Made for Mermaids Aaronica

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!

Comments

George and Ginger 40k Sway - Pattern Review

Final product - 40k Sway George and Ginger Patterns gave the 40k Sway pattern away to celebrate having 40,000 members in their Facebook group. Look at how cute that neckline is? Of course I had to make this super cute freebie. As an extra bonus, there are directions for making a functional placket opening or faux opening. I opted for the faux placket because it's marginally easier and I have no reason that I need the opening to work but if you needed access to a port or to breastfeed, this top design would be great! I measure a size L12 (full bust 38") but I was at the top of the size range and worried it wouldn't fit in my arms so I decided to go up to an L14 and graded out to an XL16 hip. I checked my fabric stretch before sewing it as I was using a French Terry which is not always very stretchy. My fabric had 50% horizontal stretch and minimal vertical stretch (maybe 10%); the pattern says it needs 50% 2-way stretch so I thought I would be fine. Um.....no....It was way

George and Ginger Little Black Bra - pattern review

I have been obsessed with the George and Ginger Lovesick Bralette {now called the Little Black Bra} for the last few weeks. I have made 3 5 a million of them in these past few weeks! I've been sewing up a storm during the Shelter-in-Place orders from COVID-19 and thee bralettes have been perfect to wear when lounging around or working from home. This is the first and at this point, the only bra I have ever made. This pattern was really attractive to me because I didn't need any special supplies, I could make it from fabric I already had. I actually made all of these from swim/athletic knit scraps I had left over. Also, it's a free pattern! If you go the the George and Ginger Facebook group , you can download the pattern for free. It's available in sizes 29AA-48E. Since I used swim fabric, I could also wear these as swimsuit tops. I might make some solid black swim bottoms so I can wear whatever tops I feel like wearing. Pattern tips I never print my patterns

M7574 - raglan top or dress

I liked M7574 so much I accidentally bought two copies. Whoops! I got around to making it around Thanksgiving for a Christmas shirt. I made length C with sleeves B for a long sleeve shirt. I had looked around for a holiday print knit for weeks and couldn't find anything I liked when by chance I hit the jackpot on the Joann's clearance table! This was a red llama fabric cotton knit with a small amount of spandex, I think 3%. The black sleeves are double brushed poly that I had in my stash, which I think was from LA Finch Fabrics. Pros I didn't realize it until I made the pattern but the raglan sleeve is curved on the front. I really like this and it adds some nice interest to the top. It has a two piece sleeve, which I love! You don't usually see this on a knit pattern and I really like the contour that it adds. The back seam is also contoured nicely. If it's going to be cut in two pieces it shouldn't be straight! That is a pattern pet peeve of mine, it's n

Chasing Coco

Search This Blog