Spinalcat's Crafty Adventures

Patterns for Pirates Wiggle Dress in some stretchy floral from JoAnn. One of the pattern testers used this fabric and it looked amazing on her. I got the last 2 yards in the Bay Area, lol. It is slightly spongy like scuba but has a really interesting texture (not sure if it would officially be considered Liverpool, but similar).  The instructions have you baste the seams and try it on (then flip it inside out and pin out any excess). Came out great. Basically just needed to bring in the hips to my usual size (I cut XXL all over to start with). The sway back adjustment built into the pattern was sufficient for me. I was a little nervous about topstitching the elastic in the neckline, but I was having a really good day with my twin needle and it turned out perfect. 

I'm caught up now. I made all 3 of these Saturday while hubby took the kid to the museum. Baby Bear Joggers by Patterns for Pirates, cotton interlock from JoAnn. Cuffs are cotton Lycra. I love joggers because they keep the bottom of the kid's pants from getting dirty at school. I did the fold over yoga band waist because I wanted to make sure this was the right size before doing the more complicated waist with several channels of narrow elastic and an optional drawstring. This is size 4 all over. I had trouble stretching the waistband enough to attach evenly. Not sure if I cut the wrong length or what. Boxers are Patterns for Pirates Pirates' Booty . Size 4 leftover CL. A little big for now. Banded everything and skipped the working fly option. Patterns for Pirates Sweet Tee in leftover hacci. Definitely doable in 1 yard for short sleeve. It's a little dolman and it's amazing in this fabric. Banded everything, it's the short waist band. I made a straight...

Here's some stuff I made with quilters cotton from JoAnn. Gabriel's reversible shorts from CKC. I love this pattern. Think I'm making size 4 now. The pattern is free if you join the CKC Boys Facebook group . Dinosaurs are a set I made for a new baby gift. Dress is CKC Tabitha Baby . Super cute. Looks nice, easy to fit and put on and off since the top is knit fabric and the skirt is woven. Used a rolled hem on the serger with stretch thread in the loopers and it looks perfect. Halloween pants are Taylor's pajama pants free pattern from CKC. I've made a ton of these. Halloween skirt is two 20" lengths of full width of fabric sewn in a tube and gathered to my hip measurement and attached to a cotton/Lycra knit band. I think I used the chart for the pencil skirt? Band is a little big, but it just sits lower. I wear it with tshirts so the band doesn't show. Attached lace trim to hem.

Gone Batty free pattern by Patterns 4 Pirates. JoAnn Doodles fabric with cotton/Lycra neckbands. Measured kid's wingspan to make the pattern smaller for him. Serged edges (running off each curve to keep points sharp and then tucking in ends later) which helped hide the white wrong side of the fabric.

Cocoon Cardigan from Patterns For Pirates in hacci sweater knit fabric from Sew So English. Size XXL with patch pockets. A little big. Full length sleeves, long body length, short bands/cuffs. Free Spirit Tank size XL shoulders/XXL bust/down to L at hips for less extreme flared shape. Shirt length. Sheer striped athletic fabric from JoAnn. Bands in cotton/Lycra. Serged raw edge at hem. Rolled hem wasn't working on the very slippery fabric.

Made For Mermaids patterns- Mama Cora coulottes size green in double brushed poly from So Sew English, and Mama Nina swing dress in size green with same fabric, different print. Love both of these! The Cora was so easy to make, but the cutting layout was a little tricky in this size. I also need to make a smaller waistband if I'm using this fabric again. I think they are designed to sit a little lower than I'd like? Used sticky hem tape to hold the fabric in place for hemming with a twin needle on the Nina. Worked great.

Jolly Roger Raglan (kids) and Relaxed Raglan from Patterns For Pirates. Prints are Doodles cotton interlock from JoAnn. Preshrink it a lot! Black is cotton/Lycra from Purpleseamstress fabrics online. Size 4 for kids, faux cuff hemming for body and sleeves. Mine is size XXL with modified off the shoulder hack (2" instead of 3"), tunic length with loose band. Orange one shows tight band, which I cut off and replaced with loose band. 3/4 sleeves on all.

The next free patterns I tried were Peg Legs by Patterns For Pirates and Bonny Leggings by Made For Mermaids. (The owners/designers are sisters.) Graffiti athletic fabric and superhero girls cotton/Lycra from JoAnn. Used contour waistband (from free add-on pack ) for mine with grey athletic fabric lining. Size XL with XXL waistband. Started using faux cuff method to hem with serger since Sean was busting the hems done with twin needle. Black cotton/Lycra from Purpleseamstress fabrics online. Started putting clear elastic at top of contour waistband. Amazing. Size 4 Bonnie's? Sewing machine pattern is double-brushed poly from So Sew English . Color blocked with pocket is athletic knit from JoAnn. Added crotch gusset this time. Went back and topstitched crotch seam with twin needle to keep serger needle thread from showing when stretched. I'm now using stretch serger thread in the bobbin when using the twin needle (bobbin wound by hand).

I've mostly been keeping up with my knitting, crochet, and weaving projects over on Ravelry. But I got a serger a few months ago and am averaging at least 1-2 garments a week. 😂 I need somewhere to keep up with details like modifications, sizing, and yardage requirements. First up is the Pirate Pencil Skirt (free pattern) from Patterns for Pirates. Done in Nicole Miller scuba fabric from JoAnn (on sale or coupon), 1 yard each. Size XL graded to XXL for high hip and waistband. 1 yard each. I used the twin needle for hemming. I love these, I just haven't worn them much because the prints are not very fall-like.