I don't get the hype around these pants. I've made them 3x now and made adjustments each time. I'm 5'6" and these pants go all the way up to my chest. I don't get it. I graded between a 14-18 for the hip but, they are big in the waist. Measurements put me at a 16. I did elastic for a 14 and graded down. Still too big. Another reddit sewist said the same thing about the waist being off. I will try again but, I am wasting so much fabric.
This is a very versatile pattern with different lengths, choice of sleeves and straight edge or elastic and a dress with two frills. I made the dress in a thick cosy sweatshirt with a cotton frills bought at a recent fair. The frills added some extra time but bit you want a quick top you can knock this up in a couple of hours easily. I didn't have any Rib for the neck so cut a neck facing on the bias using the neck facing piece from Tessuti Athina. I will definitely use this pattern again for the other variations and my daughter has already put in an order for the cropped top.
I made a practice version out of cotton. Made is size 12 without the bust darts (difference in bust measurement was 5cm ) so made the b cup version. The waist on this blouse is just above the natural waist. So.. in the end I think I should have made the d cup and lengthened the bodice as the waist sat too high for me (literally just under the bust). Having said that, I like the pattern especially the detail of the front ties, the gathered sleeves and the peplum. So I will experiment with the length of the bodice and use darts.
This is such a great pattern, it's simple but also looks great. I did shorten the sleeves quite a bit as the pattern came up very long. The instructions were clear and it was a really enjoyable make. I'm just starting my second.
I really enjoy making Suri because it's so quick and easy but still looks great. The neck is an interesting construction that adds a lot to what is otherwise a v simple top.
I've made it as a lightweight blouse to go with jeans and in Terry as a sweater and sized it down to make for my tween daughter who loves it.
I've made this in 3 different fabrics, I really like the dramatic sleeves. I've sized down because the fullness makes it large in the back, but I often have to do a narrow back alteration on fitted clothes so this wasn't a surprise.
The pattern was easy to follow and the finish is great.
This was one of my first makes and I really enjoyed it l. The simple pattern was easy to cut and to sew and looks really stylish.
I've made this a few times, varying the sleeves. It's a staple of my summer wardrobe. It's a fun make and easy to adapt, eg French seams on sheer fabric because of generous seam allowances.
Whenever I need an easy summer basic knit top or dress I always find myself reaching for this pattern.
Not only is it a really good mock neck pattern, but it’s also perfect if you want to make a high neck mesh top, just leave off the neckband don’t bother hemming and it’s the perfect height.
The dress with the side slits is really fun and flattering and its absolutely perfect if you’ve got an event to go to and you’ve left it till the last minute to sew something up because it sews up really quickly. The instructions are good and the drafting is great. It will forever be my go to pattern
If you want a quick easy project that takes and hour to sew and less than a meter of fabric then this is what you need!
I love that waistcoats have made a comeback, they’re so fun and more like an accessory than a piece of clothing. I sewed this up in 40 minutes and I dipped into my scrap pile for it. The trickiest part is the bias binding, but if you get the pre made stuff then it makes it much easier.
This is the perfect project to bring back your sewjo, or just to do in between trickier projects.
The instructions are good and even better it’s fully reversible so you essentially get two items of clothing in one. I’ve made three so far and I will make more will all of my scraps. Imagine a patchwork version using different scraps, it’s a dream 😍
I made the dress version for a holiday to Malta but hacked it to have long puff sleeves, because everything needs a balloon sleeve!
I used a flowy viscose and it turned out so lovely. The princess seams make it very flattering and the tie at the back allows for comfortable fit adjustments.
It’s a slightly more complex project, but the instructions are great and there is a sew along available if you need a little extra help.
It’s such a fun floaty feminine silhouette. I love the options available, I haven’t yet made the longer versions as they require a lot of fabric. But if you want to make something pretty for the summer the shorter versions are perfect and require significantly less fabric to make.
A super easy and comfortable overall pattern! It would be great for someone who hasn’t seen dungarees yet but wants to give them a go. The instructions are fantastic and it’s slightly oversized so the fit is very forgiving.
There are options to make a jumpsuit of a playsuit and as always Helen’s closet has options for hacking on her blog.
It’s a really fun project to work on and the end results are so good, it’s an excellent dopamine hit project.
This is such a cute pattern, I loved making it and wearing it even more. The elastic back makes it really flattering whilst giving you plenty of room for comfort and having the front waistband just be regular means you don’t have elastic pushing into your waist, which if you’re someone like me who tends to bloat then you know the discomfort of that!
I made my version is a dreamy tencel twill and it’s so flowy and drapey. As always with Helen’s closet the instructions are second to none and there are so many helpful tips sprinkled throughout. I reach for mine all the time and I have plans to make more for spring. This is such a perfect pattern!
