exclusive discount code available for the patterns but also to post your progress this week. As always all daily blog posts will be here, but you’ll be checking in with your completed steps in the group.

Now that you purchased the pattern(s), print the size needed. In order to do that it is very important that you take your most accurate measurements. The Boho Babydoll patterns are drafted for light weight fabrics with great drape so if you need to grade for multiple sizes, please do not skip this step.

You will need your waist, hips and chest measurements in order to choose the correct  size. P4P has an amazing blog that gives you tip for accurately taking your measurements. You can read all about it here. If your measurements put you in a different size for chest/waist/hips be sure to check out our P4P University blog and grade to achieve the perfect fit.

The Boho Babydoll is a loose fitting shirt and dress, perfect for hot summers but also lovely when layered in the fall. Just imagine a cute denim jacket and some fun boots with it! Perfection!

Check out the day 1 video below and then comment “done” on the Day 1 picture of the Boho Babydoll SAL album in the Facebook sew along group. We don’t allow pictures of the pattern pieces so this will count as your day 1 check in. Let’s get started!

Boho Babydoll Sew Along | Day 1 (print and cut pattern)

Boho Babydoll Sew Along | Day 2 (choose and cut fabric)

Boho Babydoll Sew Along | Day 3 (sew shoulder seams and sleeves)

Boho Babydoll Sew Along | Day 4 (Sew side seams, add neckband and armbands)

Boho Babydoll Sew Along | Day 5 (prepare skirt and attach it)

Boho Babydoll Sew Along | Day 6 (hem skirt and sleeves)

Boho Babydoll Sew Along | Day 7 (winners announcement)

Hepburn Top and Dress : : New Pattern Release!!

We’re so excited to share the newest patterns in the P4P collection… the Hepburn Top and Dress will take you from summer crop to winter turtleneck dress and everything in between! All the options will have you creating a huge variety of timeless wardrobe staples.

These patterns are a slim fit silhouette great for flattering your figure and also amazing for versatility because you can tuck them in or layer easily during colder weather.  The classic details will never go out of trend including the side seam split and turtleneck options.  The simplicity of the garment means it’s a quick and easy sew while the look is very polished!  By using different fabrics and options you can come out with an athletic looking crop or a holiday party dress! The possibilities are endless <3

Drafted for a high stretch knit fabric some of our favorites were rayon ribbed knits, rayon spandex blends, poly rayon spandex blends, double brushed poly, single brushed poly, cotton lycra, athlethic spandex knits (we even used swim for a rashguard top!), and of course sweater knits!

Options include: hemmed neckline, mock turtleneck, fold over turtleneck, tank, short sleeve, 3/4 sleeve, long sleeve hemmed, long sleeve with cuff (both regular and fold over style), crop, shirt, above knee dress, and below knee/ midi dress lengths.

**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!

HEMMED NECKLINE / MOCK TURTLENECK / FOLD OVER TURTLENECK

YOUTH— HEMMED NECKLINE / MOCK TURTLENECK / FOLD OVER TURTLENECK

CROP / SHIRT / ABOVE KNEE / MIDI LENGTH

 

YOUTH—CROP / SHIRT / ABOVE KNEE / MIDI LENGTH

TANK / SHORT SLEEVE / 3/4 SLEEVE / LONG SLEEVE (HEMMED, CUFF, FOLD OVER CUFF)

YOUTH— TANK / SHORT SLEEVE / 3/4 SLEEVE / LONG SLEEVE (HEMMED, CUFF, FOLD OVER CUFF)

SIDE SEAM SPLIT DETAIL

YOUTH— SIDE SEAM SPLIT DETAIL

 

What about a little fabric choice inspiration??  One of the most common questions when we release a new pattern is what we suggest as the best fabrics. So, here are some of our favorites during testing:

ATHLETIC KNIT AND COTTON SPANDEX

FRENCH TERRY AND JERSEY

 

RIBBED KNITS

DOUBLE BRUSHED POLY

SWEATER KNITS / WAFFLE KNITS

 

VELVET AND LACE

I can’t wait to see what varieties everyone makes!  Go grab your pattern(s) now!

HEPBURN | HEPBURN – YOUTH | HEPBURN 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!

Hepburn Album | Hepburn -Youth 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 Monday, August 19, 2019 (11:59PM US Central Time Zone).

Happy Sewing, pirates!

 

 

connect with me