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Made for Mermaids Aaronica - Pattern review

Hello sewing friends! It's been a hot minute since I posted anything and I think I have only made two new patterns in the meantime. Life was very chaotic last fall and I didn't have access to my sewing supplies! The horror! 😱 And since then, well, I haven't been in the mood. It happens sometimes.

I recently finished the Aaronica from Made for Mermaids, serious folks, I know I started this in February at least because I had thought I'd wear it on Valentines Day because the small dots are actually little hearts. And here it is, April.

Also you can see in this photo, where the bodice goes up a little in the front on the right? Yeah, that's where I accidentally sliced through it with my serger when I was attaching the skirt. Whoops. It was a bad slice too, over an inch but whatever! It happens!

Enough about my slow-poke sewing, to business!

Pattern instructions

Overall the instructions here are good. The photos are clear. There is only one place where I possibly didn't quite do what I was supposed to do. When you attached the back skirt there is an instruction telling you how high it should go and I think mine should have gone a little higher. I think a dot or other marker for me to line up would have been really helpful.

Here is a view of the back of the dress. The skirt is a completely free piece that you lay on top RST when you do the side seams and I felt where to lay it could have been a little more clear.

Fit & Alterations
Y'all, the only changes I had to make was to grade for size. I made size indigo bust graded to size green hip.
I have said this before, but I love that M4M includes arm measurements on their patterns! I have large upper arms and often do a full bicep adjustment on patterns but with knits, it can be a total guessing game of how much to add. Measurements are amazing to have! I graded these sleeves from the indigo armhole to a yellow/orange sleeve size and they are just about perfect.

Overall

It's a cute pattern and relatively easy to make. I like that the back detail adds a little bit of interest, but I have to say, my back gets cold! I have only worn it once and it was a little chilly that day, in summer it will be great to have a vent!

I may make the romper version next!



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