This is such a cute pattern, I loved making it and wearing it even more. The elastic back makes it really flattering whilst giving you plenty of room for comfort and having the front waistband just be regular means you don’t have elastic pushing into your waist, which if you’re someone like me who tends to bloat then you know the discomfort of that!
I made my version is a dreamy tencel twill and it’s so flowy and drapey. As always with Helen’s closet the instructions are second to none and there are so many helpful tips sprinkled throughout. I reach for mine all the time and I have plans to make more for spring. This is such a perfect pattern!
This was one of the first things I ever made in my sewing journey (because blind ambition and ability ignorance gets you everywhere).
You can tell from the inside seams that this was an early project. However 6 years later it’s still holding up, if not a little tight round the waist.
The instructions are great and the construction was relatively straight forward. It’s such a flattering jumpsuit, and I love that there is also an option just to make the trousers.
I haven’t made any since my first pair, but I would love to make another so I can compare it to my first version and see how far my sewing has come.
It’s a testament to this pattern that even complete beginners can sew it up and have a perfectly wearable garment.
I used mid weight cotton sheet I got from the charity shop, next time I would use a heavier weight fabric but this worked really well
I’ve made this pattern a couple of times and I really like it. It’s so comfortable and I always feel so stylish whilst wearing it.
There are 4 different views so you get a lot for your money and the seams make it super flattering.
It looks more complicated than it is, it actually came together pretty quickly and was really enjoyable. This instructions are good and the fit was spot on. You do have to do a bit of a wiggle dance to get it on and off, but that’s the nature of this style jumpsuit unfortunately.
I wanted to make a jumpsuit that was the blend of casual workwear and this one was just the thing. The fit is perfect and the instructions are excellent.
It sewed up pretty quickly as there aren’t really any tricky details and the buttons at the front and elastic make it easy to get on and off.
I’ve sewn a few Made By Mandi patterns and they always turn out so nice, this is no exception. I love this jumpsuit, I made it 4 years ago and I still reach for it all the time. A true workhorse.
I’ve made this pattern a few times. It’s my favourite reach for playsuit in the summer, but where this pattern really shined was during my pregnancy.
I made the non elasticated jumpsuit version and it lasted me the whole 9 months with my 2nd child. It was the outfit I would always reach for because it was so comfy and roomy and it just looked so cute.
Don’t get me wrong, I love my regular ones too but if you want to know true comfort whilst pregnant I cannot recommend this pattern enough!
I put off sewing this pattern for ages because I thought it would be really hard and I wasn’t ready to take on such a project. However, after so many amazing versions kept popping up I knew I couldn’t resist any longer.
It was so much easier to sew than I anticipated, the instructions are fantastic and it actually came together really quickly. I enjoyed sewing it far more than I thought I would. I like how the pocket is also a belt loop, I love the tab on the legs so you can switch between wide and tapered legs depending on your mood.
This is honestly a fantastic pattern, I’ve only made one so far but I have dreams of a bright red one for my winter wardrobe.
I love this jumpsuit. I have made it multiple times and I’m always really happy with how it turns out. I love the low back, but I love that there is a modesty option for when wearing a bra.
The whole silhouette is so flattering, I’ve made this more times than I can count and it’s a pattern I’m always reaching for when I want to make another jumpsuit or play suit.
The only thing I will say is that the straps are quite long so make sure you try on the jumpsuit and check them before you properly attach.
I really like this jumpsuit and I’ve made it a few times, and will make more. However, I do find the sizing comes out quite large. It’s more true to size on the top, but by the hips there is a lot of ease and where it crosses over there is a lot of gaping around the crotch. It could do with having the crotch crossover higher so you don’t run the risk of flashing passers by.
All that said though I really do love this pattern. It is a staple in my wardrobe and one I reach for time and time again. I would highly recommend giving this pattern a go, but would advise you toile first to check the fit.
I bought this as I needed a top for a black tie event and was drawn to the varied options available.
First i made the v neck, long sleeve belted blouse version in a viscose satin. I added length and did an FBA, as is usual for me. The sticking point for me was that it was super hard to get the shorted cuff to match the amount of gather recommended on the sleeve - in my opinion much more gathering is needed - measure the original cuff length and use this as your guide to the gathering you need. I also found the finished edge of the front facing is quite visible so I recommend finishing this as subtly as possible. I also don't recommend slippy material as the sleeve ties don't like staying knotted! However all in all a successful garment!
The second iteration was the v neck sleeveless a-line dress in a cotton needle cord. Added length plus an FBA. Again the front facing is a bit too visible. However I absolutely love it and it's currently my favourite outfit!
Next up, a long sleeve a line dress.
Thought this pattern was great, good instructions bar the cuff and also a useful sew along on You Tube