Explorer Hoodie Pattern Anthology

Today I have one more pattern to share with your from the Pattern Anthology Make Believe collection that I had the opportunity to test (you can catch the other 2 tops I sewed up HERE and HERE).  

This is the Explorer Hoodie, it is a super cute, pullover hoodie that can be made with knit, or a combo of knit and woven fabrics.

The hoodie has an option for a straight zipper like A's hoodie has, or a cool angled zipper.  There are also options for a ruffle on the hood and a little button tab over the zip.  You can check out all the options on Pattern Anthologies site.

I used a Ponte de Roma knit for A's hoodie and, oh man, I love it.  I bought the fabric at Girl Charlee (you can find it here). I got it in a lot of slightly flawed cuts, the flaw was a tiny little line running down the fabric parallel to the selvage, but it was easy enough to cut around.  The Ponte de Roma is a great fabric choice for this pattern, it has enough weight to give the top good structure but it is still a lightweight hoodie.  And it feels like it would be really comfortable to wear, I want on in my size!

Like with the other 2 patterns I tested, this one has really great instructions that are easy to follow and clear illustrations.  It took me about an hour and a half to sew and has already gotten a lot of wear.  We took it on our trip to Washington, it was great for layering on cool mornings.  

Pattern Anthology has all four Make Believe collection patterns listed in a bundle on their site for a great price right now.  Or you can bundle the four top patterns with four pants patterns for an even better deal.  Go check it out!

Pattern Anthology Bookworm Button Up

Today I am sharing another pattern from Pattern Anthology’s newest collection, the Make Believe collection!  (In case you missed it, I shared the first oneyesterday, the Imagine Jacket) 

This is the Bookworm Button up, a collared, button up oxford shirt with fun pocket details.
 

I love this look on my boy, but you should head over and check out the girl looks for this pattern.  I HAVE to make view D for Em this fall!  Those bows and overlapping back detail, yep, she needs that!

 

I cut one of my husbands old shirts to make A's shirt. I managed to get all the pieces out of a men's large shirt except for the yoke lining (but I think I could have squeezed that piece in somewhere too if I had planned better) He thinks it is just the coolest that he is wearing his daddy’s shirt :) 

I sewed up the short sleeve version, the sleeves are a bit short on mine but they were lengthened for the final pattern.  It has an option for long sleeves too, with a cute button tab on the side, or that really sweet bow detail for the girls.

If you have never made a button up shirt with a collar and collar stand before, this is a great pattern to try.  The instructions are excellent and Melissa walks you through every step making the collar assembly a breeze.

Make sure you check out the other three great patterns released in the Make Believe collection!

The Imagine Jacket by Pattern Anthology

I had the awesome opportunity to pattern test for PatternAnthology!  If you aren’t familiar with them, they are a group of 4 designers who have been putting out some fabulous pattern collections; you can read all about the designers here.

They just released their newest collection, The Make Believe Collection.  It is a collection of four tops (a tee, a hoodie, a button up, and a jacket) all of which are unisex. You can buy the collection of tops or you can pair it with a collection of 4 bottoms patterns too. 

This week I am sharing my versions of the patterns that I made during testing.  First up, the Imagine Jacket!

  

I love this little jacket!  It is a cross between a member’s only jacket and a motocross jacket.  The pattern has two different views, I sewed view A.  View B had some ruching on the sleeves and shoulder patches.

  

The pattern comes in sizes 12months – 8.  I sewed up the size 2 for my little Em, who just turned 2, and the fit is great! 

Normally I wouldn’t be too excited to sew a jacket in the middle of summer, but I finished this jacket right before our trip to Washington and she wore it every single day we were there.  It was perfect timing because you can’t buy jackets in Florida in July and she doesn’t fit in any of her jackets from winter!

  

I sewed my jacket with some floral fabric I picked up at JoAnn’s.  I think it gives the jacket a bit of an 80’s vibe and I love that!  The navy is a Kona cotton and the blue ribbing came from JoAnn’s as well.

 

I have two more Make Believe looks to share with you later this week, so come back and check them out!  And head over to Pattern Anthology’s website to check out the collection!